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HISTORY 



OF 



ONTARIO COUNTY 



NEW YORK 



Wr|H ILLUSTRATIONS AND Fig«ILY SKETCHES OF SOME 
! OF THE PROMINENT MEN AND FAMILIES 



Editki) By 

GEORQE S' CONOVKR 

Compiled Bv 
LEWIS CASS ALDRICH 



SYRACUSE, N. Y.: 

D. MASON & CO., PuiiUSHERs 

1893 



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PREFACE. 



SAMUEL JOHNSON said: "He who hath much to do will do 
something wrong, and of that wrong must suffer the consequences." 
Possibly that observation might be applied to this work, for in the 
preparation of an elaborate history of Ontario county ^ome things have 
been said that may be error, while there may have been loft unsaid 
many things which should have been narrated. 

Ontario county has a rich and interesting early history, there having 
been enacted within its boundaries a series of events that were not com- 
monjto the State. During the period that covered the years extending 
frorri the French and English War down to and including the War of 
18H-15 the region of Western New York was the seat of operations 
andievents of national importance and bearing, and while some of these 
occirrences have found their way into history, many of them have been 
passed over as of no special value to the general reader. 

Fistory is a statement of fact, clearly and concisely written, without 
ences or personal opinions. One of the most satisfactory features 



infe enc 
of such 



of such a work, both to the writer and the reader, is accuracy of state- 



me 



larj 
of 



; ts and dates of occurring events. In this the historian alwa}'s 
ely depends upon the ofhcial records of the county ; the absence 
uch records places him in the somewhat embarassing position of 
beijg compelled to omit certain important facts. But the kind and 
ever- ready assistance of people whose word and memory are almost 
eqial to any records are often available when documentary evidence is 
unobtainable. 



12 PREFACE. 

I 

But it is not the purpose of the writer of this work to in any manner 
apolo<^ize for what has been done, but rather to explain the measures 
used in accompHshing what has been done, and in acknowledging in a 
general way the assistance he has received in the preparation of the 
work which is now presented to the reader. For a period of nearly 
twenty years the editor has been diligently engaged in searching out 
and collecting facts relating to the early history of Ontario county, and 
has been enabled to obtain a vast amount of information, including\a 
very large number of original documents or copies thereof, all of which 
material has been freely used in the compilation and editing of this 
work. And here it may be said, publicly and without reserve, that 
the compiler has received at the hands of the people and the custo- 
dians of records all the assistance that could be desired to enable him 
to make the work as complete, thorough, and reliable as possible. 

But it is to the generous people of the towns of Ontario county, who 
by their hearty support have made the publication of this work success- 
ful, that the publishers and editor acknowledge a special indebtedness. 
Tliat support, freely given, made the work possible, and in return the 
publishers confidently believe that they have prepared for the c.:)unty 
an authentic and reliable and therefore valuable record. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 

European Discoveries and Early Occupations —Scandinavians Discover Iceland and 
Greenland — Columbus's Tropical Discoveries — Early Voyaj^es of John and 
Sebastian Cabot — Jacques Cartier Sails up tlie St. Lawfrence — Champlain 
Founds the Colony in New France — Visits the Iroquois Country — Henry 
Hudson at New York and Albany — Eiifi;li>h Colonies Founde<l in Virginia 
and Mas-achnsetts — Each Power Claims the Territory 17 

j CHAPTER II. 

Claims to Pre-Historic Occupation — The First Occupants of the Region — The 
American Indian --The Iroquois Confederacy — Its Organization and System 
(t Government — The Five and Six Nations — Final Downfall of the Confed- 
zy . 23 

CHAPTER III. 

The Beneca Indians, the Original Occupants of Ontario County — Their Origin 
The French First Visit the Senecas — Beginning of Hostilities — Seneca 
Villages and their Location — Missionaries among the Indians — Results of 
their Labors 35 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Seneca Indians — Continuation of the Preceding Chapter — English Colonists 
Incite the Iroquois against the French — The Latter Retaliate — Courcelles's 
E.xpedition — Denonville Invades the Seneca Country and Destroys the Vil- 
lages — Their Subsequent Building Up — Names and New Locations 42 

CHAPTER V. 

Fraich and English Rivalry — The Iroquois Destroy Montreal — The Treaty at 
Ryswick — Queen Anne's War — The Five Nations Become the Six Nations — 
Joncaire's Trading Post — Events Preceding the French and English War — 
Attitude of the Iroquois — Influence of Sir William Johnson — The Senecas 
Remain Neutral, but Favor the French - - Final Overthrow of French Power 
in America 50 



14 CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Pontiac's War — Devil's Hole and Black Rock — Sir William Johnson Concludes a 
Peace with the Senecas — Treaty at Fort Niagara — Events Preceding the 
Revolution — Outbreak of the War — The Senecas Serve the King — Kanade- j 
saga Becomes Eleadquarters for Tories — Butler's Buildings — Indian Outrages , 
on the Frontier — The Principal Actors — Sullivan Ordered to Inva'le the In- \ 
dian Country — Destruction of the Villages and Crops — The Senecas Flee to \ 
Fort Niagara — Details of the Invasion of Ontario County — Close of the \ 
Revolution SO 

CHAPTER Vn. 

Condition of the Six Nations at the Close of the Revoluticm — Their Treatment i 
by the State Government — Treaty at Fort Stanwix — Land Grants Sought i 
to be Secured — Operations of the New York Genesee Land Company and 
the Niagara Genesee Land Company — The Long Leases — How Obtained — 
Controversy Between New York and Massachusetts — Its Settlement — An- 
nulled by the State — -The New State Project — Its I'romoters — How Re- 
garded in Ontario County 74 

CHAPTER Vni. 

The Phelps and Gorham Purchase — Rev. Samuel Kirkland Superintends the Pur- 
chase of the Indian Titles — Treaty at Buffalo Creek — Mr. Phelps Secuies 
the Influence of Certain Lessees — The Purchase and Its Approval — Tie 
Proprietors Fail in Their Payments — Sale to Robert Morris — The London 
Associates — The Pre-emption Line — Error and Fraud Charged — The Re- 
survey — Charles Williamson 85 

CHAPTER IX. 

A Brief Chapter Devoted to the Settlement by the Society of Friends in what r 
now Yates (Jounty — An Outline History of the Society and of its Remarkable 
Leader, Jemima Wilkinson, alias " The Friend " — Early Grist-Mills 102 

CHAPTER X. 

Original County Organizations — Albany County — Tryon County Formed — Nam* 
Changed to Montgomery — Ontario County Created — Its Extent and Popu 
lation— The First County Officers -- The County Seat— The County Build 
ings — Civil Divisions of Ontario County — Subsequent County Erection; 
which Took Lands of Original Ontario — Formation of the Towns now Com- 
prising Ontario County — • The County Civil List 107 



CONTENTS. 15 

CHAPTER Xr. 

Early Settlement in Ontario County — Character of the Pioneers — Yankees, 
English, Scotch and Irish — Disturbances on the Frontier — British Soldiers 
Still Occupy Forts on the United States Side of the Treaty Line — The Sim- 
coe Scare — Their Withdrawal in 1796 — Events Preceding the War of 
1812-15 — Political Sentiment in Ontario County — ''War'' and "Peace" 
Meetings — The Outbreak, the Struggle and Final Peace — Population of the 
County at Different Periods 121 

CHAPTER Xn. 

ONTARIO COUNTY IN THE REBELLION, 1861-65 136 

CHAPTER Xni. 

THE BENCH AND BAR OF ONTARIO COUNTY 154 

chaptp:r XIV. 

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION OF ONTARIO COUNTY 179 

CHAPTER XV. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN AND VILLAGE OF CANANDAIGUA 198 

CHAPTER XVI. 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN AND VILLAGE OF GENEVA 253 

CHAPTER XVII. ^ 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MANCHESTER 328 

CHAPTER XVIII. 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PHELPS 349 

I CHAPTER XIX. 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF VICTOR 365 

I CHAPTER XX. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NAPLES 377 

j CHAPTER XXI. 
HlSrORY OF THE TOWN OF FARMINGTON 387 



IG CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XXII. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF GORITAM 395 

CHAPTER XXni. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF EAST BLOOMFIELD 402 

CHAPTER XXIV. 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SENECA 412 

CHAPTER XXV. 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF HOPEWELL 421 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BRISTOL 4:50 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SOUTH BRISTOL 438 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WEST BLOOMFIELD 443 

CHAPTER XXIX. 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF RICHMOND 451 

CHAPTER XXX. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CANADICE 457 

CHAPTER XXXI. 
BIOGRAPHICAL 464 



PART II. 

FAMILY SKETCHES 1-378 

INDEX 379 

INDEX TO FAMILY SKETCHES 388 



HISTORY 



OF 



ONTARIO COUNTY 



CHAPTER I. 



European Discoveries and Early Occupations— Scandinavians Discover Iceland and 
Greenland — Columbus's Tropical Discoveries — Early Voyages of John and Sebastian 
Cabot — Jacques Cartier Sails up the St. Lawrence — Champlain Founds the Colony in 
New France — Visits the Iroquois Country — Henry Hudson at New York and Albany 
— English Colonies founded in Virginia and Massachusetts — Each Power Claims the 
Territory. 

rOUR hundred years ago the first Spanish adventurers landed on the 
American continent. In 1492 the Genoese, Christopher Columbus, 
set out on a voyage of exploration under the patronage of the Spanish 
power, and in that and the two succeeding years made his tropical dis- 
coveries. However, the first Europeans to visit America were Scan- 
dinavians, who colonized. Iceland in 875, Greenland 983, and about 
the year looo had pushed their explorations as far south as the present 
State of Massachusetts ; but under their discoveries there was not made 
any attempt af'colonization on the continent. In 1497, ^ve years after 
Columbus made his first American discoveries, the Venetian sailor, 
John Cabot, was commissioned by Henry VII of England to voyage 
to the new territory and take possession of it in the name of the crown. 
He discovered Newfoundland and portions adjacent. In 1500 the 
coast of Labrador and the entrance to the Gulf of St. Lawrence were 
explored by two Portuguese brothers named Cortereal. Eight years 
3 



18 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

later Thomas Aubert discovered the St. Lawrence, and in 1 5 12 Ponce 
de Leon discovered Florida. Magellan, the Portuguese navigator, 
passed through the straits which now bear his name in 15 19, and was 
the first to circumnavigate the globe. In 1534 Jacques Cartier ex- 
plored the St. Lawrence as far as Montreal, and five years later De 
Soto explored Florida. In 1578 an English navigator named Drake 
discovered Upper California. Thus we observe that not a century had 
passed after the discovery by Columbus before the different maritime 
powers of Europe were in active competition for the rich prizes sup- 
posed to exist in the new world. 

Subsequently events fully demonstrated the accuracy of the con- 
clusions of foreign powers, for no grander country in all respects ever 
awaited the advance of civilization and enlightenment. With climate 
diversified between the widest extremes ; with many of the longest 
rivers of the globe intersecting and draining its territory and forming 
natural commercial highways ; with a system of lakes so grand as to 
entitle them to the name of inland seas; with mountains, hills and 
valleys laden with the richest minerals and almost exhaustless fuel ; 
and with scenery unsurpassed for grandeur, it needed only the coming 
of the Caucasian to transform a continent of wilderness, inhabited by 
savages, into the free, enlightened republic which is to day the wonder 
and admiration of the civilized world. 

While the Spaniards were pushing their acquisitions in the south, the 
French had gained a foothold in the northern part of the continent. 
Here the cod-fisheries of Newfoundland and the prospect of a more 
valuable trade in furs opened as early as the beginning of the sixteenth 
century. In 1518 Baron Livy settled in Newfoundland, and in 1524 
Francis I of France sent thither Jean Verrazzani, a noted Florentine 
mariner, on a voyage of exploration. He sailed along the coast more 
than two thousand miles and is supposed to have entered the harbor 
of New York, where he remained fifteen days. It is believed that his 
crew were the first Europeans to land on the soil of the State of New 
York. This navigator proceeded north as far as Labrador and gave to 
the whole region the name of " New France," thus opening the way 
for future contests between France and England. In 1534 the same 
French king sent Jacques Cartier, a St. Malo pilot, to the new country. 



DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION OF AMERICA. 19 

He made two voyages and ascended the St. Lawrence River as far as 
Montreal (Hochelaga). As he sailed up the river on St. Lawrence 
Day (August lo) he apph'ed to the river the name of the saint whose 
name is perpetuated by that day. In the following year Cartier again 
sailed from France with a fleet which bore many of the nobility, and 
who departed for the new country filled with high hopes and bearing 
the blessings of the church ; they were to begin the colonization of 
New France. They ascended the river as far as the Isle of Orleans, 
from whence Cartier visited the Indian town of Hochelaga, and to 
which he gave the name of Mont Royal, the beautiful and opulent 
Montreal of modern times. The explorer was warmly greeted by the 
Indians, who tendered him the utmost homage and hospitality. The 
Frenchmen passed the following winter at the Isle of Orleans, suffering 
much from the rigors of the climate, and, having taken formal posses- 
sion of the country, they abandoned their colonization scheme early in 
the following season and returned to France. As a beginning of the 
long list of needless and disgraceful betrayals, treacheries and other 
abuses to which the too confiding natives were subjected by the difTer- 
ent European nations, Cartier inveigled into his vessel the Indian 
chieftain Donnegana, who had been his generous host, and bore him 
with several others into hopeless captivity and final death. 

The failure of this colonization movement and the severity of the 
northern winters prevented further attempts in the same direction for 
several years, but in 1540 Cartier was sent back with Jean Francis de 
Robarval, a gentleman of Picardy, who was appointed lieutenant-general 
over the " New countries of Canada, Hochelaga and Saguenay." His 
commission conferred power over a vast territory with plenary powers 
of vice-royalty. Robarval made a second visit in 1 543, and in company 
with the pilot, Jean Alphonse, took possession of Cape Breton, and 
afterward began a settlement at Quebec. However, in colonization 
Robarval was no more successful than had been his predecessor, and 
for half a century afterward nothing was accomplished in that direction. 
In 1 598 another unsuccessful attempt was made to colonize New France, 
by pouring out upon the country convicts from the French prisons ; 
but it was finally left to private enterprise, stimulated by the hope of 
gain from the fur trade, to make the first successful effort toward the 



20 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

permanent occupation of the country. About the year 1600 Chauvin 
obtained a broad patent for lands in America, which formed the basis 
of a trade monopoly, and repeated and prosperous voyages were made, 
the success of which stimulated others to enter the same field. In 1603 
Aylmer de Chastes and a party of Rouen merchants organized a com- 
pany, the existence of which becomes of historic importance to this 
work, as it introduces into the field Samuel de Champlain, discoverer 
of the lake which bears his name, and the real founder of New France, 
which included within its asserted limits all that now comprises Ontario 
county. In 1608 Champlain made a permanent settlement at Quebec, 
and afterward founded Montreal, from which points the French fur 
traders and missionaries found easy access to Lake Ontario and even up 
Lake Erie many years before the occupation of this region by the 
whites. 

In 1609 Champlain, accompanied by a party of faithful Canadian In- 
dians, made a voyage up Lake Champlain for the purpose of exploration 
and to extend the dominion of France, and as well to learn something 
of the characteristics of the Iroquois Indians, whose power as a nation 
and whose valor as warriors were made known to him by his attendants. 
The exploring party encountered a few Mohawk Indians near the pres- 
ent site of Ticonderoga, and there was signalized the first hostile meet- 
ing between the civilized white man and the untutored Indian. Cham- 
plain with his arquebus, which he had loaded with four balls, fired up- 
on the unsuspecting Mohawks, killing two and wounding a third. 

A few weeks after the battle between Champlain and the Indians, 
Henry Hudson, an intrepid English navigator, then in the employ of 
the Dutch East India Company, moored his vessel {Half Moon) in the 
waters of the great river that now bears his name ; this was on the 3d 
of September, 1609. He met and entertained the natives, and was 
hospitably received by them, but before his departure he conferred up- 
on them knowledge of the effects of intoxicating liquor, an experience 
perhaps more disastrous in its results than that conferred by Champlain 
with his new and murderous fire-arm. Hudson ascended the river to a 
point within a hundred miles of that reached by Champlain on the St. 
Lawrence and the lake, returned to Europe and, through the informa- 
tion he had gained, afterward established a Dutch colony for which a 



DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION OF AMERICA. 21 

charter was granted in 1614, naming the region "New Netherland." 
In 1623 it was made a province or county of Holland. In 1614 the 
Dutch built a fort on Manhattan Island, and one in the following year on 
or near the site of Albany, but the territory included within the Dutch 
patent extended indefinitely westward over the territory of this part of 
the present State which was then occupied and controlled exclusively 
by the Indians, and to which was given the name " Terra Incognito." 
In 162 1 the Dutch West India Company was formed and took possession 
of " New Amsterdam " under the charter granted. For fifteen years 
they remained at peace with the natives, but the harsh and unwise ad- 
ministration of William Kieft, who was appointed director-general in 
September, 1637, pi'ovoked the Indians to hostilities and opened a war 
which continued with but little interruption during the remainder of the 
Dutch occupancy, and often endangered the very existence of the colo- 
ny. Under the discoveries by Hudson the Dutch laid claim to the ter- 
ritory of the present State of New York and extending westward indefi- 
nitely. 

Meanwhile, in 1607, the English had made their first permanent set- 
tlement at Jamestown, Va., and in 1610 planted a second colony at 
Plymouth, Mass. These two colonies were destined to become the 
successful rivals of all others, of whatever nationalit , in the strife that 
finally left them masters of the country. 

On the discoveries and colonization efforts we have briefly noted it 
will be seen that three great European powers laid claim to the territory 
of the State of New York. England, by reason of the discovery of 
Cabot, who sailed under letters patent from Henry VII, and on the 24th 
of June struck the sterile coast of Labrador, and that made in the fol- 
lowing year by his son Sebastian, who explored the coast from New 
Foundland to Florida, claiming a territory eleven degrees in width and 
extending westward indefinitely. France claimed the territory by rea 
son of the discoveries of Verrazzani, and Holland by reason of the dis- 
coveries of Hudson, the latter claiming the country from Cape Cod to 
the southern shores of Delaware Bay. As we have stated the Dutch 
became for the time being the possessors of the region of which we 
write. Thus, during the early years of the seventeenth century, there 
were three distinct streams of emigration, with three attendant claims 



22 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

of sovereignty, converging toward the original Ontario county. For 
the time being tlie French had the best opportunity, the Dutch the next, 
while the English, the ultimate masters of the soil, were apparently 
third in the race. 

In 1623 permanent Dutch emigration, as distinguished from mere 
fur-trading expeditions, first began upon the Hudson, and the first 
governor was sent thither by the Batavian Republic. In 1625 a few 
Jesuits arrived on the banks of the St. Lawrence, the advance guard of 
a host of representatives of that remarkable order, which was in time 
to crowd out almost all Catholic missionaries from Canada and the 
whole lake region, and substantially monopolize the ground to them- 
selves. In 1626 Father De La Roche Daillon, a Recollect missionary, 
visited the Indians of the Neuter Nation, and passed the winter preach- 
ing the Gospel among them, but did not venture into the territory of 
the Iroquois, who were then at deadly enmity with the French on ac- 
count of Champlain's murderous attack upon the Mohawks several 
years before. In 1627 Cardinal Richelieu organized the company of 
New France, otherwise known as the Company of a Hundred Partners. 
The three chief objects of this association were to extend the fur trade, 
to convert the Indians to Christianity, and to discover a new route to 
China by way of the great lakes of North America. The compan}^ 
succeeded in extending the fur trade, but not to any extent in convert- 
ing the Indians, nor in going to China by way of the lakes. Champ- 
lain was governor of the province and colony, and the first two years 
of his rule were unfortunate in the extreme. British men-of-war 
captured his supplies by sea; the Iroquois warriors invaded Canada 
and tomahawked his hunters; and in 1629 an English fleet sailed up 
the St. Lawrence and captured Quebec. However, peace was soon 
after concluded between England and France, and Champlain resumed 
his gubernatorial powers. Following this the Jesuit missionaries, fired 
with zeal and valor, traversed the wilderness, holding up the cross be- 
fore the bewildered pagans. They met with much better success 
among the Huron, Eries and Neuter Nation Indians than with the 
Iroquois, and soon had flourishing stations as far west as Lake Huron. 
They next visited the Kahquahs, whom they reported as possessing 
eighteen villages, but met with very little encouragement among them. 



INDIAN OCCUPATION. 23 

The latter were a tribe of Indians residing on the shores of Lake Erie 
in part in the present county of Erie. The Eries inhabited the borders 
of the lake which still bears their name, while the Neuter Nation was 
between them and the fierce warriors of the Iroquois Confederacy. 

Having frequently referred to the Indian occupants of the region, 
the first inhabitants of the soil of the present State of New York of 
which we have any reliable record, we may now briefly turn from the 
subject of European discovery and occupation and furnish an account 
of the savages who played so prominent a part in the early history of 
our county and State. 



CHAPTER 11. 



Claims to Pre-historic Occupation — The First Occupants of the Region — The Ameri- 
can Indian — The Iroquois Confederacy — Its Organization and System of Govern- 
ment — The Five and Six Nations — Final Downfall of the Confederacy. 

I\A ANY well informed persons of Ontario county believe that this 
/ \ region of the State has produced unmistakable evidences of pre- 
historic occupation ; that there have been discovered certain relics and 
implements of peculiar manufacture, the like of which are now unknown. 
It is claimed that these evidences must have been left by a race of peo- 
ple different from the Indians, the period of whose occupation long an- 
tedated the coming of the ancestors of the famed Iroquois. This claim 
is undoubtedly a mistaken one, for recent investigators have shown to 
us that there has been no possession by any race that cannot be readily 
reconciled with the theory of continuous Indian occupation. It is un- 
doubtedly true that there have been found tools and utensils which 
were never in common use among the Indians, but the reader will re- 
member that the Jesuit fathers traversed this region more than a century 
before any settlement was made by what we call our own people; and 
it will be remembered, too, that the crude and to us unaccountable im- 
plements were then in the hands of comparative ancients, and were the 
product of a period in which was known but little of mechanical arts, as 
we see and understand and use them at the present lime. As early 



24 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

even as the year looo the Icelanders had explored the country east of 
the State of New York, and although they made no settlements, they 
may have extended their travels over a region of which we have no 
record. It may be possible that this people brought and left some im- 
plements in use by them at that time, which were imitated by the In- 
dian occupants of the region. The latter, especially the first of them 
that visited this region, are recorded as being ready and apt in the con- 
struction of weapons and tools, and discovering some ancient implement 
imitated it for their own purpose. That they had an immature and in- 
definite knowledge of metals and their value there is no doubt, but with 
the advent of European discoverers in the fifteenth century and after- 
ward, and the distribution of various utensils and implements of im- 
proved pattern, the necessity of former crude manufactures was obvi- 
ated, and they were therefore discarded and replaced with others more 
substantial. It may be stated, however, in the present connection that 
in the regions bordering on Lake Erie, particularly in the State of Ohio, 
there have been discovered unmistakable evidences of an ancient occu- 
pation far back of the coming of the Iroquois ancestors, or of their old 
antagonists, the Lenni Lenapes. Neither of these Indian people had 
any tradition that run to the time of the Mound Builders ; but the dis- 
coveries of such an occupation are constantly being made by careful in- 
vestigators. There have been found in the region of Lake Ontario and 
Erie evidences that tend to show an ancient or pre-historic occupancy, 
but it can hardly be asserted that there has been discovered any relic 
or instrument which would lead the candid student of archeology to be- 
lieve that Ontario county was the dwelling-place of an earlier race of 
people than the Iroquois, or the Indians who preceded them. 

The French, English, and Dutch discoverers and explorers during the 
early years of the seventeenth century found the region of country, now 
known as the State of New York, to be in possession of a powerful race 
of American Indians, who styled themselves Hodenosaunee, which 
signifies " the people of the Long House," likening their confederacy to 
a long house, having partitions and separate fires, after their ancient 
method of building houses, within which the several nations were shel- 
tered under a common roof. The French called them " Iroquois," the 
exact meaning of which name is veiled in obscurity. To the later 



THE IROQUOIS. 25 

Dutch settlers this people were known as " Maquaas," while to the Eng- 
lish settlers they were known as " Mingoes." 

The Iroquois confederacy, or as more commonly known to the pio- 
neers of the region, " the Five Nations," and subsequently the " Six Na- 
tions," is believed to have had its origin about the year 1450. The 
striking characteristic of the league was not the mere fact of five sepa- 
rate tribes being confederated together, for such unions have been fre- 
quent among civilized and half civilized people, and sometimes even 
among the savages of America. The feature that peculiarly distin- 
guished the people of the Long House, and which at the same time 
bound together all these ferocious warriors, was the system o{ clans ex- 
tending through all the tribes. 

The word "clan " has been adopted as the most convenient one to 
designate the peculiar artificial families about to be described, but the 
Iroquois clan was widely different from the Scottish one, all the mem- 
bers of which owed undivided allegiance to a single chief, for whom they 
were ready to fight against all the world. Yet " clan " is a much bet- 
ter word than " tribe," which is sometimes used, since that is the desig- 
nation usually applied to a separate Indian nation. The Romans had 
their ''gens," which were supposed to have been originally natural fami- 
lies, though largely increased by adoption ; but these, like the Scottish 
clans, instead of binding together dissevered sections, served under the 
control of aspiring leaders as seed-plots of dissension and even of civil 
war. If we can imagine the Roman gens extending through all the 
nations of the Grecian confederacy, we will have an idea of the Iroquois 
system, and had such been the fact it is more than probable that the 
confederacy would have long survived the era of its actual downfall. 
The tribes or nations of Indians comprising the Iroquois confederacy 
were five in number prior to 1712, but about that time the Tuscaroras 
were added, from which time the confederacy was otherwise known as 
the Six Nations The Mohawks occupied the eastern portion of the 
territory and were made the " Receivers of Tribute " from subjugated 
tribes. Next on the west were the Oneidas, then the Onondagas, 
Cayugas, and Senecas in the order named. The territory of the latter 
extended from the western portion of Seneca Lake to the Genesee River, 
though the conquests made by the confederacy afterward extended their 
4 



26 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

domain to the shores of Lake Erie. The Senecas, numerically consid- 
ered, were by far the most powerful as well as fierce tribe of the con- 
federacy, and from their position were designated the " Doorkeepers " 
of the western extremity of the Long House. 

The people of the Iroquois confederacy were divided into a number 
of clans, the names of which were as follows : Wolf, Bear, Beaver, Tur- 
tle, Deer, Snipe, Heron and Hawk, and some others. Accounts differ, 
some declaring that every clan extended through all the tribes, and 
others that only the Wolf, Bear, and Turtle clans did so, the rest being 
restricted to a lesser number of tribes. It is certain, however, that each 
tribe contained parts of the three clans named and several of the others. 
The Turtle, Bear, and Wolf clans were principal among all the tribes. 
The Moravian missionary, David Zeisberger, who labored among the 
Indians at a very early day and learned much of their clan system, 
found the three clans named to prevail through all the tribes, while in 
some of the others they were hardly recognized. The Turtle family 
was the noblest of all the clans. The Senecas had the eight clans al- 
ready named, and the Cayugas had the same as the Senecas, except 
that they had an Eel clan instead of the Heron, while the Onondagas 
were similar to the Cayugas, except that the former had the Ball clan 
instead of the Hawk. The Tuscaroras, who were received into the con- 
federacy about 1712, had the Great Turtle and Little Turtle clans, the 
Gray Wolf and the Yellow Wolf clans, and as well the principal clans 
before mentioned. From this and from the names of a few others known 
to have existed, we discover that there were a number of auxiliary or 
minor clans existing among some of the tribes of the confederacy. 

The investigations of that eminent philologist, Horatio Hale, have 
conclusively established the fact that Hiawatha was the founder of the 
league. From his " Iroquois Book of Rites, D. G. Brinton, Philadel- 
phia," we learn that Hiawatha " elaborated in his mind the scheme of 
a vast confederation which would ensure universal peace." " It was to 
be indefinitely expansible. The avowed design of its proposer was to 
abolish war altogether. He wished the federation to extend until all 
tribes of men should be included in it, and peace should everywhere 
reign." The name by which their constitution or organized law is 
known among them, says Mr. Hale, is Kayanerenh, to which the 



'THE IROQUOfS. 2? 

epithet kowa (" great ") is frequently added, making it " The Great 
Peace." 

The Indian clan was a brotherhood ; an aggregation of persons united 
by a common tie, sometimes of origin, sometimes of mere locality. 
Each clan formed a large artificial family, modeled on the natural fam- 
ily. All the members of the clan, no matter how widely separated 
among the tribes, were considered as brother and sister to each other, 
and were forbidden to intermarry. This prohibition, too, was strictly 
enforced by public opinion. All the clan being thus taught from earli- 
est infancy that they belonged to the same family, a bond of the strong- 
est kind was created throughout the confederacy. The Oneida of the 
Wolf clan had no sooner appeared among the Cayugas, than those of 
the same clan claimed him as their special guest, and admitted him to 
the most confidential intimacy. The Seneca of the Turtle clan might 
wander to the country of the Mohawks, at the farthest extremity of the 
Long House, and he had a claim upon his brother Turtle which they 
would not dream of repudiating. 

Thus the whole confederacy was linked together. If at any time 
there appeared a tendency toward conflict between the different tribes, 
it was instantly checked by the thought that, if persisted in, the hand of 
the Heron must be lifted against his brother Heron ; the hatchet of the 
Bear might be buried in the brain of his kinsman Bear. And so potent 
was the feeling that for more than three hundred years, and until the 
power of the league was broken by overwhelming outside force, there 
was no serious dissension between the tribes of the Iroquois. Whether 
the Hodenosaunee were originally superior in valor and eloquence to 
their neighbors cannot now be ascertained. Probably not ; but their 
talent for practical statesmanship gave them the advantage in war, and 
being enabled to procure arms and ammunition from the Dutch, which 
the other nations were not able to get, their success made them self- 
confident and fearless. The business of the league was necessarily 
transacted in a congress of sachems, and this fostered oratorical powers, 
until at length the Iroquois were famous among a hundred rival nations 
for wisdom, courage and eloquence, and were justly denominated by 
Chateaubriand " The Romans of the New World." Aside from the 
clan system just described, which was entirely unique, the Iroquois 



28 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

league had some resemblance to the great American Union, which suc- 
ceeded and overwhelmed it. The central authority was supreme on 
questions of peace and war and on all other relations to the general 
welfare of the confederacy, while the tribes, like the States, reserved to 
themselves the management of their ordinary affairs. In peace all 
power was confided to " sachems," in war to " chiefs." The sachems 
of each tribe acted as its rulers in the few matters which required the 
exercise of civil authority. The same rulers also met in congress to 
direct the affairs of the confederacy. There were fifty in all, of whom 
the Mohawks had nine, the Oneidas nine, the Onondagas fourteen, the 
Cayugas ten, and the Senecas eight. These numbers, however, did not 
give proportionate power in the congress of the league, for all the nations 
were equal there. There was in each tribe a number of war chiefs, 
and these were the active leaders on the war path. When a council 
assembled, each sachem had an assistant or chief standing behind him 
to execute his orders. But in a war party the war chief commanded 
and the sachem took his place in the ranks. Each nation had a head 
chief, to whom belonged the right and duty of lighting the council fire 
and taking the first place in public meetings. This was the system in 
its simplicity. Some time after the arrival of the Europeans they seem 
to have fallen into the habit of electing chiefs — not war chiefs — as 
counselors to the sachems, who in time acquired equality of power with 
them, and were considered their equals by the white in the making of 
treaties. 

It is difficult to learn the truth regarding a political and social sys- 
tem which was not preserved by any written record. That congress of 
sachems always met at the council fire of the Onondagas, This was 
the natural result of their central position, the Oneidas and Mohawks 
being to the east of them, with the Cayugas and Senecas on their west. 
The latter were unquestionably the most powerful of all the tribes, and 
as they were located at the western extremity of the Long House, they 
had to bear the brunt of war whenever the confederacy was assailed by 
the formidable foes who dwelt in that quarter. It would naturally 
follow, therefore, that the principal war chiefs of the league should be of 
the Seneca nation, and hence two war chiefships were assigned to that 
nation, who had the general supervision of the affairs of war. 



THE IROQUOIS. 29 

As among many other savage tribes, the right of heirship was in the 
female line. An Indian's heirs were his sister's son ; never his own 
son, nor his brother's son. The few articles which constituted his per- 
sonal property, even his bow and tomahawk, never descended to the son 
of him who had wielded them. Titles, so far as they were hereditary at 
all, followed the same law of descent. The child also followed the clan 
and tribe of the mother. An apt illustration of this law is found in the 
case of Red Jacket, whose father was a Cayuga and his mother a 
Seneca of the Wolf clan, his rank therefore made him a Seneca also of 
the Wolf clan. 

The result of the application of this rule to the Iroquois system of 
clans was that if a particular sachemship having been established in a 
certain clan of a certain tribe, in that clan and tribe it was expected to 
remain. When it became vacant the new official was elected by the 
clan and was then " raised up" by the congress of sachems. 

Next to the sachems in point of position and importance were the 
chiefs, whose number was unlimited, and who, in course of time, became 
coequal in power with the sachems in the administration of the affairs 
of the tribes and of the confederacy. The office of chief was not hered- 
itary but elective, and was attained as a reward of braver}^ by those 
who had distinguished themselves in battle, by eloquence, or by some 
act of public service through which they had gained distinction. The 
noted Seneca warrior, Cornplanter, whose bravery made him eminent in 
the confederacy ; the matchless orator Red Jacket, whose powerful ad- 
dress made his name of world wide fame; and the renowned Mohawk, 
Captain Joseph Brant, are only a few of the many names that might be 
recalled who were chiefs and yet gained honors in the confederacy equal 
to the sachems. 

Notwithstanding the modified system of hereditary power in vogue, 
the constitution of every tribe was essentially republican, each retaining 
its own independent power and rights in its own territory, and main- 
taining its own distinct interests and exercising a vigorous life in its 
appropriate sphere. The eight Seneca sachems, with the chiefs of the 
tribe, formed the council by which its tribal affairs were administered. 
Warriors, old men, and even women, attended the various councils and 
made their presence felt. One feature of the Iroquois polity was that 



^0 HISTORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

the lands belonged to the warriors who defended them, and to the 
women who cultivated them, and that the women, being mothers of the 
warriors, held a claim upon the lands which could not be alienated 
without their tacit consent or their active participation in the council. 
There were in every tribe head or chief women, and in every clan were 
" old women " who had a controlling influence in all its affairs. In the 
deliberations of the council the women of the tribe were represented by 
their chosen spokesman who was designated as their " mouth." 

In the government of the confederacy or in the control of the tribal 
affairs, there was shown a remarkable freedom from tyranny over the 
people, though there was great tyranny by the league over conquered 
nations. In fact there was very little government of any kind, and 
very little need of any. There were few property interests to guard, 
all land being in common, and each man's personal property being 
limited to a bow, tomahawk and a few deerskins. Liquor had not lent 
its. disturbing influence, and few quarrels were to be traced to the in- 
fluence of'woman, for the Indian was singularly free from the warmer 
passions. His principal vice was an easily aroused and unlimited 
hatred, but the tribes were so small and enemies so convenient that 
there was no difficulty in gratifying this feeling outside his own nation. 
The consequence was that although the war parties of the Iroquois 
were continually shedding the blood of their foes, there was very little 
quarreling at home. 

The religious creed of the Iroquois was limited to a somewhat vague 
belief in the existence of a " Great Spirit," and several inferior yet 
very potent evil spirits. They had a few simple ceremonies, one called 
the " green corn dance," performed at the time indicated by its name, 
and others at other seasons of the year. From a very early date their 
most important religious ceremony was the " burning of the white 
dog," when an unfortunate canine of the requisite color was sacrificed. 
To this day the pagans among the Indians still perform this rite, be- 
lieving that with the destruction of the dog their sins are likewise 
consumed. 

In common with their fellow savages on this continent, the Iroquois 
have been termed " fast friends and bitter enemies." They were much 
stronger enemies than friends. Revenge was the ruling passion 



THE IROQUOIS. 31 

of their nature, and cruelty was their abiding characteristic, and it is 
idle to talk of the goodness of men who roasted their captives at the 
stake. All Indians were faithful to their own tribes, and the Iroquois 
were faithful to their confederacy, but outside these limits their friend- 
ship could not be counted on, and treachery was always to be appre- 
hended in dealing with them. In their family relations they were not 
harsh to their children, and not wantonly so to their wives, but the 
men were invariably indolent, and all labor was contemptuously aban- 
doned to the weaker sex. They were not an amorous race, but could 
hardly be called a moral one. Their passions rarely led them into 
adultery, and mercenary prostitution was entirely unknown, but they 
were not sensitive on the question of purity, and readily permitted their 
maidens to form fleeting alliances with distinguished visitors. Polyga- 
my was not practiced. They could be divorced at will by their lords, 
but the latter seldom availed themselves of their privilege. 

Their wonderful politico- social league and their extraordinary suc- 
cess in war were the special attributes of the people of the Long House, 
for a hundred and thirty years the masters, and for more than two 
centuries the occupants of the county of Ontario. 

The numerical strength of the confederacy is believed never to have 
exceeded 20,000 persons, and there is no record showing that after 
the whites came to the region that the Iroquois numbered more than 
2,500 warriers, nor as many as 15,000 persons. Those who had the 
best opportunity to know, place the force of fighting men in the league 
in 1667 at 2,150, but this was soon after their grand conquest in which 
they subjugated all other Indian nations east of the Mississippi, and in 
the wars of that period they were believed to have lost about 1,000 
warriors. In 1687, as reported by Marquis Denonville, governor- 
general of Canada, the confederacy had 2,000 warriors. In 1763 Sir 
William Johnson, superintendent of Indian affairs in North America, 
made a census enumeration of the Six Nations, in which it was found 
to contain 1,950 warriors, of which number there were 160 Mohawks, 
250 Oneidas, 140 Tuscaroras, 150 Onondagas, 200 Cayugas and 1,050 
Senecas. At the beginning of the Revolution it was stated on good 
authority that the confederacy numbered 2,200 fighting men, while its 
whole population was about 12,000. The missionary, Samuel Kirk- 



32 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

land, in 1783 estimated the total number of warriors at 1,900, of whom 
600 were Senecas. In 1794, on the division of an annuity by the 
government, there were 628 Oneidas, 40 Cayugas, 450 Onondagas, 
400 Tuscaroras and 1,780 Senecas. At the same time there was esti- 
mated to be in Canada 300 Mohawks, 460 Oneidas, a grand total of 
4,058. A report to the Legislature in 18 19 stated the number of 
Indians in this State as 4,976. 

When the French first visited the vicinity of Western New York 
the territory thereabouts, in what is now Erie county, was in posses- 
sion of a tribe of Indians called the Neuter Nation. Their Indian name 
is given by some early travelers as Kahquah, and by others as Atti- 
wondaronk. The former is the name by which they have been 
generally known. The name Neuter Nation was given them by the 
French, because they lived at peace with the fierce tribes which dwelt 
on either side of them. They were reported by their first European 
visitors to number 12,000 persons, which, however, was doubtless a 
very great exaggeration. They were nevertheless a large and power- 
ful nation, and their villages lay on both sides of the Niagara River. 

The greater part of the shore of Lake Erie was occupied by the 
tribe from which the lake derives its name. Northwest of the Neuter 
Nation dwelt the Algonquins and Hurons, their territory reaching to 
the shores of the great lake which bears their name, while to the 
southeast was the home of those powerful confederates whose fame has 
extended throughout the world, whose warlike achievements have 
compelled the admiration of soldiers, whose eloquence has thrilled the 
hearts of the most cultivated hearers, the brave, sagacious and far- 
dreaded Iroquois. 

Deadly enmity prevailed between the Iroquois and the Hurons, 
while the hostility between the former and the Fries was scarcely less 
bitter. Between these contending foemen the peaceful Kahquahs long 
maintained their neutrality, and the warriors of the East, of the North- 
west and of the Southwest suppressed their hatred for the time, as they 
met by the council- fires of these peacemakers. Like other Indian 
tribes, the Kahquahs guarded against surprise by placing their villages 
a short distance from any navigable water. 

Down to 1641 the Kahquahs succeeded in maintaining their neutral- 
ity between the fierce belligerents on either side of them, though the 



' . THE IROQUOIS. 33 

Jesuit missionaries reported them as being more friendly to the 
Iroquois than to the Hurons. What cause of quarrel, if any, arose 
between the peaceful possessors of the extreme western portion of 
original Ontario county and the powerful confederates to the eastward, 
is entirely unknown, but sometime during the next fifteen years the 
Iroquois fell upon both the Kahquahs and the Eries and exterminated 
them as a nation from the face of the earth. The precise years in 
which these events occurred are uncertain, nor is it known whether the 
Kahquahs or the Eries first suffered from the deadly anger of the Five 
Nations. French accounts favor the view that the Neuter Nation was 
first destroyed, while according to Seneca tradition the Kahquahs still 
dwelt in the territory when the Eries were annihilated. According to 
ancient Seneca tradition, the Eries, who were of themselves a powerful 
nation, had been jealous of the Iroquois from the time the latter formed 
their confederacy. Asserting superiority, they challenged their rivals 
to a grand game of ball, which challenge for two successive years was 
declined, but being again repeated, was accepted by the confederates. 
The opposing representatives met in the western part of what is now 
this State, the meeting resulting in the defeat of the challengers, where- 
upon the Eries then proposed a foot-race between ten of the fleetest 
young men on ekch side. Again the Iroquois were victorious. Then, 
as the story goes, the Kahquahs invited the contestants to their home, 
and while there the chief of the Eries, smarting under the recent defeat, 
proposed a wrestling match between ten champions on each side, the 
victor in each bout to have the privilege of braining his adversary with 
his tomahawk. This challenge, too, was accepted, and in the first con- 
test the Iroquois wrestler threw his antagonist, but declined to play the 
part of executioner, upon which the now enraged Erie chieftian struck 
the unfortunate wrestler dead. Another and another of the Eries was 
in the same way defeated and in the same manner dispatched by his 
wrathful chief 

The jealousy and hatred of the Eries was still more inflamed by de- 
feat, and they soon laid a plan to surprise and destroy the Iroquois, 
but a Seneca woman, who had married among the Eries, but was then 
a widow, fled to her own people and gave notice of the attack. Run- 
ners were sent out, and all the warriors of the confederacy were 

5 



34 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

assembled and led forth to meet the invaders. The two bodies met 
near Honeoye Lake, half way between Canandaigua and the Genesee, 
and after a terrible conflict the Eries were totally defeated, the flying 
remnants pursued to their homes by the victorious Iroquois, and the 
whole nation almost completely destroyed. It was five months before 
the conquerors returned from their deadly pursuit. Afterward a 
powerful party of descendants of the Eries came from the far west to 
attack the Iroquois, but were utterly defeated and slain to a man, their 
bodies burned and the ashes buried in a mound near the old Indian 
church on the the Buffalo Creek reservation. 

Such is the tradition, a very nice story — for the Iroquois. Nothing, 
of course, can be learned from such a story regarding the merits of the 
war, except that it tends to show that the two great battles between 
the combatants were fought in the territory of original Ontario county, 
and the first of them in the very heart of the Seneca possessions, and 
within the borders of the county as it at present exists. It may be 
stated, however, that French accounts tend to show that the Kahquahs 
joined the Iroquois in warfare against the Hurons, but were neverthe- 
less unable to avert their own fate ; that collisions occurred between 
them and their allies of the Five Nations in 1647, followed by open 
war in 1650, resulting in the speedy destruction of the Kahquahs. 
Also that the Iroquois then fell upon the Eries and exterminated them 
about the year 1653. Some accounts make the destruction of the 
Neuter Nation as early as 1642. Amid these conflicting statements 
we only know that between 1640 and 1655 the fierce confederates 
" put out the fires" of the Kahquahs and the Eries, and it is said that 
a few of the former were absorbed into the community of their con- 
querors. 

After the overthrow of the Kahquahs and Eries, the Iroquois lords 
of Ontario county went forth conquering and to conquer. This was 
probably the day of their greatest glory. Stimulated, but not yet crushed 
by contact with the white man, they stayed the progress of the French 
into their territories, they negotiated on equal terms with the Dutch 
and English, and, having supplied themselves with the terrible arms of 
the pale-faces, they smote with direct vengeance whomsoever of their 
own race were so unfortunate as to provoke their wrath. On the Sus- 



l^HE SENEGAS. 35 

quehanna, on the Alleghany, on the Ohio, even to the Mississippi in 
the west, and the Savannah in the south, the Iroquois bore their con- 
quering arms, filling with terror the dwellers alike on the plains of 
Illinois and in the glades of Carolina. They strode over the bones of 
the slaughtered Kahquahs to new conquests on the great lakes beyond, 
even to the foaming cascades of Michillimacinac, and the shores of the 
mighty Superior. They inflicted such terrible defeat upon the Hurons, 
despite the alliance of the latter with the French, that many of the 
conquered natives sought safety on the frozen borders of Hudson's Bay. 
In short, they triumphed on every side, save only where the white 
man came, and even he for a time was held at bay by these fierce con- 
federates. 

The advent of the European nations on the American continent was 
the forerunner of the downfall of the Iroquois confederacy, and doubt- 
less the ultimate extinction of the Indian race. The French invasions, 
particularly those of 1693 and three years later, cost the confederacy 
half it warriors; their allegiance to the British crown (with the excep- 
tion of the Oneidas) in the Revolutionary War. proving to be an 
allegiance with a falling power — these causes, operating with the dread 
vengeance from the American colonist who had so frequently suffered 
at the hands of the savages, broke up the once powerful league and 
scattered its members to a large extent upon the friendly soil of Canada, 
or left them at the mercy of the State and general government, which 
consigned them to reservations. 



CHAPTER III. 



The Seneca Indians, the Original Occupants of Ontario County — Their Origin — The 
French first Visit the Senecas — Beginning of Hostilities — Seneca Villages and their 
Location — Missionaries among the Indians — Results of their Labors. 

THE Seneca Indians, who are frequently mentioned in the preceding 
chapter, were, so far as we have any knowledge, the original own- 
ers and occupants of the soil of Ontario county. It is understood that 
their earliest possessions did not extend west of the Genesee, but with 



36 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

the overthrow of other Indian nations by the Iroquois confederacy, about 
the middle of the seventeenth century, the domain of the Senecas was 
extended westward to the Niagara, or substantially including the terri- 
tory embraced within Ontario county as originally created. And inas- 
much as the preceding chapter has referred only in a general manner to 
the Senecas, and having special reference to the confederacy as a whole 
body, it is proposed in the present chapter to devote special yet brief 
atttention to the Seneca Indians, their traditions, customs, villages and 
domestic life. 

Little is known of the Senecas prior to the advent of the French, but 
from the first knowledge of them they were considered and in fact were 
the most powerful and warlike of the confederated tribes, and being 
stationed at the western extremity of the " Long House," they had to 
guard against invasion from that quarter ; for in the regions west and 
southwest of their domain dwelt the Eries, the Andastes, the Delawares 
and other powerful tribes, which nations were at emnity with the Iro- 
quois. 

The Senecas called themselves " Nun-da- wa-o-no," which signifies 
" the great hill people," or " people of the great hill." This was the 
name of their oldest village, situated upon a hill near the head of Can- 
andaigua Lake, where according to Seneca tradition, the tribe originated 
by springing from the ground. According to the authority of Dr. Mor- 
gan, the locality of Seneca origin is in Middlesex, Yates county, and is 
known as " Bare Hill," being situated six or seven miles from the head 
of the lake. The hill rises with a gradual ascent to the height of about 
lOOO feet. Indian tradition associates Bare Hill with much interest, 
and while the versions have been numerous, the story runs about the 
same in each account, and being merely a tradition, and having no pos- 
sible foundation in fact, it is omitted from these pages. However, it 
may be stated that on the top of Bare Hill the Senecas were wont to 
assemble annually and offer up their sacrifices, and, according to S. C. 
Cleveland, twenty years ago there were still discernible on the summit 
of the hill, " the traces of an ancient fort, covering about an acre and 
surrounded by a ditch, and formerly by a formidable walk" The same 
authority says, referring to the old structures, " they indicate defenses 
raised by Indian hands, or more probably belong to the labors of a race 



THE SENEGAS. 37 

that preceded the Indian occupation." Seneca tradition has it that after 
the destruction of all their race (save two, a boy and a girl, who were 
spared by the serpent) the hill top was abandoned and the coming gen- 
erations of the tribe, who must have descended from the spared couple, 
built up their village on the west shore of Seneca Lake, where now 
stands the village of Geneva. 

The origin and meaning of the name " Seneca," appears to be quite 
uncertain, while the word itself has no less than one hundred variations. 
The first Europeans who visited these Indians in their territory were 
the Franciscan and Jesuit missionaries, and their earliest knowledge of 
them came through the Huron Indians of Canada, and by the latter they 
were called " Sonontouerhonons ; " that is " people of Sonnontouan." 
Sonontowane is probably the most correct form of the name, although it 
is sometimes prefixed with the letter T which represents the lisping 
sound of S quite common among the Senecas. It means " great hill " 
or mountain, conveying the idea of people of the mountain or moun- 
taineers. 

In August, 1669, La Salle, accompanied by two priests, De Casson 
and Galinee, made a visit to the principal Seneca village, which was 
situated about twenty miles southerly from the head of Irondequoit Bay. 
Galinee was the historian of this expedition, and his journal reports this 
as the first visit of La Salle to the Senecas. The visitors were very 
hospitably received. The village, like those of all the Indians, was a 
mere collection of cabins, surrounded with palisades about twelve or 
thirteen feet high, bound together at the top, and supported at the bot- 
tom by piles of wood. Of the Senecas, Galinee says that they were the 
most numerous and had four villages, two of which contained about one 
hundred cabins each, while the others had about thirty each, and the 
number of warriors was about 1,000 or r,200. On the occasion of this 
visit La Salle and the priest, escorted by two Seneca Indians, made a 
visit to a certain burning spring, the location of which is at Bristol Cen- 
ter in this county. 

During the spring and summer of 1677 Wentworth Greenhalgh, an 
Englishman, visited all the Five Nations and made very minute observ- 
ations, counting the houses of the Indians, as well as numbering the 
warriors of each tribe. He reported the Senecas as having looo war- 



38 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

riors, while their villages were named Catiagora, TiotoJiatton, Canoe- 
iiada, and Keint-he. " Canagora and Tiotohatton," says Greenhalgh, 
" lye'within thirty miles of ye Lake Frontenacque [Lake Ontario], and 
ye other two lye about four or five miles apiece to ye southward of 
those. They have abundance of corne. None of their townes are 
stockadoed. Canagora lies on the top of a great hill, and in that, as 
well as in the bignesse, much like Onondago, contayning 150 houses. 

" Tiotohatton lyes on the brincke or edge of a hill ; has not much 
cleared ground ; is near the river Tiotehatton, w'ch signifies bending. 
It lyes to westward of Canagorah about 30 miles, containing about 
120 houses, being ye largest of all ye houses wee saw, ye ordinary be- 
ing 50 to 60 foot long with 12 and 13 fires in one house. They have 
a good store of corne growing about a mile to the northward of the 
town^." 

Greenhalgh also states that he was at this place on the 17th of June, 
at which time about fifty prisoners were brought in from the south- 
westward, four of whom were put to death. On the eighteenth, as he 
journeyed towards Canagorah, he overtook the party with the prison- 
ers, and discovered that the captives had been slashed with knives, 
their fingers cut off, and on reaching Canagorah the tortures were con- 
tinued for about seven hours, four men, four women and one boy being 
burned at the stake. Of the other two villages Greenhalgh says : 

" Canoenada lyes about four miles to ye southward of Canagorah ; 
conteynes about 30 houses, well furnished with Corne. 

" Keint-he lyes about four or five miles to ye southward of Tiete- 
hatton ; contains about 24 houses, well furnished with Corne." 

He also says that the French called Canagorah St. Jacques (St. 
James), and Tiotohatton is likewise called La Conception. 

In 1654, when a peace was temporarily established between the 
French and the Five Nations, permission was granted to the Jesuits to 
found missions and build chapels in the Iroquois country. Between 
that time and 1769 there were twenty- four missionaries who labored 
among the Indians of New York, but all, whether Catholics or Prot- 
estants, were eventually forced to admit that their efforts as a whole 
were unsatisfactory and discouraging. Later religious and educational 
work among the Indians, even down to the present time, while yielding 



THE SENEGAS. 39 

perhaps sufficient results to justify its prosecution, has constantly met 
with the most discouraging obstacles among the tribes themselves. 
Rev. Samuel Kirkland, who labored as a missionary among the 
Iroquois for a number of years and who resided at Kanadesaga during 
1765 and 1766, says: "I cannot help being of the opinion that 
Indians never were intended to live in a state of civilized society. 
There never was, I believe, an instance of an Indian forsaking his 
habits and savage manners any more than a bear his ferocity." The 
Doc. Hist, of New York, referring to Mr. Kirkland's missionary labors, 
says : " He has taken all the pains that a man can take, but his whole 
flock are Indians still, and like the bear, which you can muffle and lead 
out to dance to the sound of music, becomes again a bear when his 
muffler is removed and the music ceases. The Indians will attend 
public'worship and sing extremely well, following Mr. Kirkland's notes, 
but whenever the service is over they wrap themselves in their blank- 
ets and either stand like cattle on the sunny side of a house, or lie 
before a fire." In this connection we may state that Mr. Kirkland was 
one of the ablest and most self-sacrificing of the many missionaries who 
labored among the Senecas, and what he could not accomplish in his 
work it may safely be concluded others could not. 

In the present connection, also, we may with propriety refer by name 
to the Jesuit fathers and missionaries who labored among the Senecas 
at an early day. Simeon Le Moyne, a veteran Huron missionary, la- 
bored among the Indians during a part of the year 1654, followed the 
next year by Joseph Chaumonot accompanied by Claude Dablon. 
Father Chaumonot did not remain long with the Senecas, and returning 
to Onondaga, was sent to the Oneidas. Early in 1657, a plot to ex- 
terminate the French colony and the missionaries being discovered, the 
latter were hastily called in, while the whole colony fled from the coun- 
try. A fierce war followed between the French and the Iroquois, last- 
ing two years, and it was not until the fall of 1668 that another mission 
was established among the Senecas, when Father James Fremin arrived. 
Of his experiences Father Fremin says : " When I arrived here at the 
close of the year 1668, I was well received ; but a fatal form of sickness 
breaking out at the time, desolated the entire region, so that I was wholly 
occupied in visiting the cabins to instruct, and baptize the sick who 



40 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

were in extremity. I baptized more than I20 persons, nearly all adults, 
of whom more than ninety died soon after baptism. But as I was alone 
and could not leave the field, more than 1 50 died (without baptism) in 
districts far removed from here, while engaged in fishing or hunting." 
This induced Father Fremin to send for assistance, and Father Julian 
Garnier went to his aid ; but when the latter arrived the contagion had 
ended, whereupon Father Garnier assumed charge of the town named 
Gandachiragoue, where he soon built a commodious chapel. In rela- 
tion to his own work Father Fremin says : " On the 27th of September 
I entered the town called Gandougarae (St. Michael) and was received 
with every demonstration of public joy. The town is composed of rem- 
nants of three different nations, which, having been subdued by the Iro- 
qois, were forced to submit at the discretion of their conquerors, and to 
establish themselves in their territory." While a chapel was being built 
Father Fremin visited the people in their cabins. In August, 1669, 
the priest was called to Onondaga, and it was during his absence that 
La Salle, in company with the priests, of whom mention has already 
been made, visited the Senecas in furtherance of the expedition to pros- 
ecute his discoveries toward the Mississippi River. Later on Father 
Fremin assumed charge of the mission at Gandougarae, or St. Michael, 
and Father Garnier at Gandachiragoue, or St. John. However, toward 
the close of the year Father Fremin returned to Canada, leaving Father 
Garnier in sole charge of the Seneca missions at La Conception, St. 
James, and St. Michael, but in the spring of 1671 his labors were inter- 
rupted at the latter place by the burning of the town, and the chapel 
was not replaced until the following year. In 1672 Father Peter Raf- 
feix took charge of the mission of the Conception, and in a year or two 
afterward Father Jean Pierron was assigned to the mission of St. James. 
In 1677 Father Pierron was recalled, and in 1680 Father Raffeix left, 
leaving Father Garnier alone, who continued among the Senecas until 
1683, when, being secretly informed that the French intended to make 
war upon the Iroquois, he escaped in a bark which had been built by 
the French governor to trade on Lake Ontario. 

The French occupation of the Niagara River in 1678, by La Salle, 
made it necessary to send a courier to the Senecas to quiet their suspi- 
cions, and avoid the probability of an attack upon La Salle and his com- 



THE SENEGAS. 41 

pany, who were desirous of building a small vessel with which to navi- 
gate the lakes. This mission was confided to Sieur de La Motte and 
F'ather Hennepin, the latter a Flemish Recollect and the historian of the 
expedition. The party left Niagara on Christmas day, traveled a dis 
tance of about eighty miles, and reached the Seneca village on the last 
day of the year. Father Hennepin conducted the business intrusted to 
him, but La Motte soon returned to Canada. After a grand council 
with the Senecas, La Salle's representatives succeeded in quieting the 
apprehensions of the savages regarding his intentions, and also gained 
consent to effect the lodgment on the banks of the Niagara River for 
the purpose of building a vessel. The work of construction was at once 
begun and carried on throughout the winter, two Indians of the Wolf 
clan of the Senecas being employed to hunt deer for the French party. 
In the following spring the vessel was launched, " after having been 
blessed according to the rites of our Church of Rome." The new ship 
was named Le Griffon (The Grifiin) in compliment to Count de Fron- 
tenac, minister of the French colonies, whose coat of arms was orna- 
mented with representations of that mythical beast. The Griffin re- 
mained several months in the Niagara. Meanwhile Father Hennepin 
returned to Fort Frontenac (now Kingston) and obtained two priestly 
assistants. 

The labors of the Jesuit fathers among the Senecas and other nations 
of the Iroquois were so contested at every step, and their lives so con- 
stantly endangered that it was enough to dishearten and discourage the 
most courageous missionary worker, as will be more fully mentioned in 
a subsequent chapter. The English, in 1664, conquered New Amster- 
dam and the Netherlands, and thereafter for a period of a hundred years 
were either covertly or openly scheming to work the overthrow of the 
French power in America. Knowing full well the hatred of the Iro- 
quois for the French and the Canada Indians, they neglected no oppor- 
tunity to incite the savages to deeds of violence against the French, as 
well as against the missionary laborers among the Iroquois. Indeed, 
after the English had set up a colonial government in America, and 
after the English and French had ceased secret opposition, and were 
openly contending for supremacy, the colonial legislature passed an act 
forbidding the presence of any missionary, of whatever denomination, 



42 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

representing the French power among the Iroquois. It may be stated, 
however, that this legislative injunction was not fully respected among 
the western tribes of the confederacy, as the missionaries succeeded in 
ingratiating themselves in the affection of many of the Senecas, who 
welcomed and at times protected them, and it was only when the anger 
of the whole confederacy was aroused that the priests were compelled 
to vacate the field. 



CHAPTER IV. 



The Seneca Indians— Continuation of the Preceding Chapter — English (Jolonists In- 
cite the Iroquois against the French — The Latter Retaliate — Courcelle's Expedition — 
Denonville invades the Seneca Country and Destroys the Villages — Their Subsequent 
Building up — Names and New Locations. 

IN a preceding chapter mention has been made of the voyage of Cham- 
plain up the lake of the same name, and how on that occasion the 
adventurous Frenchman brought down upon himself the almost never- 
ending hatred of the Iroquois, by allowing himself to engage in a battle 
with the Mohawks in which a number of the latter were slain Later 
on Champlain made another invasion into the Iroquois country, but 
with fruitless results, On both these occasions the Frenchmen were 
accompanied by the Canadian Indians, between whom and the Iroquois 
there was an old feud. From this time on until the final overthrow of 
French power in America, there was little peace between the French 
and the Iroquois, and the periods were brief and of little effect. As a 
consequence the whole of Northern and Western New York was the 
natural highway of various invading parties. At this time and during 
the next hundred years England and France were frequently at war, 
and with each outbreak in the mother countries there was consequent 
strife between their American colonies. 

Samuel de Champlain died in 1635, and from that date down to 1665, 
there appears to have been no serious outbreak between the English 
and French colonies in America, but during that time the Iroquois made 
their grand conquest of other Indian nations east of the Mississippi. 



triE SENEGAS. 43 

Among the tribes to feel their vengeance were those who dwelt in Can- 
ada, and all of whom were in friendship with the French. In 1665 the 
colonists of New France, alarmed by the increasing English settlements 
south of them, and knowing that the English were inciting the Iroquois 
against their Indian allies, resolved to avenge past injuries and put an 
end to future incursions To this end Lord de Courcelles, then gov- 
ernor-general of Canada, in January, 1666, started with less than 600 
men upon an expedition against the Iroquois in general, and the Mo- 
hawks in particular. 

This expedition, although it resulted in no disaster to the Iroquois, 
prompted them to sue for peace, and a treaty was concluded in May, 
June and July, 1666, by the Senecas, Oneidas and Mohawks, respective- 
ly. In 1667 was concluded the peace of Breda between England, Hol- 
land and France, but it was of short duration, and 1669 the French 
were again at war witbthe Iroquois. However, in April, 1672, Count 
de Frontenac was appointed governor and lieutenant-general of Canada, 
and under his administration peace was again established in 1673. 

The Colonial History of New York, referring to Frontenac's admin- 
istration, makes the latter say: " In spite of the efforts of the Dutch to 
get the Iroquois to make war on the French, the Iroquois came last 
year on solemn embassy to Montreal, brought eight children belonging 
to the principal families of their village, and ratified the treaty made 
with them in 1673." 

In 1684 another rupture occurred between the French and Iroquois. 
M. de la Barre was then governor of New France, and Colonel Dongan 
governor of New York. The Frenchman led an expedition against the 
Senecas, but hearing that the latter would be reinforced by Dongan 
with " 400 horse and 400 foot," he gave up his purpose. This preten- 
tious expedition, which ended so ingnominiously, subjected De la Barre 
to severe censure and in the following year he was superseded by Mar- 
quis Denonville, who came over instructed to preserve a strict neutral- 
ity. This he found to be impossible and so informed his sovereign. 
Reinforcements were sent him for a determined attack upon the Sene- 
cas, and in the summer of 1687 an expedition of two thousand French 
and Indians was organized and marched against the enemy. This large 
force impelled the Indians to adopt their customary tactics for self-pres- 



^^ HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ervation, and their villages were deserted, or nearly so. The invaders 
destroyed the principal settlements of the Senecas, one of them the 
arge eastern village, being called St. James, or Gannagaro. which was 
located on Boughton Hill, one mile south of Victor village, and the 
other the small village of St. Michael, or Gannogarae, distant a short 
league from the large village. The western village was located on a 
bend of Honeoye outlet, some two miles north of Honeoye Falls This 
village was called " Totiakton, surnamed the great village of the Con- 
ception," and '• the small village of Gannounata " was distant two leaoues 
from Totiakton. The Abbe Belmont who accompanied the expedition 
says : '' The Tsonnontouans (Senecas) have four laroe villages which 
they change every ten years in order to bring themselves near the 
woods and permit them to grow up again. They call them (meaning 
the villages) Gaensera, Tohaiton, which are the two larger; Onnutague 
and Onnennatu, which are the smaller." 

The events of the battle between Denonville's' forces and the Indians 
IS briefly described. Arriving at Irondequoit Bay on the loth of July 
the necessary preparations were soon completed, and on the afternoon 
of the I2th the march into the interior was begun. After proceeding, 
about three leagues the French encamped for the night, but resumed 
he march early the next morning. The large town of the Senecas 
toward which the French were proceeding was that which we have re- 
ferred to as situated on Boughton Hill, a mile south of Victor villa-e 
About one and one-half miles northwest of this Indian town and a lit- 
tle northwest of the village of Victor, is another hill, on which at the 
time was a great thicket of beech trees, and here the Senecas arranged 
an ambuscade. Between these two hills is a small valley, through which 
passes the stream called Great Brook, the borders of the latter being 
planted with alders so thick that one could scarcely see Here the In 
d.ans concealed another ambuscade, it being their intention to allow the 
whole French army to pass the first ambuscade, and then by attacking 
them m the rear, force them to fall into the second trap, and so have 
them between two attacking parties. However, the second division of 
the French army happened to be quite distant from the first, and as the 
advance guard passed near the thicket of beech trees, the Indians sup 
posing the whole army had passed, with a terrible whoop began the at 



TOE SENEGAS. 4.'^ 

\ 
tack. Although much disconcerted by the sudden onslaught, Denon- 
ville quickly rallied his forces, checked the Senecas, and having the su- 
perior force soon overcame the enemy, and compelled them to retreat. 
The successful French encamped on the battle field, and the next morn- 
ing marched on to the village, which they found in ashes, the Senecas 
themselves having applied the torch before they retreated from the 
neighborhood. 

From the various accounts written concerning the expedition of De- 
nonville, we learn that the four principal Seneca villages in existence at 
that time were as follows : Gandagaro, situated one mile south of the 
village of Victor and otherwise known as St. James, Gandagan, and Gaen- 
sera. The second, Gandongarae, the St. Michael of the missionaries, 
and otherwise known as Canoenada and Onontague, peopled principally 
by captives from the Hurons, is thought by some to have been located 
on the south part of lot 13 in the northeast part of the present town of 
East Bloomfield, three miles southeast of Boughton Hill, near where 
the old Indian trail crossed the Ganargua or Mud Creek. Another site 
of an Indian village was a little over a mile to the west of this on the 
Steele farm on lot 16. The sites of other Indian towns are also to be 
found in that region of country, and perhaps further investigation may 
be requisite to locate the precise site of the town. 

These two villages, after their destruction above noted, gradually 
drifted eastward, and a hundred years later were found by Sullivan near 
present Geneva. In 1720 they were two miles east of the foot of Can- 
andaigua Lake, and on the White Springs farm two miles southwest, 
and in 1750 on Burrell's, or Slate Rock Creek, five miles southwest of 
Geneva, and in 1756 at the Old Castle, two miles northwest of Geneva. 

Sonnontonan, otherwise known as Totiacton, Tegaronhies, and also 
as La Conception, was located a mile and a half northwest of Honeoye 
Falls, on the northeastermost bend of Honeoye outlet, in the town of 
Mendon, Monroe county. It was about ten miles west of Gandagaro 
on Boughton Hill. A second location of this village, and the one prob- 
ably occupied by it when it was destroyed in 1687, was on the Ball farm, 
a mile west of Honeoye Falls village. This great village was for some 
time the western door of the Long House, and the residence of Tegar- 
onhies, and was therefore sometimes called Tegaronhies's town. 



4G HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Gandachioragou, otherwise known as Gannounata and Keinthe, the 
western small town, was probably on the site of the present village of 
Lima, and four miles south of the great town when located near Honeoye 
Falls. 

After destroying everything of value Denonville proceeded to the 
mouth of the Niagara River, where he erected a small fort on the east 
side. This was the origin of Fort Niagara, one of the most celebrated 
strongholds in America, which, though for a lime abandoned, was after- 
ward for more than half a century considered the key of western New 
York, and of the whole upper lake country. 

The principal eastern Seneca villages after the invasion by Denon- 
ville were those called Onnaghee and Ganechstage, both of which were 
between Canandaigua and Seneca Lakes. The location of the former is 
definitely settled as having been about two miles east of Canandaigua 
Lake, near the old Indian trail on which the turnpike was afterward sub- 
stantially laid. The name Onnaghee, with its variations in spelling, 
carries the idea that it was the old castle or village. The Seneca word 
" onagheh," meaning " head," would be an appropriate name for a set- 
tlement by people of the village which had been the head or capital of 
the tribe, as Gandagaro was when destroyed by Denonville. The lo- 
cation of the other principal Seneca village is definitely fixed as having 
been at the White Springs, about two miles southwest from Geneva, 
and which was called Ganechstage. 

The precise date of the first settlement of these villages is unknown, 
but it must have been made as early, if not earlier, than the year 1700, 
from the fact that Colonel Romer was then sent by the Earl of Bello- 
mont to the Indian country with instructions " to go and view a well or 
spring which is eight miles beyond the Sineks furthest castle, which they 
have told me blazes up into a flame when a light coale or fire-brand is 
put into it." As the Burning Spring is only eight miles from the foot 
of Canandaigua Lake, it might be inferred that the settlement at that 
time was at Canandaigua ; however, there is nothing to confirm such 
an inference, and we must conclude that Onnaghee was the castle re- 
ferred to, and inasmuch as Indian settlements are known to have ex- 
tended over a large territory, we may well suppose that from the lake 
to the place of principal habitation, two miles further east, might be 



THE SENEGAS. 47 

within the limits of the castle proper. However, the settlement at On- 
naghee was abandoned previous to 1750. Canandaigua was undoubt- 
edly an off-shoot or branch from it, as the name signifies that it was not 
only " a place selected for a new settlement," or " the chosen spot or 
city," but that it was a place chosen by a party separating from an- 
other. 

The settlement at Ganechstage was broken up in 1732 by ravages of 
the small-pox, at which time a large number of the inhabitants died, 
and nearly all the others fled and settled in scattered fragments in the 
neighborhood of Slate Rock or Burrell creek, about three miles further 
southwest. Here they were found by the Moravian missionaries, Bishop 
Cammerhoff and Rev. David Zeisberger, in 1750, their settlement in 
that place being called New Ganechstage. Tiie record in the journal 
of these Moravians is so minute that it positively establishes the fact 
that Ganechstage was the identical Gandagaro that was formerly located 
on Boughton Hill. In 1756, during the progress of the last French 
war, Sir William Johnson, in order to conciliate and attach the Iroquois 
to the British interest, erected palisade fortifications in the Indian coun- 
try, one of them being in the Seneca territory on Kanadesaga or Castle 
Brook, about two miles northwest from Seneca Lake, and about the same 
distance north of the former site of Ganechstage. At that time the 
scattered Indian settlements were brought more closely together on the 
new location, which was then and for many years afterward called Kan- 
adesaga, but now more familiarly known as the Old Castle. The Indian 
name of the place, according to Seneca dialect, was Ganundasaga, 
meaning " a new settlement village." 

Sir William Johnson calls it Kanadasero, which means the grand 
village, not that it differed from others, but from the fact that is was a 
village of the Turtle clan, and the residence of the Smoke Bearer, who 
alone could light the council fire. The name Gaensera of Denonville 
and Kanadasera are identical but of different dialects. Gandagaro is 
another variation, the garo and sera carrying the idea of grand. This 
place being the capital of the Seneca nation, was by far the most 
important village of the tribe, and was wholly destroyed by General 
Sullivan in 1779. 

The fortifications at Kanadesaga, as they were provided to be built, 
were one hundred feet square ; the stockades to be of pine or oak, fif- 



48 ■ HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTr. 

teen feet long, at least three of which to be sunk in the ground, well 
pounded and rammed, and the two touching sides square so as to lay- 
close ; loop-holes to be made four feet distant. There were also two 
block houses each twenty feet square below, the upper portion project- 
ing one and a half feet over the beams, both well roofed and shingled, 
and a good sentry-box on each ; also a good gate of three-inch oak 
plank and iron hinges, and a small gate of oak plank of the same thick- 
ness. 

The name Kanadesaga (Ganundasaga) was applied by the Indians 
also to the creek, the lake and its outlet, and at a subsequent day was 
transferred to Geneva. It has been found written and spelled in more 
than one hundred different ways, yet Kanadesaga has ever been the ac- 
cepted form, and carries quite fully the pronunciation as used by the 
early settlers. After the destruction of the village by Sullivan's army 
in 1779, there was no further permanent occupation of its site by the 
Indians. After the close of the Revolution, when traders and specula- 
tors were penetrating the whole Genesee country, the center of opera- 
tion was at Geneva, " under the hill," south of Cemetery Creek, or at 
and south of the east end of Seneca street in Geneva, as it had then be- 
come known. This locality then became known as Kanadesaga, while 
the old site was called the Old Castle. 

Although all traces of the old fortification and its block- houses have 
long since been destroyed, the burial-mound of the Senecas is still in 
existence, and is in the lot on the southwest corner of North street, or 
the Old Castle road, and the old Pre-emption road. The center of this 
mound is 200 feet south of North street, and 190 feet west of the old 
Pre-emption road. The stockade was a short distance south of the 
mound, its northeast corner being ninety feet west of the Pre-emption 
road referred to, while toward its southeast end the distance to the road 
was about seventy feet. The farm of the State Agricultural Experi- 
ment Station is directly opposite, on the east side of the old Pre-emp- 
tion road. 

In the present connection we may also briefly mention other Indian 
village sites than those already noted, but so far as known they were of 
very little importance. Some of them were in the immediate vicinity 
of Canandaigua. In the neighborhood of Geneva, and about seven 



Ore A a rf/ 




AT 

6A-NUN-DA-SA-GA 

Avi//age of the SenfU'cis near(^(fi('i-aNY. 
It Wfisf/cstroycii iy {?>'// 7 Oi///iian, ifijSfi/?f. ///9. 
TheT>'erirh(Sorei>f(// (//sihleas i,/?own in 
the (/roand p/ofi Aai/ /S4i>, 



Indian Orc/iarc^i;. 
Apple T}-ers.\^ 




50 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

miles to the northwest and on the lake shore was Gothseunquean, or 
Kashong. This place was visited by Missionary Kirkland in 1765, and 
in 1779 was destroyed by a detachment from Sullivan's army. On the 
opposite shore of the lake and a little further south was Kendaia, or 
Appletown, which also was destroyed at the same time. The Cam- 
merhoff journal mentions a Cayuga town called Nuquiage, at the north- 
east corner of Seneca lake. In the center of lot 33, Fayette, Seneca 
county, was at one time a fortified Indian town of which but little is 
known. A short distance northwest of Geneva, in the southwestern 
part of lots 56 and 58, town of Seneca, were two Indian village sites. 
They were examined by E. G. Squier in 1848, and are figured and de- 
scribed in his " Antiquities of New York," that on lot 58 being a regu- 
lar fortified work, and on lot 56 a palisaded fortification, the latter being 
about one -half mile west of the former. They are undoubtedly ancient 
works, long antedating Kanadesaga, but nothing whatever is known 
about them. On lots lOi and 120 at Oaks Corners in the town of 
Phelps, was also an Indian village site, but of modern date. 



CHAPTER V. 



French and English Rivalry — The Iroquois destroy Montreal — The Treaty at Rys- 
wick — Queen Anne's War — The Five Nations Become the Six Nations — Joncaire's 
Trading-post — Events l^eceding the French and English War — Attitude of the Iro- 
quois — Influence of Sir WilHam Johnson — The Senecas Remain Neutral, but Favor the 
French — Final Overthrow of French Power in America. 

THE bold incursion of Denonville's army, and his allied Huron 
and Algonquin Indians, into the country of the Senecas, the 
strongest nation of the Iroquois, so alarmed the latter that they applied 
to Governor Dongan, of the colony of New York, for protection. It 
was promised them, of course, with advice that the Iroquois should not 
make peace with the French. However, Denonville called a meeting 
of the chiefs of the Five Nations at Montreal to arrange a treaty, and 
they decided to send a representative ; but before the meeting was con- 
summated, and on account of alleged treachery on the part of Denon- 



THE FRENCH, THE ENGLISH, AND THE IROQtJOlg. ',1 

ville, the Iroquois became deeply angered against the French and 
burned for revenge. The result was that in July, 1689, Montreal was 
sacked, plundered and burned; men, women and children massacred or 
carried into captivity. In October following the Iroquois made a simi- 
lar incursion at the lower end of the island, which was likewise dev- 
astated. 

At this period the fortunes of France in North America were brought 
very low. The recent Iroquois invasions compelled the abandonment 
of Forts Frontenac and Niagara, and proved almost sufficient to over- 
throw the French dominion in Canada. Many of their former Indian 
allies, disgusted with De la Barre's successive failures, deserted the 
French standard and sought an alliance with the English. However, a 
welcome change was at hand for the French. The divided counsels of 
the English colonies, growing out of the revolution in the mother 
country, resulting in the accession of the Prince of Orange to the 
throne, gave a new aspect to affairs and was speedily followed by an- 
other open war with France. In 1689 Count de Frontenac, the same 
energetic old peer who had encouraged La Salle in his brilliant dis- 
coveries, and whose name was for a while borne by Lake Ontario, was 
sent out as governor of New France. This vigorous but cruel leader 
partially retrieved the desperate condition of the French colony. He, 
too, invaded the Iroquois, but accomplished no more than Denonville. 
The war continued with varying fortunes until 1697, ^^^^ Five Nations 
being all that time the friends of the English, and a greater part of the 
time engaged in active hostihty against the French. Their authority 
over the whole Genesee country and far up the south shore of Lake 
Erie, was unbroken, save when a detachment of F'rench troops was 
actually marching along the border. 

At the treaty of Ryswick in 1697, while the ownership of other 
lands was definitely conceded to France and England respectively, that 
of the Genesee country was left wholly unsettled. The English claimed 
sovereignty overall the lands of the Five Nations; the French with 
equal energy asserted the authority of King Louis over the same 
region as a part of New France, while the Iroquois themselves, when- 
ever they heard of the controversy, repudiated alike the pretensions of 
Yonnondio and Corlear, as they denominated the governors respectively 
of Canada and New York. 



n2 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Scarcely had the echoes of battle died away after the peace of Rys- 
wick, when, in 1702, the rival nations became involved in the long 
conflict known as " Queen Anne's War." By this time, however, the 
Iroquois had grown wise and prudently maintained a neutrality, com- 
manding the respect of both French and English, the former being 
wary of again provoking the powerful confederates, while the Colonial 
government of New York was very willing that the Five Nations should 
remain neutral, as they thus furnished a shield against French attacks 
for the whole frontier of the colony. 

Meanwhile, through all the western country, the French extended 
their influence. Detroit was founded in 1701. Other posts were es- 
tablished far and wide. Notwithstanding their alliance with the Hurons 
and other foes of the Iroquois, and notwithstanding the enmity aroused 
by the invasions of Champlain, Denonville and Frontenac, such was 
the subtle skill of the French that they rapidly acquired a strong in- 
fluence among the western tribes of the confederacy, especially the 
Senecas. Even the powerful socio-political system of the Hodenosau- 
nee weakened under the influence of European intrigue, and while the 
eastern Iroquois, though preserving their neutrality, were friendly to 
the English, the Senecas, and perhaps the Cayugas, were almost ready 
to take up arms for the French. 

About 17 12 an important event occurred in the history of the Iro- 
quois confederacy, the Five Nations then becoming the Six Nations. 
The Tuscaroras, a powerful tribe of North Carolina, had become in- 
volved in a war with the whites, growing out of a dispute about land. 
The colonists being aided by several other Indian tribes, the Tuscaroras 
were defeated, many of them killed, and a number of others captured 
and sold as slaves. The greater part of the remainder fled northward 
to the Iroquois, who immediately adopted them as one of their tribes 
of the confederacy, and assigned them a location near the Oneidas. 
The readiness of the haughty warriors of the Iroquois to extend the 
shelter of their Long House over a band of fleeing exiles was due to 
the fact that the latter had been the allies of the Five Nations against 
other southern Indians ; which would also account for the eagerness of 
the latter to join in the overthrow of the Tuscaroras. 

Not long after this Chabert Joncaire, a Frenchman, who had been 
captured in youth by the Senecas, and who had been adopted into 



THE FRENCH, THE ENGLISH, AND THE IROQUOIS. ft3 

their tribe and had married a Seneca wife, but who had been released 
at the treaty of peace, was employed by the Frencli authorities to pro- 
mote peace among the Iroquois. Pleading his claims as an adopted 
child of the nation, he was allowed by the Seneca chiefs to build a 
cabin on the site of Lewiston, which soon became a center of French 
influence. All the efforts of the English were impotent either to dis- 
lodge him or to obtain a similar privilege for any of their own people. 
" Joncaire is a child of the nation," was the sole reply vouchsafed to 
every complaint. Though Fort Niagara was for the time abandoned, 
and no regular fort built at Lewiston, yet Joncaire's trading post em- 
braced a considerable group of cabins, and at least a part of the time a 
detachment of French soldiers was stationed there. 

About 1725 they began rebuilding Fort Niagara on the site where 
Denonville had erected his fortress. They did so without opposition, 
though it seems strange that they could so easily have allayed the 
jealousy of the Six Nations. It may be presumed, however, that the 
very fact of the French being such poor colonizers worked to their ad- 
vantage in establishing a certain kind of influence among the Indians. 
Few of the Gallic adventurers being desirous of engaging in agriculture, 
they made very little effort to obtain land, while the English were con- 
stantly arousing the jealousy of the natives by obtaining enormous 
grants from some of the chiefs, often doubtless by very dubious 
methods. Moreover, the French always possessed a peculiar facility 
for assimilating with savage and half- civilized races, thus gaining an 
influence over them. Whatever the cause, the power of the French 
constantly increased among the Senecas. Fort Niagara was their 
stronghold, and the Genesee country was for more than thirty years to 
some extent under their control. The influence of Joncaire was main- 
tained and increased by his sons all through the second quarter of the 
eighteenth century. 

In the war between England and France, begun in 1744 and closed 
in 1748, the Six Nations generally maintained their neutrality, though 
the Mohawks gave some aid to the English. During the eight years 
of nominal peace which succeeded the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, both 
the French and the English made every effort to extend their dominion 
beyond their frontier settlements, the former with greater success. 



54 HISTORY OF ONTARtO COUNTY. 

To Niagara, Detroit and other posts they added Presque Isle (now 
Erie, Pa.). Venango, and finally Fort Duquesne on the site of Pittsburg, 
designing to establish a line of forts from the lake to the Ohio, and 
thence to the Mississippi. Frequent detachments of troops passed 
through along this line. Gaily dressed French officers sped backward 
and forward, attended by the fierce warriors of their allied tribes, and 
not infrequently by the Senecas. Dark gowned Jesuits hastened to 
and fro, everywhere receiving the respect of the red men, and using all 
their art to magnify the power of both France and the Church of 
Rome. 

It is possible that the whole Iroquois confederacy would have been 
induced to become active partisans of the French, had it not been for 
the influence of one man, the English superintendent (f Indian affairs in 
America, he then being known as Colonel, afterward as General, and 
still later as Sir William Johnson. Colonel Johnson then dwelt at Mount 
Johnson, afterward known as Fort Johnson, on the banks of the Mohawk 
River, and in the very heart of the Mohawk Indian territory. Later on, 
in 1763, Sir William occupied Johnson Hall, a magnificent residence in 
the village of Johnstown, in this State. The hall is still standing, as al- 
so is his former dwelling at Mount Johnson, both being well preserved 
and retaining much of their original appearance. 

William Jolinson was of Irish birth and parentage, and came to Amer- 
ica in 1738 as the agent of his uncle. Sir Peter Warren, the latter hav- 
ing been the owner of an extensive tract of land in the Mohawk valley. 
Johnson located in the valley just below the present city of Amsterdam, 
where he acted as agent for his uncle in the development and sale of 
the lands, and at the same time opened a general store for trade with 
the Indians and the few whites then living in the region. By honesty 
and straightforward dealing among them, Johnson acquired a great in- 
fluence over the Mohawks, and his reputation soon spread throughout 
the whole Six Nations, and he gained an almost complete mastery over 
them. During the later French war, Johnson was elevated through vari- 
ous ranks to the generalship, but preferred to be in direct command of 
his faithful Iroquois rather than of the continental British soldiery. For 
distinguished services as soldier and as a diplomat, he was rewarded 
by the crown with a baronetc)' and made sole superintendent of Indian 
affairs in North America. 



THE FRENCH, THE ENGLISH, AND THE IROQUOIS. 55 

Just preceding the last great struggle in America between England 
and France, Johnson, in fulfillment of promises made to the Iroquois, 
built strong fortifications in the territory of each of the nations, where- 
ever the same was most desirable and would afford the greatest protec- 
tion to the neighboring Indians One of these defences was built under 
his direction on the site of the Seneca village, Kanadesaga, near the 
corporate limits of Geneva, and which has been more fully described in 
the preceding chapter. 

Johnson witnessed the successes of the last French and English war; 
in fact he was an important factor in accomplishing the grand results 
of that struggle, gained distinction for himself therein, but viewed with 
alarm and apprehension the gradual separation of the American colo- 
nies from the mother country. He did not live to see the final over- 
throw of the British power in America, having died in 1774, after which 
his office of Indian superintendent, but never his grand influence, de- 
scended to his son, Sir John Johnson, and to his nephew, Col. Guy 
Johnson, the latter being deputy-superintendent in Canada. Soon after 
the outbreak of the Revolution, Sir John and Col. Guy Johnson fled 
from Johnstown and " Guy Park " and took up their residence in Cana- 
da, being followed there by nearly all of the Mohawks, many of the 
Onondagas and Cayugas, some of the Senecas, and a few of the Oneidas 
and Tuscaroras. 

Returning from this digression to the general narrative, we find in 
1756, after two years of open hostilities in America, war was again 
declared between England and France, being their last great struggle 
for supremacy in the New World. The ferment in the then wilderness 
of Western New York grew more earnest, and more frequently were 
seen the gaily dressed French officers and soldiers of King Louis, speed- 
ing from Montreal, Quebec and Frontenac to Niagara, Venango, Du- 
quesne and other French posts in the extreme west, all passing along 
the western border of old Ontario county; staying perchance to hold 
brief counsel with the Seneca sachems and chiefs, then hurrying for- 
ward to strengthen the line of posts on which so much depended. In 
this war the Mohawks took the field in favor of the English under John- 
son, but the Senecas were friendly to the French and were only restrained 
from taking up arms for them by unwillingness to fight against their 
Iroquois brethren farther east. 



oC. HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

At first the French were everywhere victorious. Braddock, almost 
at the gates of Fort Duquesne, was slain, and his army cut in pieces by a 
force very small in comparison with his own. Montcalm captured the 
little British p_ost at Oswego, and the French lines up the lakes and 
across to the Ohio were stronger than ever. However, in 1758 the 
British government entered more earnestly into the contest Fort 
Duquesne was captured by the English and Provincial army, Fort Fron- 
tenac was seized by Col. Bradstreet, and other victories prepared the 
way for still greater successes in 1759. The cordon was broken, but 
Fort Niagara still held out for France, and still the western Senecas 
strongly declared their friendship for that power. 

The next year, 1759, Wolf assailed Quebec, the strongest of all the 
French strongholds, and almost at the same time General Prideaux, 
with two thousand British and Provincials, accompanied by Sir William 
Johnson with one thousand of his faithful Iroquois, sailed up Lake On- 
tario and laid siege to Fort Niagara. This post was defended by only 
six hundred men and its capture was certain unless relief could be ob- 
tained. But its commander was not idle, and away through the forest 
sped his lithe redskin messengers to summon the allies of France. 
D' Aubrey responded with his most zealous endeavors, and at once set 
forth to the relief of Niagara. The siege was scarcely begun when 
General Prideaux was slain, upon which Johnson assumed command 
and continued until the 24th of July, when a large body of French and 
Indians attempted to raise siege. A. sharp conflict followed and the 
effort was defeated, whereupon the garrison surrendered the next day. 

In the latter part of July, 1759, while the English army was still 
camped around the walls of Quebec, while Wolfe and Montcalm were 
approaching that common grave to which the path of glory was so 
soon to lead them, a stirring scene took place in the western part of 
old Ontario county. The largest European force which had yet been 
seen in the region at any one time were marching to the relief of dis- 
tressed Niagara. On the one side were soldiers, trained to obey every 
command of their leader, while on the other were only wild savages 
who knew no other law than their own fierce will. 

History has preserved but a slight record of this last struggle of the 
French for dominion in this region of the State, but it has rescued from 



THE FRENCH, THE EXGLISH, AND THE IROQUOIS. 57 

oblivion the name of D'Aubrey, the commander, and Delignery, his 
second ; of Marin, the leader of the Indians, and of Captains De Villiers, 
Repertini, Martini, and Basone. The Senecas, snuffing the battle from 
their homes in the region, were roaming restlessly about, uncertain how 
to act, more friendly to the French than the English, and yet unwill- 
ing to engage in conflict with their brethren of the Six Nations. 

Following Johnson's victory over the French at Niagara, there came 
the life- bought victory of Wolfe at Quebec, which gave the latter to 
the triumphant Britons. Still the French clung to their colonies with 
desperate but faiHng grasp, and it was not until September, 1760, that 
the governor general of Canada surrendered Montreal, and with it 
Detroit, Venango, and all the other posts within his jurisdiction. This 
surrender was ratified by the treaty of peace between England and 
France in February, 1763, which ceded Canada to the former power. 

It has already been stated that a stockade fortification and block- 
houses had been erected by Sir William Johnson in 1756, at Kana- 
desaga, for the Senecas in the war then pending. At this time the 
Senecas seemed to have been divided into two branches or sections, those 
in the western part of the State under the leadership of Farmer's Brother, 
Cornplanter and other influential chiefs. This branch of the tribe were 
in fact the " Door-keepers." Those gathered at Kanadesaga, or the 
eastern section, became the capital of the nation and were under the 
domination of the great Turtle clan, with Tagechsadon as the head chief, 
who was succeeded upon his death by Sayenqueraghta, or Gui-yah- 
gwaah-doh, as his name was in the Seneca dialect, with various differ- 
ent or dialectical variations, the signification of the name being, " dis- 
appearing smoke," or the " the smoke has disappeared." The inter- 
pretation thus given, conveys the idea of a glimpse of a flying runner 
bearing a smoking brand, hurrying and soon lost in the obscurity of 
the wilderness — one moment the banner of smoke is seen and then lost. 
It is an exclamation put into the mouth of the beholder. The word is 
idiomatic, but wonderfully picturesque, and is very applicable to an 
official position of smoke-bearer or fire-kindler. He was more famil- 
iarly known by the white people as Old Smoke or Old King, and also 
as the King of Kanadesega. 

While the official position held by Old Smoke gave him great prom- 
inence, his greater popularity and influence resulted from his individual 
8 



58 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

personal merit. He was a valiant warrior ; his bravery and sagacity in 
war won for him the trust and confidence of his people. He was a wise 
and judicious counsellor, and this secured for him the respect and es- 
teem of the Indians. Red Jacket testified of him that he was "a man 
of great understanding." His superior talents, together with his good 
and sterling qualities, gained for him the regard and veneration of 
the Indians, and secured for him a greater prominence and a more 
commanding influence than that possessed by any other of the chiefs 
or sachems of his time. He was, indeed, one of the most distinguished 
men of the Iroquois, the most popular and prominent of the Senecas, 
always a firm friend where he pledged fidelity, possessing a warm and 
generous heart; he had the respect of enemies and the love of friends; 
was brave, sagacious and wise. While he was opposed to the Indians 
taking any part in the War of the Revolution, yet it having been de- 
cided against him, he yielded obedience to the decision and became one 
of the most untiresome and active and ferocious on the war path, and 
under his leadership more daring and savage incursions on our frontier 
settlements were made than under any other leader. 

The object of Sir William Johnson in erecting the fortification at 
Kanadesaga was in a great measure accomplished. The eastern Sen- 
ecas either became neutral, or else aided their brethren of the league in 
their assistance to the English, and it is now an acknowledged fact that 
in the evenly balanced and stubborn contest between France and Eng- 
land for the supremacy of the country the friendship and aid thus ren- 
dered finally turned the scale in England's favor, and hence the result 
is that we to-day are an English instead of a French speaking people. 



1*HE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. 59 



chaptp:r VI. 

Pontiac's War — Devil's Hole and Black Rock — Sir William Johnson Concludes a 
Peace with the Senecas — Treaty at Fort Niagara — Events Preceding the Revolution 
— Outbreak of the War — The Senecas Serve the King — Kanadesaga beconnes Head- 
quarters for Tories — Butler's Buildings — Indian Outrages on the Frontier — The 
Principal Actors — Sullivan Ordered to Invade the Indian Country — Destruction of 
the Villages and Crops — The Senecas Flee to Fort Niagara — Details of the Invasion 
in Ontario County — Close of the Revolution. 

rOR a period of fifteen years following the final overthrow of French 
power in America, the eastern country was in a condition of com- 
parative peace, and the English, Dutch, and French settlers were per- 
mitted to develop their lands and advance the outposts of civilization 
in almost every direction ; but for some time there was no attempt at 
effecting settlement in the Genesee country other than that limited to 
the immediate vicinity of Oswego and Niagara. The Seneca Indians 
gave little encouragement to colonization in their territory. They had 
become aware of various frauds practiced upon their eastern brethren of 
the confederacy by English and Dutch land speculators, and were not 
disposed to enter into any negotiations for the disposition of any part of 
their choice domain, notwithstanding the fact that theirs was the richest 
region of all that was inhabited by the Six Nations. 

Although the French authorities and troops were withdrawn from the 
country after the close of the late war, the western Indians remembered 
them with affection and were still disposed to wage war upon the Eng- 
lish. The celebrated Pontiac united nearly all of these tribes in a league 
against the red-coats immediately after the advent of the latter, and as 
no such confederation had been formed against the French during all 
their long years of possession, his action must be assigned to some cause 
other than mere hatred of all civilized intruders. In May, 1763, the 
league surprised nine out of twelve English posts, and massacred their 
garrison. Detroit, Pittsburg, and Niagara alone escaped surprise, and 
each successfully resisted a siege, in which branch of war the Indians 



GO HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

were almost certain to fail. There is little doubt that the Senecas, 
especially those located in the western part of the State, were involved 
in Pontiac's league, and were active in the attack on Fort Niagara. 
They had been unwilling to fight their brethren of the Long House, but 
had no scruples about killing the English when left alone, as was soon 
made terribly manifest. 

In September following occurred the awful tragedy of the Devil's Hole, 
when a band of the western Senecas, of whom Honayewas, afterward 
celebrated as Farmer's Brother, was one, and Cornplanter, probably, 
another, ambushed a train of English army-wagons with an escort of 
soldiers, the whole numbering ninety-six men, three and a half miles 
below the falls, and massacred all except four of the troop. On the 
19th of October following a party of British soldiers were suddenly 
fired upon by a band of Senecas at Black Rock, and thirteen men were 
killed. The British turned upon their assailants and in the battle that 
followed three more of the soldiers were killed and twelve others badly 
wounded, including two commissioned officers. This was the last seri- 
ous attack by the Senecas upon the English. Being at length con- 
vinced that the French had really yielded, and that Pontiac's scheme 
had failed as to its purpose, they sullenly agreed to abandon their Gallic 
friends, and be at peace with the British. 

In April, 1764, Sir William Johnson concluded peace with eight chiefs 
of the Senecas at Johnson Hall. At that time, among other agree- 
ments, they formally conveyed to the King of England a tract of land 
fourteen miles long and four wide, for a carrying place around Niagara 
Falls, lying on both sides of the river from Schlosser to Lake Ontario. 
This treaty was to be more fully ratified at a council to be held at Fort 
Niagara in the summer of 1764. A copy of this paper is to be found 
in N. Y. Col. Doc. VII, p 621, at the end of which it is said, the" Marks 
of the tribes " were affixed opposite the signatures, but no such marks 
being found, a tracing of the same was procured from the original in 
the Record office, London. It is a very valuable and important addi- 
tion to our fund of knowledge on the subject. 

Events in the west, where Pontiac still maintained active hostility to 
the British, determined the English commander-in-chief to send a force 
up the lakes sufficient to overcome all opposition. This action became 




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62 • HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNT'^. 

necessary from the fact that the hostile attitude of the western tribes 
had a damaging effect upon the Senecas, and made negotiations with 
them extremely difficult. Accordingly in the summer of 1764, General 
Bradstreet with 1200 British and Americans came by water to Fort 
Niagara, accompanied by Sir William Johnson and a body of his faith- 
ful Iroquois. A grand council of friendly Indians was held at the fort, 
among whom Sir William exercised his customary skill, and satisfactory 
treaties were made with them. But the Senecas, though repeatedly 
promising attendance in answer to Johnson's messages, still held aloof, 
and were said to be contemplating a renewal of the war. At length 
General Bradstreet ordered their immediate attendance, under penalty 
of the destruction of their settlements, upon which they came, ratified 
the treaty, and thereafter adhered to it reasonably well, nothwithstand- 
ing the peremptory manner in which it was obtained. In the mean 
time a fort had been erected on the site of Fort Erie. In August 
Bradstreet's army had increased to nearly 3,000 men, and among them 
were 300 Senecas, who seemed to have been taken along partly as host- 
ages. This force succeeded in bringing the western Indians to terms, a 
task which was accomplished without bloodshed. 

While these events were in progress in the western part of the prov- 
ince of New York, the inhabitants of the eastern region of the country 
were in a state of great excitement, growing out of the arbitrary and 
oppressive action of the British parliament toward the American colo- 
nies. One of the results of the late French wars was to involve the 
mother country in a large indebtedness, which parliament sought to 
have paid by the colonies, and that notwithstanding the very large ex- 
tent of territory which was ceded to the government at the end of the 
French dominion. In fact, almost before the smoke of the late battles 
had cleared away, the English ministry began devising plans to tax the 
colonies for a revenue without their consent. In March, 1765, the ob- 
noxious stamp act was passed, to oppose which was organized in New 
York the "Sons of Liberty." So great, indeed, was the opposition to 
this odious act that it was repealed in March, 1766, but in 1767 a bill 
was passed by parliament imposing a duty on tea, glass, and other ma- 
terial imported into the colonies. The imposition of a tax on tea led to 
the organization of that impromptu body known as the " Boston Tea- 



THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. 63 

Party." Other acts of oppression imposed by the British government 
were met by retahatory measures on the part of the American colonies, 
and at length the countries were in an attitude of open hostility. The 
public attention was drawn to certain mutterings in the political sky, 
low at first, but growing more and more angry, until at length there 
burst upon this country that long and desolating storm known as the 
Revolutionary War. 

In 1775 the struggle fcr independence was begun, but as the early 
years of that war furnished no interesting events in connection with 
the annals of this particular region of country, we may pass lightly over 
them and confine our narrative to occurrences within the Genesee 
country. There were British posts at Niagara and Oswego, and the 
Senecas made frequent complaints of depredations committed by whites 
on some of their number, chiefly from the inhabitants of settlements on 
the headwaters of the Susquehanna and Ohio. Added to this, and 
during the same period, " Cressap's war," in which the celebrated 
Logan was an actor, likewise contributed to make the Senecas uneasy, 
but they did not break out in open hostilities. Like the rest of the Six 
Nations, they had by this time learned to place every confidence in Sir 
William Johnson, and through him all their complaints were made. 
He did his best to redress their grievances, and sought to have them 
withdraw their villages from frontier and isolated localities that they 
might be more completely under his protection. However, before this 
could be accomplished Sir William died, and his authority as super- 
intendent of Indian affairs was transferred to his son, Sir John Johnson, 
and to his nephew, Col. Guy Johnson, the latter, however, being in fact 
the superintendent, while the former was the controlling spirit among 
the Indians in after events. 

The new superintendent persuaded the Mohawks to move westward 
with him, and made good his influence over all the Six Nations, except 
the Oneidas and Tuscaroras, though it was almost two years from the 
breaking out of the war before they committed any serious depreda- 
tions. John Butler, who appears to have held a colonel's commission, 
or at least that title in the British service, established himself at Fort 
Niagara, and organized a regiment of tories known as " Butler's 
Rangers." About the same time Colonel Butler erected a barracks and 



64 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

temporary place of residence at Kanadesaga, which was used chiefly as 
a rendezvous and rallying place for the Rangers and Indians preparatory 
to a raid on the interior of the country. Butler's buildings were also a 
depot for supplies, at which large quantities of corn were stored for the 
use of assembled troops and horses. 

We may here state, in justice to the Seneca Indians, that they did 
not readily become the allies of the Johnsons and Butlers, as they for 
a time resisted English importunities, but the prospect of both blood 
and gold was too much for them to withstand, and in 1777 they, in 
common with the Cayugas, Onondagas and Mohawks, made a treaty 
with the British at Oswego, agreeing to serve the king throughout the 
war. Mary Jemison, the celebrated "White Woman," then living 
among the Senecas on the Genesee, declared that at the treaty the 
British agents, after giving the Indians numerous presents, promised a 
bounty on every scalp that should be brought in. However, there is a 
serious question whether a price was actually promised or paid for 
scalps, there being no positive evidence to sustain the assertion, and the 
probabilities are that it was not. Mary Jemison was considered a 
truthful woman and had good means of knowing what the Indians 
understood, and the latter were very ready to understand that they 
would be paid for taking scalps. 

The Senecas, as formerly, hesitated about attacking their brethren 
of the Long House, so now the Oneidas, who were friendly to the 
Americans, did not go out to battle against the other Iroquois until 
the latter years of the war, but at the battle of Stone Arabia, in the 
Mohawk Valley, it was an Oneida Indian, fighting with the Americans, 
who pursued and slew the infamous Captain Walter Butler, a com- 
mander of a tory company, the son of Col. John Butler and the asso- 
ciate of the notorious Joseph Brant. 

One of the most active and the most celebrated of the Iroquois chiefs 
in the Revolution was Joseph Brant, or Thayendanegea, a Mohawk who 
had received a moderate English education under the patronage of Sir 
William Johnson, and whose sister, Molly Brant, was the housekeeper 
and natural wife of the baronet. Brant was frequently intrusted with 
the command of detached parties by the British officers, but it does 
not appear that he had any authority over all the tribes, and it is quite 



THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. 65 

certain that the haughty Senecas, to whom by ancient custom belonged 
both the principal war chiefs of the league, would not have submitted 
to the authority of a Mohawk. 

The three chiefs of the Senecas, who during the Revolution became 
exceedingly well known, were Farmer's Brother, Cornplanter and Gov- 
ernor Blacksnake. William L. Stone, author of the "Life of Brant," 
says that at the massacre of Wyoming, in 1778, the leader of the 
Senecas, who formed the main part of the Indian force on that occasion, 
was Guiengwahtoh, supposed to be the same as Guiyahgwahdoh, " the 
smoke bearer." That was the official title of the Seneca afterward 
known as "Young King," he being a kind of hereditary ambassador 
and the bearer of the smoking brand to light the council fire of the 
Senecas. He was too young to have been at Wyoming, but his 
predecessor in office (probably his maternal uncle) was the actual 
leader. It is certain also that Brant was not present at that battle. 

The Seneca chief familiarly known to the whites as Old Smoke, or 
Old King, but whose Indian name was Sayenqueraghta (Mohawk 
dialect), otherwise Guiyahgwahdoh (Seneca dialect), has been con- 
clusively shown by recent investigation to have been not only the in- 
stigator but the actual leader of the expedition that committed the 
terrible outrages at Wyoming. 

It is learned also from tiie "Anecdotes of Captain Joseph Brant," that 
the head chief of the Senecas was Sakoyengwaraghton (a dialectical 
variation of Old King's name), who was descended from a brave and 
loyal family distinguished by their attachment to the crown and to Brit- 
ish interests as early as the reign of Queen Anne, and who was pre- 
sented by the queen with a coronet, the only mark of distinction of the 
kind ever bestowed upon an Indian. He was in command of the 
Senecas at the battle of Oriskany, where seventeen of his nation were 
killed at the first onset. The Senecas were greatly exasperated by 
this loss, although they avenged it by killing many more of their 
enemy. They were not satisfied, however, and it was arranged at a 
council held at Kanadesaga that the chief just mentioned, and l^rant, 
would open a campaign in the early spring, the former to attack the 
Wyoming settlement, and Brant those of Schoharie, Mohawk and 
Cherry Valley. Sakoyengwaraghton "assembled his men without 
9 



66 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

calling upon any white man," but Butler, being taunted with inactivity, 
was induced to offer his aid. The Seneca chief stipulated that his men 
be kept separate from the whites, and that they should be under his 
sole command. Without discussing at further length the life and acts 
of this somewhat noted chief, we may say that he has been commonly 
known as the king of the Senecas. The foregoing names are only varia- 
tions in spelling the Indian name of Old King or Old Smoke. 

Not only were the Senecas engaged in the terrible outrage at Wyom- 
ing, but as well were they present in force at Cherry Valley, together 
with a body of Mohawks under Brant, and of tories under Captain 
Walter Butler, son of. Col. John Butler, and there was another un- 
doubted massacre, in which nearly thirty women and children were 
killed, besides many men surprised helpless in their homes. These 
events, and other similar ones of less prominence nearly all concocted 
and starting from Kanadesaga, induced Congress and General Wash- 
ington to set on foot an expedition in the spring of 1779, which had 
a very strong relation to the early history of Ontario county, as it was 
the only important invasion ol the immediate territory by an Amer- 
ican army during the period of the war. The invasion, too, had a 
^strong bearing on the county's history, inasmuch as it brought to the 
knowledge of the troops, representing a number of the colonies, an 
understanding of the fertility and productiveness and salubrity of the 
climate of the Genesee country. The fact was disclosed to Sullivan's 
men that this region would produce large returns of grain, and in ad- 
dition that it was a fruit-growing region unsurpassed in any of the 
colonies. 

As has already been mentioned, the year 1778 was made memorable 
by the many horrible massacres and devastations committed upon the 
frontier settlements by the tories and Indians. By this time the latter 
had made considerable progress in civilization, were less migratory in 
their manner of living, had numerous villages about which were large 
cultivated fields, apple and peach orchards. They even made gardens 
in which a good variety of vegetables were grown. But notwithstand- 
ing the advances made in this respect and their association with whites 
and the adoption of the customs of the latter, they lost none of the 
natural Indian ferocity, and plundered and burned and murdered with 
all of the old time wantonness of the race. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. 67 

The expedition against the Indians, planned and carried out during 
the summer of 1779, was placed in command of Major-General John 
Sullivan This ofiFicer established his headquarters at Easton, Penna , 
on the 7th of May, 1779, and on the i8th of June, had his army com- 
pletely organized and supplied with all things necessary for the cam- 
paign. On the nth of August the troops encamped at Tioga Point, at 
which place, while awaiting the arrival of Clinton's brigade, a fortifica- 
tion was erected, to which the soldiers gave the name of Fort Sullivan. 
On the 26th of August, Sullivan's command broke camp at Tioga Point 
and took up the march toward the Indian country. As they proceeded 
the men destroyed all the small Indian villages and cultivated fields, 
and on the 29th they arrived at Newtown, five miles below the present 
city of Elmira, where they found the enemy in force and strongly in- 
trenched, the British and tories commanded by John Butler, his son 
Walter Butler, and Captain McDonald, while the Indians were under 
Thayendanegea, more commonly known as Captain Joseph Brant. A 
battle followed, which has always been known in history as the battle 
of Newtown. After a severe conflict of several hours the British, tories 
and Indians were defeated, and finding themselves on the point of being 
surrounded and captured, they fled precipitately and found refuge in the 
woods. Indeed, so great was Sullivan's victory at Newtown that not- 
withstanding all the art of Butler and Brant, the now discouraged In- 
dians could not be rallied together ; and thereafter throughout the 
extent of Sullivan's devastating expedition neither the Senecas nor any 
other of the opposing tribes could muster courage to oppose the in- 
vasion. 

After destroying everything that could be of value to the Indians, 
and after sending all the wounded soldiers and cumbersome artillery 
back to Fort Sullivan, the victorious Americans, in the lightest possible 
marching order, again resumed their journey. About midnight on the 
first of September the army arrived at Catherinestown, situated on the 
inlet about three miles from the head of Seneca lake, near the site of 
the present village of Havana. This was the residence of the famous 
Catherine Montour, by many writers confused with Queen Esther, no- 
torious as the " Fiend of Wyoming," and also with Madam Montour, who 
were, respectively, probably her sister and grandmother. After camp- 



68 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ing one day at this village and destroying all the cabins and growing 
crops, the army proceeded northward along the east side of Seneca lake, 
destroying the little settlements at Peach Orchard and North Hector, 
arriving on the fifth at the Indian town of Kendaia, or Appletown. The 
village here was located on lot 79 in the present town of Romulus. 
The most important event in connection with the arrival at Kendaia 
was the rescue of Luke Swetland, who had been a prisoner among the 
Indians for a year. On the afternoon of the sixth the army resumed its 
march and encamped that night on the lake shore, near a ravine former- 
ly called " Indian Hollow," on lot 64 in the town of Romulus. Here 
was found a large quantity of pea vines which afforded excellent fodder 
for the horses, and from the camp the men looked across the lake into 
the Indian village of Kashong where they saw a number of Indians 
driving horses. 

On the morning of September 7 the invading army made an early 
start, following substantially the lake road, and after marching about 
eight miles arrived at the foot of Seneca lake. Here a halt was ordered 
and scouts sent forward to reconnoiter, as it was expected that in this 
vicinity the Indians would make a determined stand to defend the Old 
Castle and their chief village of Kanadesaga. However, no ambuscade 
or other defence was attempted by the Indians, and the march was re- 
sumed across the outlet and close to the lake shore, between the main 
body of water and the alm.ost impassable swamp to the northward of it. 
After proceeding about half a mile between the lake and the swamp, 
the outlet was reached and crossed, the same being about twenty yards 
wide, and from " knee " to " middle " deep, according to the accounts 
of various writers. 

Although Sullivan's scouts reported no Indians in sight, the com- 
mander prudently approached Kanadesaga with the greatest caution. 
After crossing the outlet the men marched through a dangerous defile 
and across a morass, nearly a mile west of the old outlet, the locality 
now known as the " Soap Mine." Haifa mile still further on they crossed 
Marsh creek and soon reached " Butler's Buildings," located in a beau- 
tiful situation at the northwest corner of the lake, in the vicinity of the 
present canal bridge. These buildings and the adjacenfcorn-field were 
destroyed, after which the army proceeded in three divisions to the 



THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. 69 

"Seneca Castle," or Kanadesaga, the capital of the Senecas, located on 
Kanadesaga or Castle Brook, about two miles northwesterly from the 
foot of the lake. It was Sullivan's intention to surround the village and 
endeavor to cutofif a retreat on the part of the Indians, but when the 
army arrived they found that all the inhabitants had fled and not a per- 
son was found, except a little white boy about three or four years old, 
who was entirely naked and almost starved. The child was tenderly 
cared for and afterward adopted by Captain Thomas Machin, and was 
given the same name as his adopted father, but lived only a few years. 
It was never known who his parents were. Kanadesaga was found to 
contain about fifty houses, with thirty more in the near vicinity. A 
few of these were framed buildings, but all were irregularly located 
around a large open space, the center of the latter containing the stock- 
ade fort and block houses built by Sir William Johnson in 1756, and 
which at the time of the invasion were substantially in ruins ; yet their 
ground outlines were plainly discernible. In the immediate vicinity of 
the village were large apple orchards and extensive fields of growing 
corn, while half a mile to the northward was a large peach orchard. 
Wild plums, mulberries, hickory nuts, walnuts and butternuts likewise 
grew in great abundance. In the houses was found considerable corn, 
many skins and Indian trinkets and curiosities. 

On the 8th of September the main body of the army was employed 
in destroying the houses, orchards, fields and gardens at Kanadesaga, 
and on the same day a detachment of riflemen and volunteers, four hun- 
dred in number, under command of Major Parr, was sent to destroy the 
Indian village and settlement known as Kashong, located seven miles 
south of Geneva on the lake shore, in the northeastern portion 
of the town of Benton. The village contained about fifteen or 
twenty houses, all of which were destroyed, together with large quan- 
tities of corn, beans and other vegetable products, and as well large 
apple and peach trees with which the locality seemed to abound. At 
this place there was said to have been taken also five horses and a num- 
ber of fowls. Major Parr found the vicinity of this little village so ex- 
tensively cultivated that his force was unable to complete the work of 
destruction in a single day, and he was compelled to send to Kanadesa- 
ga for an additional detachment of two hundred men ; and it was not 



to HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

until the evening of the ninth that Parr's men rejoined the main army 
while the latter was in camp at Flint Creek. On the 8th a detachment 
of troops under Col. John Harper was sent down the Seneca river about 
eight miles to destroy a Cayuga village called Skoiyase, on the site of 
the present Waterloo in Seneca county. 

While Sullivan's army was camping at Kanadesaga there was much 
discussion among the officers as to the advisability of pushing the work 
of destruction further westward into the heart of the Seneca country, 
and it was finally decided that the sick and wounded, together with all 
useless and cumbersome baggage, should be sent back to Tioga 
under an escort of fifty men. This being done, the invaders supplied 
themselves with all things necessary for temporary maintenance and de- 
stroyed the surplus*. On the morning of the 9th they set out upon their 
westward march, following substantially the Indian trail along which the 
old turnpike was afterward laid out, and in the evening encamped at Flint 
Creek, where was discovered evidence showing that the Indians had 
been there a few days before. Early the next morning the march was 
resumed and on the same day the army reached the Indian town of 
Canandaigua, located in the western part of the present village of that 
name. " At Kanadague," says General Sullivan's report, " we found 
twenty-three very elegant houses mostly and in general very large. 
Here we also found very extensive fields of corn." These houses are 
mentioned in the journals (kept by a number of Sullivan's men) as very 
substantial, better than any ever seen before in the Indian country and 
constructed mainly of hewn planks or logs, and from their general ap- 
pearance indicated occupancy by white people. A few of the houses 
had very neat and well built chimneys. 

The army halted at Canandaigua only long enough to destroy the 
buildings, and then proceeded a mile further to the corn-fields, which 
were located on a ridge north of the town. Here they camped and at 
once set about destroying the crops growing in the vicinity. At sun- 

*Sergeant Moses Fellows says in his journal: What Corn, Beans, Peas, Squashes, Potatoes, 
Inions, Turnips, Cabage, Cowcumbers, Water-millions, Carrots, Pasnips, etc. our men and horses, 
cattle, etc. could not Rat was Distroyed this Morning Hofore we march." As an indication of the 
great number of fruit trees that were girdled at this place by Sullivan'.s army, it may here be 
stated that sprouts from the roots soon sprang up and in 1797, only eighteen years later, one 
hundred bushels of peaches were sold to a distillery and cider to the amount of $1,200 was sold, 
the product of these orchards. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. 71 

rise on September 1 1 the army was again in motion, retracing their 
steps back to the town and thence in a southwesterly direction, follow- 
ing substantially the Hne of the present road through Bristol to the foot 
of Honeoye Lake, where was located another Indian village of about ten 
or twelve houses, built of hewn logs, which, together with the corn-fields 
of the locality, the invaders destroyed. At this place Sullivan estab- 
lished a post with a garrison of fifty men under Captain Cummings,and 
here was left ail the heavy stores and one field piece, and all the sick 
and infirm men. about two hundred and fifty in number, together with 
a large number of pack-horses which were allowed to roam in the 
woods. 

About noon on the 12th of September the army resumed its march, 
traveling in a southwesterly direction about eleven miles, and camped 
in the woods two miles from the village called Kanaghsaws, tiie resi- 
dence of Big or Great Tree, situated near the head of Conesus Lake. 
Being somewhat uncertain as to the location of the large western town, 
Sullivan directed Lieutenant Thomas Boyd to take a detail of men and 
make a reconnoissance during the night. The detachment, comprising 
about twenty-seven men were surrounded by the Indians, many of 
them killed, and only a few succeeded in effecting an escape. Boyd 
and Sergeant Parker were among the captured and were taken to Little 
Beard's Town where they were horribly tortured and put to death. 

The town of Kanaghsaws was destroyed, and on the same day, Sep- 
tember 13, the army pushed forward to Gathtsegwarohare, a village 
located on the east side of Canaseraga Creek, about two miles above its 
confluence with the Genesee. This town comprised twenty five houses, 
of then recent construction, all of which, with the extensive corn- fields 
in the region, were destroyed. About noon on the 14th, having com- 
pleted the devastation of the village, the westward march was resumed, 
and at sunset of the same day the army reached the Genesee Castle, 
commonly called by the whites Little Beard's Town, and which was the 
original western door of the famous Long House of the Iroquois con- 
federacy. It was located on the west side of the Genesee River, and 
near the site of the present village of Cuylerville, in Livingston county. 
According to General Sullivan's report. Little B^eard's Town contained 
128 houses, many of them very large and elegant, while the village it- 



72 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

self was beautifully situated and almost encircled in a cleared flat sev- 
eral miles in extent, and scattered over the latter were vast fields of 
corn, grain, vegetables and other earth products. On the morning of 
the 15th the whole army began the work of destruction of every thing 
that could be available to the recent occupants of the village, it being 
estimated that between 15,000 and 20,000 bushels of corn alone were 
destroyed at this place. 

The work of destruction being completed, the army faced about, fol- 
lowing the same general line of march as before, diverging slightly how- 
ever, to destroy isolated dwellings and cornfields, and on the evening 
of September 19 arrived at Kanadesaga. From this point Sullivan 
sent out various detachments of troops who destroyed every Indian 
village and all growing crops that could be found. On the 20th the 
main army took final leave of Kanadesaga, crossed the outlet of Seneca 
Lake and encamped on the shore. The next day, following the course 
by which they came, the troops proceeded to Newtown, thence to Tioga 
and finally to Easton, arriving at the latter place October 15th, where 
the men went into winter quarters. 

In summing up the results of the expedition under his personal direc- 
tion, General Sullivan's report says: " The number of towns destroyed 
by this army amounted to forty besides scattering houses. The quan- 
tity of corn destroyed, at a moderate computation, must amount to 
160,000 bushels, with a vast quantity of vegetables of every kind. 
Every creek and river has been traced, and the whole country explored 
in search of Indian settlements, and I am well persuaded that, except 
one town situated near the ' Allegana,' about fifty miles from ' Chinesee,' 
there is not a single town left in the country of the Five Nations." 

The other detachments of troops which were sent to destroy Indian 
villages in other directions than that taken by Sullivan, were equally 
successful in accomplishing the work assigned to them. The result was 
that the Indians, now bereft of all means of maintaining themselves, 
were left to the mercy of the British. A large number from various of 
the interior tribes betook themselves to Montreal, where they joined the 
army commanded by Sir John Johnson and his equally cruel subordi- 
nates. The Senecas, however, fled in great dismay before Sullivan's 
conquering host and found refuge and protection at Fort Niagara. The 



THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. 73 

Senecas, moreover, were the tribe who were chiefly feared and against 
whom the vengeance of the Americans was chiefly directed. 

Another result of Sullivan's expedition was that it substantially de- 
stroyed the bond which bound the Six Nations together, and while the 
league for a time afterward retained its form, it had lost its binding 
power. By this separation the Oneidas and Tuscaroras became still 
more frindly to the Americans, while the tribes whose possessions had 
been destroyed were completely subservient to the British power, 
thereby weakening the whole intertribal relation ; and the spirit of the 
Senecas, the most powerful and warlike of all the tribes, was much 
broken by their recent punishment. It was a more serious matter with 
them than had been the destruction of their villages in earlier times, for 
they had learned to depend more on agriculture and less on the chase, 
and possessed not only corn-fields, but gardens, orchards, and sometimes 
comfortable houses. In fact they had adopted many of the customs of 
civilized life, though without abating their primitive pleasures, such as 
tomahawking prisoners and scalping the dead. 

After taking up their temporary abode at Fort Niagara, the Senecas 
remained there during the winter of 1779-80, which was of unusual 
severity, and they were scantily sustained by the British authorities. 

Of the severity of the winter Mary Jemison says : " The snow fell 
about five feet and remained so for a long time ; and the weather was 
extremely cold, so much so, indeed, that almost all the game upon 
which the Indians depended for subsistence perished, and reduced them 
almost to a state of starvation through that and three or four succeed- 
ing years. When the snow melted in the spring deer were found dead 
upon the ground in vast numbers, and other animals of every descrip- 
tion perished from the cold also and were found dead in multitudes. 
Many of our people barely escaped with their lives and some actually 
died of hunger and freezing." 

In the following spring the officers made efforts to persuade them to 
make new settlements and plant crops, but the red men were anxious 
to keep as far as possible from their dreaded foes and would not risk 
their families again at their ancient seats. A considerable body of 
Senecas with a few Cayugas and Onondagas established themselves on 
Buffalo Creek, about four miles above its mouth. Among the Senecas, 
10 



74 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

and one who had been their leader, was Old King (Sayenqueraghta) 
then an aged but influential chief. Among the Indians were several 
members of the Gilbert family, Quakers who had been captured on the 
borders of Pennsylvania in the spring of 1780. 

Meanwhile the war had gone forward with varying fortunes. Sir 
John Johnson, Col. Guy Johnson, the Butlers and Brant kept the In- 
dians as busy as possible marauding upon the frontiers, devastating par 
ticularly the Mohawk Valley, the vicinity of the Johnsons' former home, 
but the Indian spirit had been so thoroughly broken that the maraud- 
ers were unable to produce such devastation as at Wyoming and Cherry 
Valley. 

In the fall of 1783 peace was formally declared between Great Britain 
and the revolted colonies, and the latter were thenceforth to be known 
as the United States of America. By the treaty the boundary line was 
established along the center of Lake Ontario, Niagara River, and Lake 
Erie. Although the forts held b}'' the British on the American side of 
the line were not given up for many years afterward, and they thus re- 
tained a strong influence over the Indians located on this side. Thus 
the unquestioned English authority over the territory of Ontario county 
lasted only from the treaty with France in 1763, to that with the United 
States in 1783, a little more than twenty years. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Condition of the Six Nations at the Close of the Revolution — Their Tieatnient by 
the State (xovermnent— Treaty at Fort Stanwix —Land Grants Sought to be Secured 
— Operations of the New York Genesee Land Company and the Niagara Genesee Land 
Company — The Long Leases — How Obtained — Controversy Between New York and 
Massachusetts — Its Settlement — Annulled by the State — The New State Project — 
Its Promoters — How Regarded in Ontario County. 

IN the treaty of peace between the British government and the United 
States no provision whatever was made for the Indian allies of the 
former living in the State of New York, but the English authorities of- 
fered them land in Canada, which was accepted by the Mohawks alone. 



INDIAN LAND GRANTS — LAND COMPANIES. 75 

However, the United States treated them with great moderation, and 
that notwithstanding the fact that the Six Nations had violated their 
pledges, and without provocation had plunged into a war against the 
colonies. Still they were readily admitted to the benefits of peace, and 
were even recognized as the owners of all the land in New York over 
which they had ranged before the Revolution. The property line pre- 
viously drawn between the whites and Indians ran along the eastern 
borders of Broome and Chenango counties, and thence northwestward to 
a point seven miles west of Rome. 

In October, 1784, a treaty was made at F'ort Stanwix between three 
commissioners of the United States and the sachems and chiefs of the 
Six Nations. The Marquis de La Fayette was present and made a 
speech, though not^ne of the commissioners. It is quite certain that 
Red Jacket, then a noted young Seneca, who afterward claimed to have 
been there, did not take any part in the council. Brant was not pres 
ent, although he had been active in a council with Governor Clinton 
only a short time before. Cornplanter, too, was there and spoke on be- 
half of the Senecas, but Sayenqueraghta, or Old King, was recognized 
as the leading Seneca chief. The eastern boundary of the Indian lands 
does not seem to have been in question at this time, but the government 
commissioners desired to extinguish whatever claim the Six Nations 
might have to Ohio and other western territory, and also to keep open 
the right of way around Niagara Falls, which Sir William Johnson had 
obtained for the British ; and it was accordingly agreed that the west- 
ern boundary of the Indian lands should begin on Lake Ontario, four 
miles east of the Niagara River. All the territory of the Six Nations 
west of this boundary line was ceded to the United States, and the In- 
dians were to be secured in the peaceful possession of the lands they in- 
habited east of the same, except six miles around Fort Oswego, which 
was reserved to the United States. 

The treaty at Fort Stanwix was finally accomplished after many dif- 
ficulties, and only after several adjournments. The British officers at 
Fort Niagara used every endeavor to prevent the Senecas from attend- 
ing the council, and Brant was also charged with using his influence in 
the same direction, and it is believed that had he been present no treaty 
would have been concluded. However, the document was finally signed 



^6 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

by Cornplanter and two other Seneca chiefs, and by two each of the 
Mohawks, Onondagas, Oneidas and Tuscaroras, and one Cayuga. 
Among the names of the witnesses were three Pennsylvania commis- 
sioners, Missionery Samuel Kirkland, and James Dean. Although the 
attempt to procure a cession of lands by the State of New York from 
the Indians was not successful at this time, in consequence of the United 
States commissioners persisting in holding a treaty at the time ap- 
pointed by the State for that purpose, the situation of affairs made it 
necessary that a grant should be obtained from them as speedily as pos- 
sible, and in pursuance of that fact the next Legislature passed an act 
directing the governor and commissioners of Indian affairs to obtain a 
cessipn or grant of such lands as the Indians should be willing to dis- 
pose bf on reasonable terms, on or before the first of October, 1785. 

The treaty just mentioned as having been made with the Indians at 
Fort Stawix was followed by others of like character, but that re- 
ferred to above was the first that covered any portion of the broad 
Genesee country, and consequently was within the boundaries of 
Ontario county as originally created. The granting of lands by the 
Indians, except as they included portions of the region of which we 
write, was of frequent occurrence and has no important relation to the 
subject. While the Indians had no rightful claim to any of the lands 
within the State, they were nevertheless regarded as owners of the 
territory west of the property line, and the State sought only to acquire 
title through the recognized channels and upon the payment of ample 
compensation. There was, however, a class of persons, land specu- 
lators, who were organized as corpoiations, or as parties, and occasion- 
ally acting in an individual capacity, whose aim was to obtain Indian 
titles for the least possible consideration, often using liquor as a domi- 
nant factor in bringing about results and without the payment of 
adequate compensation for the lands they obtained. 

To put an end to operations of this character the Legislature passed 
a law which forbade the purchase of Indian lands by corporations, 
parties or individuals, reserving the purchase right to the State alone or 
subject to its approval. To avoid the provisions of the law, the specu- 
lative capitalists of the region, many of them residents of the Mohawk 
and Hudson River valleys, thereafter sought to obtain at least a quali- 



INDIAN LAND GRANTS — LAND COMPANIES. 7? 

fied title to the lands by negotiating leases for long terms of years, in 
the hope that after being possessed they might persuade the Legis- 
lature to confirm them in their titles. Such a lease was made to run 
for a period of 999 years, covering a vast area of territory, being the 
same region that was afterward in part erected into Ontario county. 
About that time, however, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the 
State of New York, through their respective authorities, were engaged 
in dispute regarding the title to the lands now of Ontario county, and 
as well of the whole western portion of the State. As a matter of fact 
this controvery began previous to the Revolution, but the outbreak of 
the war united the otherwise opposing elements in the defence of com- 
mon interests. After the overthrow of the British dominion in Amer- 
ica, and after the several colonies had taken upon themselves the char- 
acter of statehood, the discussion was renewed with much warmth and 
some bitterness, and it was only after mutual concessions that an 
amicable settlement of the difficulty was reached. This is a subject, 
however, that has a special bearing upon the early history of Ontario 
county, and therefore calls for a brief review of the claims of the con 
testing States from the time of the origin of those claims, an hundred 
years before. 

In 1628 Charles I of England granted a charter for the government 
of Massachusetts Bay. It included the territory between 40 degrees, 2 
minutes and 44 degrees, 15 minutes north, extending from the Atlantic 
to the Pacific, making a colony 154 miles wide and 4,000 miles long. 
Ontario county was included with its boundaries, as was the whole of 
Western New York. 

On the 1 2th of March, 1664, Charles II of England conveyed by 
royal patent to his brother James, Duke of York, all the country from 
the river St. Croix to the Kennebec in Maine; also Nantucket, Martha's 
Vineyard and Long Island, together with all the land from the west 
side of the Connecticut River to the east side of Delaware Bay. The 
Duke sent an English squadron, under Admiral Richard Nicolls, to 
secure the gift, and on the 8th of September following Governor Stuy- 
vesant capitulated, being constrained to that course by the Dutch 
colonists, who preferred peace with the same privileges and liberties 
accorded to the English colonists, to a prolong and perhaps fruitless 



78 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

contest. Thus ended the Dutch regime. The EngHsh changed the 
name of New Amsterdam to New York. Like the Massachusetts grant, 
that of the province of New York covered a vast extent of territory, 
and with subsequent additions by other charters h'kewise extended 
indefinitely westward, or from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 

Many were the controversies arising from these conflicting or over- 
lapping grants ; but previous to the close of the last French and Eng- 
lish war, while there was still an uncertainty as to which would be the 
dominant power in America, there does not appear to have been any 
controversy between the colonial authorities respecting the extent of 
the several provinces. We must except, however, from the last state- 
ment the case relating to the New Hampshire grants, in which the 
controversy in fact began about the year 1750. 

After the close of the French war the governors of Massachusetts and 
New York opened a discussion regarding the apparent conflict in their 
charters, but at that time as settlement had not progressed on the dis- 
puted territory, the controversy had taken no definite form. At that 
time, too, the public mind was drawn in another direction, growing out 
of the oppressive burdens heaped upon the colonies b}' the mother 
country. However, even before the outbreak of the Revolution, an 
agreement was entered into between John Watts. William Smith, 
Robert R. Livingston and William Nicoll, commissioners on the part of 
New York, and William Brattle, Joseph Hawley and John Hancock, on 
the part of Massachusetts, who were to run the line and agree upon a 
boundary between the respective colonies ; but the Revolution soon 
followed and the line was never run. It must be stated, however, that 
the agreement just referred to was to provide for the settlement of the 
boundary line between New York and Massachusetts as at present 
located, and had no special reference to the territory now included in 
Western New York. 

After the close of the Revolution, and after the independence of the 
United States had been secured, the newly created States of Massa- 
chusetts and New York resumed a discussion of the old controversy 
with a view to its amicable adjustment. To effect a settlement Massa- 
chusetts, by an act passed March 14, 1784, petitioned Congress to 
take action in the premises, upon which the Federal body appointed 



INDIAN LAND GRANTS — LAND COMrANIES. 79 

Thomas Hutchins, John Ewing and David Rittenhouse, commissioners 
to determine the controversy. However, while proceedings were pend- 
ing in Congress, the legislative bodies of the contesting States passed 
acts providing for the appointment of commissioners to settle the 
dispute otherwise than by the Federal Courts, and in such manner as 
should be deemed for the general welfare. The claims of Massachusetts 
to the lands of Western New York were finally settled at Hartford, Conn., 
December i6, 1786, by James Duane, Robert R. Livingston, Rob- 
ert Yates, John Haring, Melancthon Smith, and Egbert Benson, on the 
part of New York, and John Lowell, James Sullivan, Theophilus Parsons, 
and Rufus King, on the part of Massachusetts. By the agreement of 
the commissioners, Massachusetts surrendered the sovereignty of the 
whole disputed territory to New York and received in return the right 
of soil and pre emptive right of Indian purchase west of a meridian line 
passing through the eighty- second mile stone on the Pennsylvania north 
line, except certain reservations, consisting of 230,400 acres between the 
Oswego and Chenango Rivers in the southern part of the State and one 
mile in width along the Niagara River. We may here state that the terri- 
tory thus ceded by New York, west of the meridian line, in fee to Massa- 
chusetts, was substantially the same which, three years later, was erected 
into Ontario county. The land, the pre-emption right to which was 
ceded, amounted to about six million acres. 

The plain interpretation of this agreement was that the territory in 
question should continue under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the 
authorities of New York State and subject to its laws and government, 
but that its ownership and fee should be vested in the State of Massa- 
chusetts, subject only to whatever rights the Indian occupants had at 
that time. This right Massachusetts was at liberty to purchase from 
the natives, while all other persons or corporations were expressly for- 
bidden by the laws of the State from negotiating any purchase from the 
Indians, whether on the pre emption tract or elsewhere. 

The proceedings of the arbitration commission were held, and its 
agreement reached, as has been stated, during the year 1786, and in 
1787 Massachusetts began casting about for a sale of her newly acquired 
territory. However, at this juncture there appeared a disturbing ele- 
ment which not only threatened trouble for the Bay State's interest, but 



80 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

as afterward developed, that same troublesome factor threatened to dis- 
rupt if not entirely overthrow the very institutions of the State of New 
York. The troubles and vexations of the time were caused by the un- 
warranted and unlawful operations of the New York Genesee Land 
Company, and its auxiliary association, the Niagara Genesee Land 
Company, the latter being organized for the express purpose of carry- 
ing out the nefarious scheme of the former. 

In 1787 there was organized an association of individuals who styled 
themselves the " New York Genesee Land Company," prominent 
among whom were John Livingston, Major Peter Schuyler, Doctor 
Caleb Benton, Ezekiel Gilbert, and others of more or less note. The 
object of this association was the acquirements of lands from the Indians, 
not, however, by purchase, for that was forbidden by law, but by ob- 
taining leases of land for long periods of years, and upon the payment 
of small cash considerations, and an annual rental. The persons com- 
prising this company were men of large means, most of whom resided 
in the Hudson River region, and who became members of it solely for 
purposes of speculation. This company caused to be organized an 
auxiliary association, called the " Niagara Genesee Land Company," 
numbering among its members Colonel John Butler, Samuel Street, John 
Powell, Johnson and Murphy, subjects of Great Britian, and Benjamin 
Barton, a citizen of the United States, all of whom were supposed to 
possess much influence over the Indians and through whom the chief 
land company hoped and proposed to secure its leases. 

Through the machinations of the lessee organization there was exe- 
cuted by the Six Nations a lease in which the lessee party was the New 
York Genesee Land Company, the instrument bearing the date of No- 
vember 30, 1787, and running for a period of nine hundred and ninety- 
nine years The council or treaty at which this long lease was obtained 
was held at Kanadesaga at the time above indicated, and purported to 
be an agreement between the " chiefs or sachems of the Six Nations of 
Indians, on the one part, and John Livingston, Cabel Benton, Peter 
Ryckman, John Stevenson, and Ezekiel Gilbert, for themselves and their 
associates of the county of Columbia and State of New York, of the 
other part." The territory conveyed by this lease included "all that 
certain tract or parcel of land commonly called and known by the name 



INDIAN LAND GRANTS — LAND COMPANIES. 81 

of the lands of the Six Nations of Indians, situate, lying and being in 
the State of New York, and now in the actual possession of the said 
chiefs or sachems of the Six Nations " In brief, the lands included or 
covered by this lease comprised all that part of the State lying west of 
the " property line " which has been described in an earlier chapter. 

The consideration expressed in the lease was a yearly rent or sum of 
2,000 Spanish milled dollars, payable on the 4th day of July in each 
year. The instrument was signed by forty six Indian chiefs, principally 
Senecas and Cayugas, among the signatures there being found the names 
of Farmer's Brother, Cornplanter, Big Throat, Big Tree, Infant, Chaw 
Tobac, Hot Bread, and Little Beard. The witnesses were M. Rose- 
krantz, George Stimson, jr., Joseph Smith, and Colonel Lewy. 

On the 8th of January, 1788, another lease was executed between the 
company and certain other Indian chiefs and sachems, by which another 
large tract of land, claimed to be that of the Oneidas, passed into the 
constructive possession of the lessees above named ; but as the lease 
first mentioned was the one that included all the lands of Ontario 
county, no further detail is necessary of others in this place. 

The lease consummated, the new proprietary at once set about the 
colonization of their extensive territor}/, but no sooner had the intelli- 
gence of this lease reached the ears of Governor Clinton than that of- 
ficial at once dispatched trustworthy agents to the land of the Senecas 
for the purpose of informing the latter that they had been duped; that 
the lease would be declared null and void by the State Legislature, and 
that they, the Indians, should refrain from further negotiations with 
either of the land companies or their agents. 

It appears that the originators of the scheme for the acquirement of 
Indian lands by lease had another project in view than the mere ac- 
quisition of title. At that time, as well as previously and afterward, 
there was a controversy between the authorities of this State and those 
of the then independently organized district known as the State of Ver- 
mont, over which latter New York claimed sovereignty and jurisdiction 
as against New Hampshire. And while the situation in Vermont had 
no parallel in the case of the lessee company in this State, the latter was 
inspired with the hope that in acquiring a long lease-hold interest in 
the lands of the Six Nations, they, too, might organize a separate and 
11 



82 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

independent estate. Such was their intention, as was afterward dis- 
closed, but the prompt and energetic action of Governor Chnton 
thwarted their schemes, annulled their leases, and made them glad to 
sue for peace and compromise. The result was that instead of possess- 
ing several million acres of land, and forming the region into a new 
State, they were ultimately content with receiving a ten mile square 
grant off the old military tract in the northern part of the State, to- 
gether with other concessions and gratuities of less note from the Phelps 
and Gorham proprietary. However, the consideration of the grants 
from the latter was the influence of the agents of the lessees among the 
Indians in enabling Phelps and Gorham to perfect their title. 

In noting events in connection with the long leases, it may be stated 
that in February, 1788, Livingston and Benton, who appear to have 
been the leading spirits in the enterprise, presented to the Legislature a 
copy of the leases they had obtained, and solicited the appointment of 
commissioners to confer with them, the lessees, " on such terms and con- 
siderations as may be consistent with the justice, dignity and policy of 
the State, and that the Legislature would be pleased to recognize the 
said leases under such restriction as to them in their wisdom shall ap- 
pear just and equitable." 

Although the lessees had at this session one of their number in the 
Senate, and three, including Livingston himself, in the Assembly, yet 
their petition was summarily rejected, and the Legislature by resolution 
passed' February 16, 1788, declared the leases to be purchases, and em- 
powered the governor to use the force of the State, if necessary, to pre- 
vent intrusion or settlement upon the lands so claimed. 

The prime movers of the lease scheme had, as has already been in- 
timated, something more in view than the mere possession of the lands, 
and it was doubtless their design to form a new State out of the terri- 
tory of Central and Western New York, and in case of success the long 
leases would have been declared titles in fee simple. And this project 
was not abandoned by the surrender of the leases, but was kept in abey- 
ance until compensation lands were procured for them by an act of 
the Legislature, and then in the autumn of the same 5^ear a circular 
"signed by John Livingston and Caleb Benton as ofificers of a conven- 
tion purporting to have been held at Geneva, was issued, urging the 



INDIAN LAND GRANTS — LAND COMPANIES. g3 

people to hold town meetings and sign petitions for a new state to be 
set off from New York, and to embrace the territory of the counties, as 
then existing, of Otsego, Tioga, Herkimer and Ontario," then compris- 
ing the whole of Central and Western New York. 

This daring attempt at secession was met in a spirit of true patriotism, 
and at a meeting held at " Canandargua " immediately after the ad- 
journment of court on the 8th of November, 1793, "All the Judges 
and Assistant Judges, and a large Majority of the Justices of the Peace, 
together with all the Inhabitants, convened from different Parts of the 
County on that Occasion, were present." Hon. Timothy Hosmer, first 
judge of the county, was elected chairman, and Nathaniel Gorham, jr., 
clerk. At this meeting, after a full discussion of the situation, the in- 
habitants present unanimously adopted resolutions expressive of the sen- 
timent of the people of the county, which resolutions were as follows : 

Resolved, That the inhabitants of the county of Ontario, sensible of 
many advantages that they have derived from their connection with one 
of the most respectable States of the Union, and desirous of the contin- 
uation of the same advantages, highly resent the ill-timed and improper 
attempt made by the characters above alluded to (referring to promo- 
ters of the new state scheme) to disturb their peace and harmony, that 
they conceive their measure as pregnant with danger, and such as, if 
carried into efifect, would introduce into our infant county all the com- 
plicated evils which anarchy and confusion can create. 

Resolved, That this meeting highly resent the threats made use of by 
the said persons, and conceive that, under the protection of the State 
of New York, they have nothing to fear from any banditti they can col- 
lect for the purpose of forcing them into measures which they heartily 
disapprove of. 

Resolved, That this meeting, fully impressed with the impossibility of 
the proposed state's defraying expenses of the most moderate govern- 
ment that can be devised, and aware of the impolicy as well as injustice 
of raising by enormous taxes on uncultivated lands such a revenue, or 
of devoting to those expenses property purchased under the faith of the 
States of New York and Massachusetts, and of drawing into our flour- 
ishing county people that such iniquitous measures would attract ; 
recommend to the persons above alluded to, to persuade some more 



84 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

laudable mode of gratifying their ambition, and to desist from proceed- 
ings altogether hostile to our interest and welfare. 

Resolved, Also, that it is the opinion of this meeting that the pro- 
posed meeting at Geneva ought not to be attended, as it was called by 
strangers to the county, and that we will consider as inimical to the 
county such persons belonging to it, who, at said meeting, shall consent 
to any of the proposals before reprobated. 

Resolved, That this meeeting expect, after having made this public 
declaration of their situation, that those intrusted with the administra- 
tion of the State, will take the most vigorous measures to suppress any 
of the attempts made to destroy the peace and quiet of this county. 

While the foregoing resolutions are not a full copy of the whole of 
the original, they nevertheless substantially set forth the sentiments ex- 
pressed by the inhabitants of the county who attended the meeting. 
From what is stated it will be seen that the promoters of the new state 
scheme had few adherents in Ontario county. The lessees had in con- 
templation the formation of a new state previous to the erection of the 
county, and the annullment of their leases, and even the relinquishment 
of their pretended claim to the Phelps and Gorham tract seems not to 
have had the effect of changing their original purpose. The new state 
project had many followers who were residents of the counties east of 
the pre-emption line, while in the region of the extreme western part of 
the State there were others who likewise favored the scheme. It seems, 
too, from what is stated in the resolutions that emmissaries of the les- 
sees were going among the people of the newly created county, in the 
hope of pursuading them to favor the new state. At that time Geneva 
was a central point of operations, perhaps the most important location 
then in the whole Genesee country. By this time, also, Canandaigua 
had become a village of some note, and in both of these places the sub- 
ject of the new formation was the most important topic in the public 
mind. 

However, the whole scheme proposed and contended for by the lessees 
proved a complete failure. As will be found more fully stated in the 
succeeding chapter, Phelps and Gorham became the proprietors of a 
vast area of territory west of Seneca Lake, and in perfecting their title 
by purchase from the Indian owners, they were, of course, confronted 



THE PHELPS AND GORHAM PURCHASE. 85 

with the long lease, but by concessions made to the lessees, and by lib- 
eral inducements held out to some of the more influential members of 
the two land companies, they succeeded in winning them over, and thus 
without serious difficulty they soon afterward obtained a deed from the 
Indians for their fee in what has always been known as the " Phelps 
and Gorham Purchase." The land purchased by Phelps and Gorham 
from the Indians was, of course, a part of the territory covered by the 
long lease ; and in their negotiations the lessees relinquished their right 
to the tract, and at the same time the Indians released the New York 
Genesee Land Company from the payment of the entire sum of 2000 
dollars per year, and in lieu thereof agreed to accept the annual rental 
of 1000 dollars for the balance of the land held under the long lease. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



The Phelps and Gorham Purchase — Rev. Samuel Kirkland Superintends the Pur- 
chase of the Indian Titles — Treaty at Buffalo Creek — Mr. Phelps Secures the Influence 
of Certain Lessees — The Purchase and its Approval — The Proprietors Fail in their 
Payments — Sale to Robert Morris — The London Associates — The Pre-emption Line — 
Error and Fraud Charged — The Re-survey — Charles Williamson. 

SOON after Massachusetts became possessed of the pre-emption 
right from the State of New York, Oliver Phelps with a company 
of associates resolved to purchase a large tract of land, but before his 
plans were matured Nathaniel Gorham had made a proposition to the 
Legislature at the session in 1787, but the matter failed. Soon after 
this a consolidation of speculative interests was effected by parties who 
desired to become interested in the venture, and an association was 
formed of which Phelps and Gorham were constituted agents and rep- 
resentatives. They made a proposition to Massachusetts "to purchase 
for the consideration of 300,000 pounds in consolidated securities of 
this Commonwealth, or 3,000 pounds specie together with 290,000 
pounds in like securities, the right of pre-emption which this Common- 
wealth has in and to the western territory, so called, lately ceded by the 
State of New York to this Commonwealth." 



86 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

On the 1st of April, 1788, Massachusetts agreed to sell the lands to 
the Phelps and Gorham association for the sum of 300,000 pounds as 
above, to be paid in three annual installments, and authorized the pro- 
prietary to extinguish the claims of the Indians by purchase. At the 
same time the Legislature appointed Rev. Samuel Kirkland to super- 
intend the negotiations with the Indians, and approve or disapprove of 
whatever should be done. 

After the passage of this act the shareholders in the association held 
a meeting and appointed Gen. Israel Chapin to go out and explore the 
country ; Oliver Phelps to be general agent, and whose first duty 
should be to hold a treaty with the Indians and purchase the fee of the 
soil ; Nathaniel Gorham to be an agent to confer with the authorities of 
New York in reference to running the east boundary or pre-emption 
line ; and William Walker as the local agent of surveys and sales. 

Mr. Phelps soon made preparations for a treaty with the Indians at 
Kanadesaga, and in order to facilitate operations, secured the influence 
of John Livingston, one of the most prominent members of the New 
York Genesee Land Company. On arriving at Kanadesaga Mr. 
Phelps soon found that the Niagara Genesee Company was in conflict 
with Mr. Livingston's company, and was holding and controlling the 
Indians at Buffalo Creek. He at once proceeded to the latter place, 
and succeeded in securing the favor of John Butler, Samuel Street and 
others of the Niagara Company, and Livingston, Caleb Benton and 
Ezekiel Gilbert of the principal company (who claimed ownership under 
the long lease), by promising them a number of townships of land. Thus 
Mr. Phelps was at once enabled to hold a council with the Indians, and 
on the 8th of July following he concluded a treaty with them, securing 
all the lands the Indians would then sell, estimated to contain 2,600,000 
acres, and agreeing to pay therefor the sum of $5,000 and an annuity 
of $500 forever. 

Inasmuch as the lands included in this sale embraced all that is now 
Ontario county, and as this purchase had a direct relation to the 
county's early history, it may be of interest to the reader to note the 
boundary line of this immense Phelps and Gorham purchase, as it has 
always been called ; which bou-ndarics were as follows: "Beginning 
on the north boundary line of Pennsylvania, at the eighty-second mile- 



THE PHELPS AND GORHAM PURCHASE. 87 

stone, and from said point or place of beginning running west upon the 
said line to a meridian which will pass through that corner or point of 
land made by the confluence of Kanahasgwaicon (Canaseraga) Creek 
with the waters of the Genesee River ; thence north along the said 
meridian to the corner or point last mentioned ; thence northerly along 
the waters of the said Genesee River to a point two miles nonth of 
Kanawageras (Canawagus) village so called ; thence running due west 
twelve miles; thence running in a direction northward so as to be 
twelve miles distant from the most westward bounds of the said Gene- 
see River, to the shore of, Ontario lake; thence eastwardly along the 
shore of the said lake to a meridian which will pass through the first 
point or place of beginning before mentioned ; thence south along the 
said meridian to the point or place of beginning aforesaid, being such 
part of the whole tract purchased by the grantees aforesaid, as they 
have obtained a release of from the natives." 

The deed of land thus procured from the Seneca Indians, was wit- 
nessed by Rev. Samuel Kirkland and many others, and approved by 
him as superintendent in the manner following : " Pursuant to a reso- 
lution of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, passed 
March 30, 1788, I have attended a full and general treaty of the Five 
Nations of Indians, at the chief village in their territory, on the Buffalo 
Creek, alias Teyoheghscolea, when the foregoing instrument or deed of 
conveyance, made to the Hon. Nathaniel Gorham and Oliver Phelps, 
esquires, of a certain part of lands belonging to the said Five Nations, 
the description and boundaries thereof being particularly specified in 
the same, was duly executed, signed, sealed and delivered in my pres- 
ence, by the sachems, chiefs and warriors of the above mentioned Five 
Nations, being fairly and properly understood and transacted by all the 
parties of Indians concerned, and declared to be done to their universal 
satisfaction and content; and I do therefore certify and approve of the 
same." 

The tract of land above described was all in this State that Phelps 
and Gorham ever procured. At the time they made the purchase 
Massachusetts currency was worth only about twenty cents on the 
dollar, but when the first payment fell due it had appreciated and was 
nearly at par. In consequence of this, and from other causes, they 



88 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

were unable to make the payments according to the terms of their con- 
tract, and were finally obliged to compromise with Massachusetts, and 
surrender to the State the portion of the territory not purchased by 
them from the Indians. 

The survey of the Phelps and Gorham purchase was begun in the 
late summer or early fall of 1788, under the direction of Col Hugh 
Maxwell, and with the assistance of Augustus Porter and other survey- 
ors, was finished in 1789, the whole territory being divided into "divers 
tracts or townships, and as nearly in regular ranges as the sides con- 
tained within oblique or irregular lines would admit;" there being 
seven long ranges, each six miles in width, and in length extending 
from Pennsylvania to Lake Ontario. There were also two or three 
short ranges at the northwest corner of the tract. The ranges were 
numbered from one upward, beginning with number one on the eastern 
side, the eastern boundary being the old pre-emption line, and each 
range was divided into townships or tracts of six miles square, num- 
bered in each range from one at the Pennsylvania line to fourteen at 
Lake Ontario. 

The plan adopted by the proprietary for dividing their territory into 
ranges and townships, preparatory to sub- divisions for sale, was sub- 
stantially the same as the land surveys in new territories of the United 
States, which are uniform and done under what is known as the " rec- 
tangular system," which was adopted by a resolution of Congress, 
passed May 20, 1785. 

Scattered throughout the field notes of the surveys on the Phelps and 
Gorham tract are notations of Indian paths which were crossed by the 
surveyors ; none, however, were mentioned except those of prominence 
and of common use. The traverse of " Candaughque " Lake was begun 
June I, and on finishing the work is the following entry : "The whole 
of the traverse of Canadaque lake with that of the main inlet is thirty- 
eight miles." Ranges four, five and six are noted as being five and one- 
half miles in width from east to west, while range seven was to be six 
miles. There is also the traverse of " Hayanaya " (Hemlock) and 
" Kaunaughshus " Lakes. 

The difference between the townships as surveyed by Colonel Maxwell 
and his assistants, and the towns as they at present exist, must be ex- 



THE PHELPS AND GORHAM PURCHASE. 89 

plained, or confusion will follow relating to different localities. The 
size of the original townships was necessarily somewhat arbitrarily fixed 
and made as uniform as possible, that they might more readily be resur- 
veyed into allotments and to facilitate sales of the land. The early 
settlements of course were made according to inclination and interest, 
and when the territory became populous enough it was necessary to 
have the security of the law extended over the settlement, and hence 
under legislative enactments the territory was organized into towns, 
making such apportionments of the territory as the then existing wants 
of its inhabitants seemed to require. 

The territory of present Ontario county became apportioned substan- 
tially as follows : (This is not absolutely correct as the lines of some of 
the towns for various reasons were not literally on the township lines, 
but such difference can generally be seen by a glance at the map). The 
town of Seneca, including the present town of Geneva, comprised the 
whole of township No 9 and the south half of No. 10 in the first range, 
and that part of the gore lying east of the same. The town of Phelps 
comprised the north part of township 10 and south half of No. 1 1 in the 
first range and that part of the gore east of the same. In the second 
range the towns of Gorham, Hopewell and Manchester comprised, re- 
spectively, townships 9, lo and ii. Canadaigua is from 9 and 10 and 
Farrington from No. 1 1 in the third range. In the fourth range town- 
ships 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 were formed into Naples, South Bristol, Bristol, 
East Bloomfieid and Victor. In the fifth range, Canadice, Richmond 
and West Bloomfieid comprise townships, 8, 9 and 10 

The surveys into townships of the Phelps and Gorham purchase 
were made from the eastern pre-emption line, as run in 1788. The 
work itself was done under the direction of Col. Hugh Maxwell, but it 
must not be understood that he, having charge of the entire work, could 
give his personal attention to every detail of the survey of this immense 
tract of land. The survey and location of the eastern boundary line 
of the purchase was of the utmost importance, and while waiting for the 
result of the negotiations. Colonel Maxwell made a preliminary survey of 
the southern part of the east line of cession, running a trial line from 
Pennsylvania to a point opposite Seneca lake. In his book of field 
notes we learn that on the loth of June he set out with Captain Alen and 
12 



90 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

three assistants and rowed up the lake from Kanadesaga to about three 
miles above the great point. On the iith they continued southward, 
"found a large sunken Marsh at the south end of the Lake " and 
" landed up the creek at Kathreen's Town." The next day they ar- 
rived at Newtown, five miles below present Elmira, and on the 13th 
began a survey from the eighty-second mile stone on the Pennsylvania 
line. After running the trial line for about twenty-three miles, on the 
nth they turned the course to the east and in a little less than four 
miles the party came to Seneca Lake. They then returned to Kan- 
adesaga. As Mr. Phelps did not leave Kanadesaga until July to attend 
the Indian treaty, he was aware that from this trial, when the line would 
be actually run, it would pass to the west of Kanadesaga, and his com- 
pany would not own the place where he had intended to build a city. 

The actual work of running the pre-emption line was begun by Colonel 
Maxwell with the assistance of Mr. Jenkins and others at the eighty- 
second mile stone on the 25th of July, 1788, and as the work progressed 
the end of every sixth mile was marked as the corners of townships, 
each mile of every township also noted as to the kind of timber, quality 
of land, whether level or hilly, and the points where brooks, creeks and 
streams were crossed and whether they were large enough for millseats. 
Colonel Maxwell left the line on the 7th of August for Geneva, probably 
to obtain supplies, and was detained there against his will until the i ith, 
when, as he wrote his wife, he was not to return until he had run the 
line quite through to Lake Ontario, and perhaps run around a number 
of towns there, which might take him perhaps three weeks in the bush. 
It was while Col. Maxwell was at Geneva that it is said a fraud was com- 
mitted in running the line whereby Mr. Phelps was deprived of the lo- 
cality of Geneva, but it must be remembered that the trial line gave ev- 
idence that such would be the case, and there is no positive evidence as to 
whether any or what surveys were made during Colonel Maxwell's ab- 
sence, the field notes of the whole line being in his hand- writing. The er- 
ror in the line was soon suspected by Mr. Phelps, and in 1789 he wrote to 
Col. William Walker, the local agent for survey and sales, to that effect, 
and advising him to have the work performed over, but circumstances 
prevented it being done at that time, and afterwards when the new pre- 
emption line was established many complications followed with all the 
unfortunate consequences ever attendant upon conflicting titles. 



THE PHELPS AND GORHAM PURCHASE. 91 

Nearly every person who has written upon the subject of the survey 
of the pre-emption line has stated that a fraud was actually committed, 
or that there were strong grounds for suspicion of fraud in the perform- 
ance of the work ; and it has been freely intimated that Mr. Jenkins, 
who appears to have been prominent in the surveying party, was either 
in the employ of the lessees or of Reed and Ryckman, and that he took 
advantage either of the temporary sickness or the absence of Colonel 
Maxwell to commit a fraud which he was charged with having been 
employed to do. 

In the present connection it is well enough to state that at the time 
mentioned Kanadesaga, or Geneva, was a village of much importance, 
and the chief seat of operations in the whole Genesee countr}^ and with 
all a very desirable acquisition. This point the ruling spirits of the 
lessee company desired to retain and control, but could not do so with 
the correct running of the line as described in the pre-emption com- 
pact. The absence of Colonel Maxwell opened a possible opportunity 
to the surveyors to deviate from the meridian line and establish a bound- 
ary to the westward of Kanadesaga, thus throwing the coveted village 
without the Massachusetts tract and bringing it within the territory 
claimed by the lessees under their lease with the Six Nations. It 
was charged that this was done, and that the engineers made a deflec- 
tion to the westward and so established the first pre-emption line, as to 
defraud Phelps and Gorham of many thousand acres of land. 

In relation to the intimation of fraud it must be said that no imputa- 
tion was ever made against Hugh Maxwell. That competent authority, 
Judge Porter, fully exonerated him, and in common with all who knew 
Colonel Maxwell, entertained for him the highest respect, and not a 
shadow of suspicion was ever cast upon his honor or integrity. The 
first forty- five miles of the old line was run under the direction of Col- 
onel Maxwell, and it is a well known fact that at that point it was nearly 
two miles west of the true meridian, and the deviation must be laid to 
the imperfect instruments in use at that time, and to the fickleness and 
uncertainty of the compass. If the line had continued to be run in the 
same direction, it would have passed fully as far west of Geneva as the 
line that was actually run. 

There is no doubt that at that time there was some feeling between 
the lessees and the Phelps and Gorham proprietary, both of v^hom con- 



92 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

sidered Geneva a very desirable acquisition, and as it was known that 
the line must pass near this place, some anxiety was felt as to which 
party it might belong. Judge Porter, referring to this subject, said : 
" Colonel Maxwell, on the part of Phelps and Gorham, and Mr. Jen- 
kins on the part of the lessees, began on the Pennsylvania line and ran 
through to Lake Ontario the pre-emption line, which was the basis of 
the surveys afterward made. The line afterward proved to have been 
incorrectly run, the fact being charged as a fraud on the part of Jenkins, 
whose object was to secure to his employers, the lessee company, the 
location of Geneva. The suspicion of fraud led to the re- survey of the 
line under the direction of Robert Morris." 

At that time the lessees claimed all the land east of the pre-emption 
line, and although the State had repudiated their lease, they still hoped 
in some manner to retain the land, and still continued their headquarters 
at Kanadesaga, holding that as a central point for all their operations 
with the Indians and others, and keeping there their depot of supplies. 

Having released their claims to the Seneca's country west of the pre- 
emption line, they had embraced the opportunity offered at the close of 
Mr. Phelps's treaty, to have a new lease executed by the Indians, con- 
firming their long lease of all the territory east of that line, and there 
was no other locality for them to retain a foothold where they could so 
easily operate with the Indians. However, it was not until the follow- 
ing February that the lessees delivered up their lease to the State, and 
as they were the only persons that could be benefited, if a fraud was 
actually committed or attempted, it must have been in their interest 
that they might retain control of a location at Geneva. When they 
saw that the Indians were under the influence of Reed and Ryckman, 
and that a treaty with the State could not be prevented, then, with a 
show of magnanimity, they surrendered their long leases, hoping finally 
to be remembered with compensation lands, which they eventually 
secured. 

Colonel Seth Reed and Peter Ryckman had for some time been resi- 
dents at Kanadesaga. It does not appear that Colonel Reed had any 
positive connection with the lessees, but Ryckman was a shareholder in 
the company, being made such to secure his influence with the Indians. 
However, his connection with the company was not of long duration, 



THE PHELPS AND GORHAM PURCHASE. 93 

for he was soon found in the employ of the State negotiating with the 
Indians. Still in the early part of 1788 he was in league with the les- 
sees, but by the 1st of September he had broken with them and, with 
Colonel Reed, was bitterly opposed to the company. In February, 
1789, Reed and Ryckman had obtained a cession of land lying between 
the pre emption line and Seneca Lake, while the former had also 
secured another tract lying north of the joint cession. Their grants 
were not obtained until some time after the old pre-emption line had 
been established, and it is, therefore, difficult to see what interest either 
of them could have had in participating in a fraud, as charged against 
them. 

As has been stated in the present chapter, the enterprising land oper- 
ators, Phelps and Gorham, in 1789, found themselves to be in an em- 
barrassed financial condition. To be sure they were the possessors of 
upwards of 2,000,000 acres of the best land in the State of New York, 
and to a fair proportion of that vast area they had succeeded in ex- 
tinguishing the Indian claim of title. However, the expenses incurred 
in doing what had been done up to this time had been enormous. The 
surveyors charges had been large, while the payment to the Indians and 
the distribution of influencing presents among them amounted to a large 
sum. Then, too, was the ever present contingent of hangers on, per- 
sons who had helped or claimed to have assisted in bringing about a 
settlement Qf difficulties, and who were persistent in their demands for 
money and lands. Added to these expenses was the compensation and 
gratuities paid the members of the lessee companies for their services 
and influence. 

During the period of their ownership the proprietors had succeeded 
in disposing of about fifty townships, but the purchasers were in the 
main persons who held shares or stock in the association, and who had 
accepted town grants in exchange for their interest in the company. 
Therefore the year 1789 found the proprietary with a large amount of 
land, but with very little cash, and the payment of $100,000 to be made 
to Massachusetts was now due, an obligation they could not meet. In 
this emergency Phelps and Gorham petitioned the Massachusetts Legis- 
lature, offering to surrender that portion of their purchase from which 
the Indian title had not been extinguished, and asking that they be re- 



94 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

leased from the payment of a large part of the principal sum, expressing 
a willingness to pay for a portion of the land. This proposition was agree- 
able to the State, the more so, perhaps, from the knowledge they had 
that the remaining territory could be readily sold to Robert Morris, of 
Philadelphia, the financier of the Revolution, and a man of large means 
and influence. 

Early in 1789 Phelps and Gorham opened a land office at Canan- 
daigua and the lands of their purchase, known as the Genesee Tract 
were put upon the market. The sales, however, did not come up to 
expectation, for although several townships and parts of townships were 
sold, they were mainly taken by those who had an interest as share- 
holders and at cost price. Phelps and Gorham soon finding themselves 
in further financial difficulties, applied to Robert Morris, and on the loth 
of August, 1790, he became the purchaser of all the unsold lands in 
the Genesee Tract, except Township No. 10 of the 3d range, and No. 
9 of the 7th range, the two towns comprising about 47,000 acres, which 
Phelps and Gorham retained for their own use. This purchase was con- 
summated by deed from Phelps and Gorham and their wives to Robert 
Morris, dated November 18, 1790, and by articles of agreement at that 
time it was stipulated that the, tract should contain one million acres of 
land, payment for which was then made, and for any surplus over said 
amount further payment was to be made after the contents of the tract 
should be accurately ascertained. Mr. Morris soon employed Major 
Adam Hoops to cause a resurvey of the tract to be made, This work 
was performed during the years 179 1-2, Frederick Saxton, John Ad- 
lum, Augustus Porter, Thomas Davis, Robert James, and Morgan Jones 
being the surveyors who assisted Major Hoops in the work, the calcula- 
tions being made by Major Hoops and Mr. Saxton. 

The old pre-emption line as run by Col. Hugh Maxwell in 1788, 
having been surveyed with very primitive instruments, was known to be 
erroneous, and a new line was run in November and December, 1792, 
by Benjamin Ellicott, assisted by James Armstrong, Frederick Saxton 
and Augustus Porter, and which was surveyed with such accuracy that 
its correctness has never been questioned. Under an act of the Legis- 
lature, passed March 24, 1795, a description and map of the pre-emp- 
tion line was procured by Simeon De Witt, the surveyor-general of the 



THE PHELPS AND GORHAM PURCHASE. 95 

State, from Benjamin Ellicott, with his oath attached, certifying that it 
was an " accurate representation of the eastern boundary of Massachu- 
setts as run by himself and others;" that the line run was in accordance 
with the act of cession, and that " the said pre-emption line was truly 
performed." Under an act of April 6, 1796, the description and map 
were duly attested by the surveyor- general and deposited in the office of 
the secretary of state and the line formally adopted. The map contains 
not only the new line, which is divided into miles, but also the old line 
with all the points of deviation from the true course, with the distances 
at the different points between the two lines. Both lines begin at the 
eighty second mile stone on the north bounds of Pennsylvania and at 
a distance of about forty-five and one half miles, just after crossing the 
outlet of Crooked or Keuka Lake it was found that the old line was 
distant one mile and seventy-eight chains and twenty five links, having 
gradually diverged to that distance from the starting point. Some two 
or three miles north of Dresden, and nearly forty nine miles from the 
the starting point, the new line enters Seneca Lake, at which point the 
distance between the lines has increased to two miles, fifty six chains 
and fifty links. The new line passes out of the north end of the lake at 
Pre-emption Street and runs due north to Great Sodus Bay, being in 
total length eighty-four miles, seventy-seven chains and forty-five links. 
From the point mentioned above, the old line runs nearly parallel, being 
at eighty-one miles only nine chains and fourteen links farther west. 
From the " Return of Survey " made at Philadelphia, by Major Adam 
Hoops to Robert Morris, we learn that there were 85,896 acres of land 
in " the Gore " between the pre-emption lines. Although a meridian or 
true north and south line, the pre-emption line is not on the meridian 
of Washington as some have supposed, that meridian being some four 
miles farther west The new line passed nearly as far to the east of 
Geneva as the old line did to the west. 

By the " Return of Survey," just mentioned, it was ascertained that 
the actual area of Mr. Morris's purchase was one million two hundred 
and sixty-seven thousand five hundred and sixty- nine acres, two rods, 
and thirty perches; and from the final settlement made between the 
parties at Philadelphia, February 16, 1793, we learn that the full num- 
ber of acres as per the "Return of Survey," which included the Gore, 



96 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

was paid for and that the price paid by Mr. Morris was eight pence half 
penny per acre, Massachusetts currency, or between eleven and twelve 
cents per acre in United States money, the settlement paper being 
signed by Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Phelps, Robert Morris, and also 
Charles Williamson to show his privity to the transaction. 

Previous to this time, however, in the early part of the year 1791 
this great tract of land had been sold by the London agent of Robert 
Morris to some English capitalists, Sir William Pulteney taking a nine- 
twelfths interest, William Hornby, two twelfths and Patrick Colquhoun, 
one- twelfth. Soon after the purchase Charles Williamson, a Scotchman 
by birth, then residing in Great Britain, entered into an agreement with 
the purchasers to proceed to America as their agent, to settle on the Gen- 
esee tract, to sell the lands and remit the proceeds to London. He soon 
came to America, and after becoming a naturalized citizen, obtained from 
Robert Morris and his wife an absolute conveyance of the Genesee tract 
to himself in fee, after which he proceeded to settle on the tract and com- 
menced operations for bringing the lands into market. The deed of 
conveyance from Morris to Williamson is dated April 1 1, 1792, the con- 
sideration named therein being seventy five thousand pounds sterling. 

In this connection an explanation of the currency of early times is per- 
haps necessary. The act of Congress April 2, 1792, establishing the 
mint, provided, "That the money of account of the United States shall 
be expressed in dollars or units, dismes or tenths, cents or hundredths 
and milles or thousandths," and " that all accounts in the public offices 
and all proceedings in the courts of the United States shall be kept and 
had in conformity to this regulation," also, that the silver dollar should 
be of the same weight and fineness as the Spanish milled dollar then in 
common use. Individual and mercantile transactions, however, for a 
great many years continued to be carried on in pounds, shillings and 
pence This continued infect until an act of Congress, February 21, 
1857, debased the foreign coins, when such currency rapidly went out 
of existence. As the value in dollars of the pound of account became 
fixed at different rates in the several States, in consequence of the de- 
preciation of the early currency of the American colonie.«i, it is necessary 
to know what kind of currency is mentioned, and the real value of it, in 
order to know the actual value mentioned in any early transaction. 



THE PHELPS AND GORHAM PURCHASE. 97 

Although the pound of account was composed of twenty shillings, both 
in Great Britain and in this country, yet the English shilling, worth 
about twenty-two cents, was of more intrinsic value than the Spanish 
real or shilling, which was of less weight. The Spanish silver coins 
were the principal currency of the country, and it was upon the value 
of these that moneyed transactions were principally based. The pound 
sterling of Great Britain being rated at 4^. 6d. to the dollar, the con- 
ventional rate for sterling exchange was $444! to the pound and this 
rate or value was maintained for many years In New England, Vir- 
ginia and Kentucky the dollar was fixed at six shillings in value, hence 
the shilling was worth i6| cents, and the pound of those Statee worth 
$3-33i ; i" New York and North Carolina the dollar was fixed at eight 
shillings, the shilling worth \2\ cents and the pound worth $2.50; in 
South Carolina and Georgia the dollar was fixed at four shillings eight 
pence, the shilling worth 2iy cents and the pound worth $428^; in 
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland the dollar was seven 
shillings six pence, the shilling worth 13-^ cents, and the pound worth 
$2.66f. From this it will be seen that the price paid by Sir William 
Pulteney and his associates for the Genesee tract was $333,33333, being 
about twenty- six and one -third cents per acre. 

The accompanying map is a reduced reproduction of the map of the 
resurvey of the Phelps and Gorham purchase under direction of Major 
Hoops, by Augustus Porter, from a copy of the original map in posses- 
sion of Geo. H. Harris, esq., Rochester, N. Y. 

The discovery that the State did not own the lands in the Gore 
worked to the great disadvantage of the State, and to the owners and 
settlers who had by that time taken possession of their lands. The 
State had sold and granted to divers individuals all the lands lying be- 
tween the old pre-emption line and Seneca lake, and many of the pur- 
chasers and grantees under these sales were in possession. Now the 
true pre-emption line had been surveyed and fixed, and within the 
Phelps and Gorham purchase, as by that survey decided, were found 
the lands and improvements of persons holding titles from the State. 
Nothing now remained to be done on the part of the State other than 
to satisfy the claims of the injured parties. In many cases Mr. Will- 
iamson confirmed the State titles and received compensation therefor 

13 



THE PHELPS AND GORHAM PURCHASE. 99 

from the State by grants of land in other localities from the public 
lands, while in other cases the State satisfied the claimants by grants 
of public lands, but generally was compelled to give from three to six 
acres for each one possessed by the person found to be on the pre- 
emption tract. 

As has already been stated these lands had been granted by the State 
to various persons and the discovery of the error and the subsequent 
resurvey of the eastern boundary was the source of much confusion. 
Captain Williamson, acting for the association, purchased a number of 
these patents, and made arrangements to quiet the title of other owners 
to the extent of 37,788 acres, 25,000 acres of which had been pur- 
chased for him by his agent, John Johnstone. However, in 1799 Will- 
iamson received as compensation lands 56,682 acres, or one and one- 
half acres for one, which were granted him by the State and located 
adjoining the pre-emption line in Wayne county. John Livingston and 
Thomas Maule, the then owners of the Reed and Ryckman tract, 
which Williamson took and retained in possession, received from the 
State patents for 42,969 acres, being five and one- half acres for one as 
compensation lands for their loss. Robert Troup, agent for Sir John 
Lowther Johnstone, in 181 1 obtained a decision from the land office for 
compensatiom for lands in Seth Reed's patent for 2,000 acres, the title 
of which Williamson had purchased. Numerous other illustrations 
might be given in this connection, but the above are deemed sufficient 
for the purpose of this chapter. 

Charles Williamson, who has been frequently mentioned in connec- 
tion with the Pulteney association, was as intimately associated with 
the early history of Ontario county as were Phelps and Gorham, or any 
other of the early land proprietors. Williamson was born in Scotland, 
and is said to have first come to this country during the Revolution as 
a captain in the British service ; but the vessel on which he was making 
the passage was captured by a French privateer, and Williamson was 
detained as a prisoner at Boston until the close of the war. He im- 
proved every opportunity to become acquainted with the country, and 
his services therefore were much sought by foreign investors in United 
States lands. His first visit to the Genesee country was made in Feb- 
ruary, 1792, he having then been recently appointed representative of 



L.ofC. 



100 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

the Pulteney association. The next year he founded the village of 
Bath, now in Steuben but then in Ontario county, and at the same 
time caused a survey and map of Geneva to be made, the latter work 
being performed by Joseph Annin. By this time, also, Canandaigua 
had become a village of much importance, it being the county seat of 
the newly erected county of Ontario. In 1796 a sloop was built by 
Williamson on Seneca Lake to be run as a packet between Geneva and 
Catherinestown. In the same year, also, a printing office was estab- 
lished at Geneva. However, these are subjects which may be more 
appropriately treated as local rather than general history, and therefore 
need no further discussion at this time. 

In 1796 Charles WHliamson was elected to the Legislature from On- 
tario county, and served three successive years. March 18, 1795. ^^ 
was appointed a judge of the county of Ontario and served in that 
capacity at several terms of the court held at Canandaigua. March 31, 
1796, he was appointed first judge of Steuben county. He was also 
appointed by the governor, lieutenant colonel of the militia. In the 
infancy of settlements in the Genesee country he was a most important 
agent, and much of the early prosperity of the region was due to his 
enterprise. Eastward of Geneva was an uninhabited wilderness, and 
not a road within a hundred miles of the Genesee country would admit 
of any sort of conveyance except when the ground was covered with 
snow. He opened roads in various directions, and often made advance- 
ments to induce settlement. The lands he was generally compelled to 
sell upon credit, and payments were often postponed. Many of Will- 
iamson's enterprises were ahead of the times, and were rewarded with 
slow returns. His resources were mainly the capital of his principals, 
who advanced large amounts for improvements, freely at first, but soon 
began to be impatient at the slow return of their outlays. By the year 
1800 there had been expended by the association the sum of $1,374,- 
470.10, and there had been received for lands sold only $147,974.83, 
while at this time there was owing for lands purchased about $300,000. 

Sir William Pulteney was the principal man in the association, his 
interest being so large that upon the division of the lands his share ex- 
ceeded that of both of his associates. However, the Hornby and 
Colquhoun shares were each large, and were managed as J\n estate, the 



THE PHELPS AND QORHAM PURCHASE. lOl 

agency of which was at Canandaigua under the charge of John John- 
stone, and upon his decease John Greig, of Canandaigua, succeeded to 
the agency. 

In the final adjustment of affairs with his principals, Mr. Williamson 
obtained a princely compensation and a large estate was left to him. 
Major James Rees was his agent until Mr. Williamson returned to 
Scotland, in 1803 or '4, when his matters were left with Col. Benjamin 
Walker of Utica. Mr. Williamson died of yellow fever in 1808, while 
on a passage from Havana to England. His wife did not leave this 
country, but continued to reside in Geneva, where she died August 31, 
1824. 

Much that might properly come within the province of this chapter, 
particularly that which relates to the sale and disposition of the several 
townships now forming Ontario county, is omitted from the present 
narrative, but reference to them will be found in one of the later chap- 
ters (relating to the organization of the county), and also to the chapters 
devoted specially to township history. 

In the settlement of Williamson with his principals, he conveyed the 
real estate directly to them by deeds dated the i6th of May, 1801, under 
an act of the Legislature, April 2, 1798, enabling aliens to purchase and 
hold real estate. This act expired by limitation in three years from its 
passage. The amount of personal property, consisting of bonds and 
mortgages and notes he thus conveyed at different dates, according to an 
adjusted statement between the parties, was $551,69977. According 
to the same statement the valuation of the land conveyed was, to Sir 
William Pulteney, in Ontario and Steuben counties, $2,607,682.25; to 
William Hornby, in said counties, $350,924.45, and to Patrick Colqu- 
houn, in the same counties, $37,188.13, making the whole amount con- 
veyed valued at $3,547,494.58. 

Robert Troup was the attorney of Sir William Pulteney in effecting 
the settlement with Williamson, and to his surprise received a full 
power of attorney, dated July 26, 1801, to act as the permanent agent 
and attorney. At first he absolutely refused the agency, but finally 
was persuaded to accept, and commenced his duties in September, 
1 801. Sir William Pulteney died intestate. May 13, 1805, and the 
property descended to his only child, Henrietta Laura, the countess of 



102 HtSTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Bath; she died July 14, 1808, intestate as to her real estate, and that 
property descended to Sir John Lowther Johnstone, her cousin and 
heir-at-law; he died August 7, 181 1, leaving a will under the powers of 
trust in which the management of the property has continued until this 
day. Colonel Troup continued in the agency until his death, which 
occurred January 14, 1832, and his successors have been Joseph 
Fellows and Benjamin F. Young, the latter continuing as yet the 
agency at Bath, Steuben county. This part of the Pulteney estate is 
usually known as the Johnstone Branch. 

The countess of Bath bequeathed the personal part of the estate for 
the benefit of Mrs. Elizabeth Markham, the wife of the Rev. George 
Markham, afterwards the wife of John Pulteney, and her children. The 
personal estate in America consisted of moneys due and to become due 
on sales of real estate by contracts of purchase, and hy bonds and mort- 
gages taken on such sales. Elizabeth Evelyn Pulteney died March 18, 
1856, bequeathing to her son, the Rev. Richard Thomas Pulteney, the 
residuary personal estate of the countess of Bath. This part of the 
Pulteney estate has become known as the Pulteney Branch. Joseph 
Fellows was the agent for a number of years and was succeeded by 
Edward Kingsland in 1871, who yet retains the agency at Geneva, 
Although the personal property branch of the Pulteney estate was but 
a minor part of the whole estate, yet after all it was considerable. It 
has, however, been gradually reduced until it is now comparatively 
small, and as soon as it can be done, without detriment to the estate or 
inconvenience to the parties, it will be entirely closed up. 



CHAPTER IX. 



A Brief Chapter Devoted to the Settlement Made by the Society of Friends in what 
is now Yates County — An Outline History of the Society and of its Remarkable Leader, 
Jemima Wilkinson, alias "The Friend" — Early Grist Mills. 

IN the preceding chapter reference was made to the settlements begim 
at Kanadesaga and Canandaigua under the direction and patronage 
of Proprietors Phelps and Gorham ; and at a later period how the les- 
sees made the former place their chief seat of operations, and were fol- 



THE "FRIENDS." 103 

lowed in the same work by agent Charles Wilh'amson of the London 
Association. Under the patronage of the persons named, the northern 
part of what is now Ontario county was developed and settled. And 
what is true of that locality will also apply to the western part of the 
State of New York, which was likewise improved and developed under 
the patronage of the Holland Land Company. The Holland Purchase 
and the Morris Reserve were each, in part at least, portions of Ontario 
county as originally created, but as the jurisdiction of the county over 
that region of country was of brief duration, the subject of its purchase, 
subdivision and early history needs but a slight notice in this work. 
However, there was an element of pioneer population in Ontario county, 
which, although the territory settled now forms a part of another county, 
is nevertheless deserving of some mention in this record. We refer to 
the settlement made by the " Friends " in what is now the town of Tor- 
rey, Yates county. As a matter of fact the emissaries of the "Friends" 
made their first visit to the Genesee country very soon after the close 
of the Revolution, before the controversy between Massachusetts and 
New York was decided, and, of course, before Phelps and Gorham made 
their extensive purchase, and before any county erection in this part of 
the State was even contemplated. 

In the year 1786 Ezekiel Shearman visited the Genesee county, his 
object being to find some suitable location for a permanent settlement 
for the followers of Jemima Wilkinson, but finding the country not ripe 
for occupation, Mr. Shearman returned and reported to the society the 
result of his investigation. During the next year three other emis- 
saries of the society visited the region, stopping for a brief time at Kan- 
adesaga, then proceded up the lake to the location of the old Indian vil- 
lage Kashong, where they found two Frenchmen, De Bartzch and 
Poudre, who were residing there and carrying on trade with the Indians. 
By these traders the committee was informed that the region about 
them was unsurpassed for purposes of settlement and cultivation. The 
travelers proceded several miles further southward and examined the 
lands in the vicinity of the outlet of Lake Keuka, and decided to make 
a favorable report to the society, but to leave the exact location of the 
colony to the discretion of those who should first come to make a home 
in the region. 



104 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

The first settlement by the society of " Friends " was made during 
the latter part of the summer of 1788, when twenty five of their num- 
ber made this place their permanent home. The next year the little 
colony received large accessions in numbers, and even their faithful 
leader herself attempted the journey to the " New Jerusalem," but an 
accident compelled her to return to Philadelphia ; and it was not until 
1 79 1 that the Friend joined the colony, at which time its number 
amounted to more than one hundred persons 

Jemima Wilkinson, as she was originally named, or the Universal 
Friend, as she styled herself after her somewhat remarkable transforma- 
tion from the material to the spiritual being, was the founder and leader 
of the sect or society just referred to. She was with her followers re- 
ligionists of the order usually termed fanatics. The people who allied 
themselves to the Friend were earnest, honest, upright men and women, 
and among them were many persons who are remembered as having 
been among the foremost men of Ontario county during its pioneer 
period; and although the society has been for many years extinct, and 
memory of it lives only in historical records, no intelligent speaker has 
given voice to sentiments other than of praise for the society and for 
its most zealous founder and head. 

Jemima Wilkinson was born in the town of Cumberland, Providence 
county, R. I., in 1758, the daughter of Jeremiah and Amy Wilkinson, 
and the eighth of their twelve children. The young life of this child 
was not unlike that of others of her condition and situation, nor did she 
possess traits that marked her in contrast with others of her time. She 
lived in an age when it was not an uncommon thing for numbers of 
people to separate themselves from established sects and set up a new 
standard of religious discipline or worship ; and while Jemima was 
brought under the influence of one of these departures, she was not gov- 
erned by it. 

During her young womanhood Jemima underwent a remarkable and 
singular change. In the summer of 1776 she fell sick with a disease 
that puzzled the medical men and was called by them one of the ail- 
ments of the nervous system, and not of the physical, for she suffered 
no pain. Gradually wasting in strength, her life hung by a slender 
thread, and she finally fell into a trance state and appeared almost life- 



THE "FRIENDS." 105 

less for a space of thirty-six hours. Then she suddenly aroused herself, 
called for her garments, dressed, and walked among the members of the 
household, though weak from long prostration. From this time forth 
she disclaimed identity with Jemima Wilkinson, asserting that her former 
individuality had passed away, and that she was another being, a min- 
ister of God sent to preach His gospel, and to minister to the spiritual 
necessities of mankind. She took to herself the iiame " Universal 
Friend," or " Public Universal Friend," and would recognize no other 
name even to the end of her life, although to her followers she was com- 
monly known as " The Friend." 

The first public appearance of the Friend in her new character was 
made on the Sunday following her rising from the bed of sickness, and 
on that occasion she delivered a discourse, displaying a remarkable 
familiarity with Scripture passages and surprising her hearers with the 
peculiar force of her delivery. She traveled about from place to place, 
visiting and preaching in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, 
drawing many followers to her standard, among them men of wealth 
and influence; and in the summer 1782 she went to the neighborhood 
of Philadelphia, where her ministrations were continued. To establish 
a community home in some new and unsettled region was the cherished 
desire of the Friend, and it was for this purpose that Ezekiel Shearman 
visited the Genesee country in 1786. 

As has been stated the colony of the Friends in the New Jerusalem 
was established in 1788 upon the lands ceded to Massachusetts by New 
York. As afterward developed, the settlement was on both sides of the 
old pre-emption line, and, in 1794, Charles Williamson, in response to 
a petition, showed the society the greatest consideration, treating them 
with great liberality and confirming to them the title to the lands upon 
which they had settled. 

However, dissensions finally arose among members of the society, 
and the result was in the purchase of township number seven in the 
second range from Phelps and Gorham for the use of the Friend and 
those of her followers who remained faithful. This township was named 
Jerusalem in Yates county, while the provisional district of Jerusalem 
embraced a much larger area of territory, and was one of the original 
civil divisions of Ontario county. 

14 



106 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

The Society of the Friend gradually decreased in numbers and in- 
fluence until the death of its founder, which took place July i, 1819, 
after which time it soon passed out of existence. 

One important event in connection with the Friend's settlement at 
City Hill, in the present town ofTorrey, was the erection of a grist-mill 
in 1788, the first structure of its kind in that region of country. And a 
noteworthy fact, also, was the settlement by the pioneers of the society, 
which was the first permanent settlement west of Seneca Lake. These 
sturdy pioneers, during the year 1788, sowed about twelve acres of 
wheat, which was the first event of its kind in the State west of the lake. 
In this connection we may add that the Friend's mill for some time sup- 
plied the whole region of eastern Ontario county with flour, except such 
as was brought from the east. 

The grist-mill above mentioned at the Friend's settlement was built 
in 1789 and 1790 by Richard Smith in conjunction with Abraham Day- 
ton and James Parker. The following record is taken from Mr. Smith's 
family Bible. "4th July 1790 I have this day completed my grist mill 
and have ground ten bushels of Rye," and "July 5 I have this day 
ground ten bushels of wheat the same having been raised in this im- 
mediate neighborhood last year." The first grist-mill erected in West- 
ern New York appears to be that of John and James Markham on a 
little stream which enters the Genesee River, two miles north of Avon, 
in the winter of 1788—9. Indian Allen built a mill at Rochester late 
in the year 1789, the frame being raised on the 12th and 13th of No- 
vember. Oliver Phelps built a grist-mill on the Canandaigua outlet, 
about five miles northeasterly from the lake and about half a mile above 
Shortsville. This was run for some years by Samuel Day, and com- 
monly called Day's mill ; it was built in 1791. Early in the year 1794 
Bear's mill at Waterloo, Seneca county, was erected, the frame thereof 
being put up on Sunday by church people from Geneva at the request 
of the minister who officiated at the Presbyterian church at Geneva on 
that day. 



ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. 107 



CHAPTER X. 

Ori,2:in,il County Organizations — Albany County — Tryon County Formed — Name 
Changed to Montgomery — Ontario County Created — Its Extent and Population — 
The First County Officers — The County Seat —The County Buildings —Civil Divis- 
ions of Ontario County — Subsequent County Erections Which Took Lands of Original 
Ontario — Formation of the Towns Now Comprising Ontario County — The County 
Civil List. 

DURING the rule of the Dutch, the inhabited portion of the State 
of New York was organized as a county or province of Holland; 
but during that period there was little attempt at settlement beyond the 
limits of the Netherlands, and only a limited colony in the vicinity of 
Schenectady. After the overthrow of the Dutch power in America, the 
successful English rulers organized the original county of Albany, 
the same being formed November i, 1683, ^"^ confirmed October i, 
1691. 

In 1772, just preceding the outbreak of the Revolution, the territory 
of Albany was divided, and Tryon and Charlotte counties were created. 
Tryon county was formed March 12, and originally embraced all the 
lands of the State west of the Delaware River and a line extending 
north through Schoharie, and along the east lines of the present coun- 
ties of Montgomery, Fulton and Hamilton, and continuing in a straight 
line to Canada ; and therefore embraced the lands of the Genesee coun- 
try and the subsequently created county of Ontario. 

Tryon county was so named in honor of William Tryon, colonial gov- 
ernor of the Province of New York, but during the Revolution the con- 
duct of this official was so decidedly inimical to the cause for which the 
Americans were contending that his name was highly distateful to the 
patriotic settlers who located in the county after the war. Consequently 
when a petition was presented to the Legislature, that body on the 2d 
of April, 1784, dropped the former name and in its stead adopted that 
of Montgomery, so given in honor of Gen. Richard Montgomery, a 
Revolutionary officer, who was slain in battle at Quebec. 



108 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

During the period in which the region existed under the names of 
Tryon and Montgomery, there was a division of the territory into pro- 
visional districts, and it was not until 1788 that any town or township 
organization was effected, or even attempted. At first there were five 
of these districts, all formed in 1772, and covered all the inhabited por- 
tion of the country. 

In 1787 Phelps and Gorham became the owners of a vast tract of 
land in Montgomery county, located west of Seneca Lake, in extent be- 
ing about 2,600,000 acres. The greater part of the remainder of the 
State west of the purchase just mentioned soon afterward became the 
property of the so-called Holland Land Company. The proprietary of 
each of these tracts at once began its development by making surveys 
and settlements thereon. The permanent settlement on the Phelps and 
Gorham tract began in 1787, and increased so rapidly that in 1789 it 
was deemed advisable to make a division of Montgomery county. 
Therefore, upon the presentation of an application, the Legislature, on 
January 27, passed an act creating Ontario county, and including within 
its boundaries all the lands of the State west of Seneca Lake, or in 
other words, the whole tract which was ceded by New York to Massa- 
chusetts west of the pre-emption line. The county was named from 
Lake Ontario, which formed its original northern boundary. The effect- 
ive part of the act creating the county reads as follows : " Whereas, 
the county of Montgomery is so extensive as to be inconvenient to those 
who now are, or may hereafter settle in the western part of that county ; 
Therefore, be it enacted, etc., Tiiat all that part of the county of Mont- 
gomery which lies to the westward of a line drawn due north to Lake 
Ontario from the mile-stone or monument marked eighty- two, and 
standing on the line of division between this State and the Common- 
wealth of Pennsylvania, shall be one separate and distinct county, and 
called and known by the name of Ontario." 

The third section of the act provided that until other legislation should 
be had in the premises it " shall be lawful for the justices of the Court 
of Sessions for the said county of Ontario to divide the said county into 
two or more districts, as they shall deem expedient and convenient to 
the inhabitants." 

It was under the provisions of this act that the original districts of 
Bristol, Canandaigua, Bloomfield, Farmington, Gorham, and Middle- 



Organization of the county. lou 

town (Naples) were formed, each thus comprising a much larger area 
of territory than at present. However, this is a subject which will be 
more fully treated hereafter. 

At the time of the organization of the county the total population of 
its towns or districts did not exceed r,ooo persons, as the first federal 
census, made soon afterward, gave the county a total of 205 families and 
108 1 inhabitants. 

After the erection of the county, to complete the organization, the 
following officials were appointed : Oliver Phelps, judge of the Common 
Pleas ; John Cooper, surrogate ; and Nathaniel Gorham, county clerk. 
The first sheriff of the county, Judah Colt, was not appointed to office 
until April 7, 1790. 

As is well known, the county seat and buildings have been located at 
Canandaigua since the erection of the county ; and while the people of 
Geneva had a strong desire to possess the county properties, even at 
the time the county was formed, their claims were not well grounded, 
inasmuch as there was then a doubt whether the locality of that village 
was on the Phelps and Gorham tract, or on the lands claimed by the 
lessees. Furthermore, the seat of operations of the proprietors had, by 
1789, been removed from Geneva to Canandaigua, and as those pro- 
prietors were chiefly instrumental in causing the division of the mother 
county — Montgomery — it was only natural that the same influences 
should control the location of the county biu'ldings. Therefore, the 
commissidners appointed to examine the several localities desirable for 
the seat of justice, had no difficulty in designating Canandaigua as the 
place most suitable. 

Geneva, however, was the county seat to the extent of having con- 
ducted within its limits (at Patterson's tavern) the first Court of Oyer and 
Terminer convened in the county. This event took place in 1793, and 
Judge John Sloss Hobart presided at the session. 

The first court- house of Ontario county was built during the year 
1794, in pursuance of an act of the Legislature, passed April 9, 1792, 
which authorized the supervisors of the several towns to raise by tax 
the sum of 600 pounds to construct the building, with an additional tax 
of one shilling to pay the expense of collection. The old court-house 
was a plain two-story frame structure, and was located on the northeast 



no HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

corner of the public square, near the site of the present court-house. It 
was built by Elijah Murray. On the erection of the second court-house, 
in 1824, the pioneer building was removed to the corner of Main and 
Cross streets, and thereafter was occupied as a town hall and post- 
office. Later on it was again moved to Coach street and used as a 
store- house. 

The second Ontario county court-house was a more pretentious 
structure than its predecessor, a fact in no mariner surprising when we 
consider that the new building cost double the first one. After thirty 
years of constant use the old county building was deemed unfit for 
longer use ; in truth it was said to be a disgrace to the village and the 
county, and that notwithstanding the historic memories surrounding it.. 
But as sentiment counts for nothing in a growing, enterprising com- 
munity, the people in 1824, through the board of supervisors, applied 
to the Legislature for an act authorizing the laying of a tax to raise the 
sum of $6,000 for the construction of a new court-house. The bill 
passed and was approved in April, and on the 4th of July following the 
corner stone of the new building was laid with impressive ceremonies. 
Like its predecessor, the second court-house was a plain two story 
building, yet was more substantially built and more ornamental in ap- 
pearance. Over its entire front was a broad portico, supported by 
heavy columns. This building was in use by the county from 1824 to 
1858, a period of thirty-four years, and then gave way to the large and 
handsome structure which now adorns the " square." 

The present court-house of the county was begun in the early part of 
1857, the corner-stone being laid with Masonic ceremonies and great 
formality on the 4th July of that year, f^owever, it must be said that 
the people of the county seat and vicinity were somewhat divided in 
sentiment regarding the erection of the new building; not that there 
was much serious dispute concerning the necessity of a new and hand- 
some structure, but rather as to its exact location and the direction it 
should front. In fact three sites were considered, and of them, the old 
square, was finally chosen. The building, which has a base measure- 
ment of 76x96 feet, was erected by Canandaigua and Geneva contract 
ors, and cost $46,000, a large portion of which was borne by the United 
States government. The court-house is surmounted by a large dome, 



ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. Ill' 

on which is a statue twelve feet in height, and the general outside ap- 
pearance of the structure is not greatly dissimilar to the court-house in 
Rochester, and is quite like that of Broome county in Binghamton. The 
lower floor of the Ontario county court-house is arranged for county 
offices and post-office, while the upper or second story has court- rooms 
for both United States and county courts. The building was completed 
and opened for use early in January, 1859. 

The first Ontario county jail was originally built as a block-house to 
be used in case an attack should be made upon the village by the In- 
dians. The use of this structure as a place of confinement was of a 
later date. In 18 13 the supervisors adopted measures for the erection 
of a more suitable jail building, and, under the direction of commis- 
sioners John Price, Rogers Sprague and Septimus Evans, a jail was 
built. At one time, also, in the early history of the county, a hotel, 
sheriff's residence and jail were built, the lower part being used as a 
place of residence and hotel, while the second story was arranged for 
confining prisoners. This building, which stood on the Webster Hotel 
site, is said to have been first used about 18 16. The present Ontario 
county jail was built at a somewhat later date, and was, at the time of 
its erection, considered a very substantial structure. Its appointments 
were complete and somewhat elaborate. It still stands and is in use, 
but the ravages of time are becoming apparent, and the building must 
soon give way to one of greater security. 

Upon the erection and organization of Ontario county, its vast terri- 
tory was but little developed and settled. Previous to that time there 
appears to have been little government in the region, except the 
general authority exercised by the State. In fact there was no need of 
officers or law, for the few settlers of the region were inspired by other 
desires than those of lawlessness or violence. The town of Whites- 
town, a subdivision of Montgomery county, was formed in March, 
1788, and included within its boundaries an indefinite area of territory 
to the westward ; so that previous to the formation of districts and 
towns in Ontario county, whatever jurisdiction was necessary to be 
exercised over the region was as a part of the town named. However, 
during the next year, this county was created, and separated in its 
territory from the mother county — Montgomery — and its townships 



112 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

organized into provisional districts, having limited jurisdiction, but in 
the nature of town organizations as at present constituted. This was 
done for the convenience of the scattered settlements of the county ; 
but, unfortunately, there appears to be no records of the old districts of 
Ontario county, neither is it known the full extent of those that were 
formed. These districts were Canandaigua, Tolland, Sodus, Seneca, 
Jerusalem, Painted Post and Geneseo, each of which held their first 
town meeting on April 5, 1791. The original towns of Ontario 
county (within the county's present boundaries) were Bristol, Canan- 
daigua, Bloomfield, Farmington, Gorham, Middletown (Naples), Seneca 
and Phelps and were formed under the erecting act of 1789. 

The first reduction in area of Ontario county was made on the i8th 
of March, 1796, when Steuben county was created out of its territory, 
the north boundary of the new formation being the south lines of Milo, 
Jerusalem, and that same line continued east and west, and the west 
boundary was the west line of the seventh range of townships on the 
Phelps and Gorham tract. At the time of its erection Steuben county 
had not to exceed 1,500 population. 

The next surrender of land which Ontario county was called upon to 
make was on the 30th of March, 1802, when an act of the Legislature 
created Genesee county, by taking all that part of old Ontario which 
lay west of the Genesee River and a line running due south from the 
junction of the river and Canaseraga Creek. The formation of Genesee 
county took from the mother county at least half its original territory, 
and still the people of the old region seem to have submitted uncom- 
plainingly to the reduction. However, in 1805 another scheme was 
set on foot looking to still another division of Ontario, and against the 
proposed measure the inhabitants of Canandaigua and adjoining towns 
did earnestly protest; and the result was that the bill to divide the 
county was defeated. At that time the county contained 4,150 taxable 
inhabitants, and its boundaries were the lake on the north; the Genesee 
on the west; the new pre-emption line on the east; and a continuation 
of the south lines of Milo and Jerusalem on the south. 

After the erection of Genesee county there was no further division 
of what was then left to old Ontario until the formation of Livingston 
and Monroe counties, both of which were created February 23, 1821. 



ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. 113 

However, from 1805 until the division of the county was again accom- 
plished, there was a constant agitation of the subject, and the discussion 
engendered considerable feeling throughout the region. During these 
years the development of the country and its consequent increase in 
population were almost marvelous, and as fine villages were constantly 
being built up, the more progressive of them were each naturally desir- 
ous of becoming the shire town of a county. It is claimed, and with 
much show of reason, that the then villages of Rochester, Palmyra, 
Avon, Geneva and Penn Yan had aspirations in this direction ; and 
subsequent events showed that some of them succeeded in gaining the 
desired prominence. 

As has been stated, Livingston and Monroe counties were created 
February 23, 1821, each taking lands from Ontario and Genesee coun- 
ties. The next formation which took further from the territory of 
Ontario was Yates county created February 5, 1823, followed on the 
nth of April of the same year by the erection of Wayne county, the 
latter taking lands from Ontario and Seneca counties. 

Briefly recapitulating events, Ontario was created January 27, 1789, 
including within its boundaries all that part of the State lying west of 
the pre emption line. Out of this vast territory there has been erected 
and at present exists fourteen counties, the names of which, with the 
date of the erection of each, are as follows : Steuben, March 18, 1796, 
taken wholly from Ontario; Genesee, March 30, 1 802, taken wholly 
from Ontario; Allegany, April 7, 1 806, taken from Genesee; Cattarau- 
gus, Niagara and Chautauqua, March ii, 1808, taken from Genesee; 
Livingston and Monroe, February 23, 1821, taken from Genesee and 
Ontario; Erie, April 2, 1821, taken from Niagara; Yates, February 5, 
1823, taken from Ontario; Wayne, April 1 1, 1823, taken from Ontario 
and Seneca; Orleans, November 12, 1824, taken from Genesee; 
Wyoming, May 14, 1841, taken from Genesee; and Schuyler, April 
17. 1854, taken from Chemung, Steuben and Tompkins counties. From 
this, and what has already been narrated in preceding chapters, we 
discover that Ontario county originally contained about 6,6oo,000 
acres, or more than 10,300 square miles of land, and that by the re- 
duction of its territory, taken for the creation of other counties, it con- 
tains at present 409,600 acres, or 640 square miles of land. 

15 



114 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Ontario county, as at present constituted, contains sixteen towns, and 
in the present connection we may note briefly concerning them, but 
refer the reader, for detailed information, to the several chapters relat- 
ing especially to town history. 

Bristol vjdiS formed January 27, 1789, and was named from Bristol 
county, Mass. In 1838 South Bristol was taken off and a part was an- 
nexed to Richmond in 1848, but restored in 1852. It is an interior 
town, lying southwest of the center of the county. Its population in 
1830 was 2,952, and in 1890 was 1,510. 

Canadice, the name of which is a corruption of the Indian name of 
the lake situate in the center of the town, was formed from Richmond, 
April 15, 1829. A part of it was annexed to Richmond in 1836. It 
is the southwest corner town of the county. 

Canandaigua, the shire town of the county, was one of the: original 
towns, formed January 27, 1789, and a part of it was annexed to Gor- 
ham in 1824. 

East Bloomfield was formed as Bloomfield January 27, 1789, and 
Mendon and Victor were taken off in 1812. 

Farmington, named from Farmington, Conn., was also one of the 
original towns of the county, and was formed January 27, 1789. 

Gorham was likewise an original town, formed January 27, 1789, 
under the name of Easton, but changed to Lincoln in April, 1806, and 
to Gorham one year later. The last name was given the town in honor 
of Nathaniel Gorham. Hopewell was set off from this town in 1822, 
and a part of Canandaigua was annexed in 1824. 

Hopewell wdiS formed from Gorham, March 29, 1822. 

Manchester was formed March 31, 1821, under the name of Burt, 
which was changed to Manchester April 6, 1822. 

Naples was one of the original towns of the county, formed January 
27, 1789, under the name of Middletown. However, the region em- 
braced by the town was originally known as Watkinstown, so named 
from WiUiam Watkins, of Berkshire, Mass., one of the purchasers under 
Phelps and Gorham. This region was called by the Indians Nundawao, 
in reference to the " great hill," of which mention has been made in a 
preceding chapter. The name Middletown was changed to Naples 
April 6, 1808. Italy was set off from it in 181 5, and a part of Spring- 
water in 18 16. 



ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. r 115 

Phelps was formed in 1796, under the act of January 27, 1789, and 
was named in honor of Oliver Phelps, one of the proprietors. A part 
of this town was annexed to Lyons, Wayne county, April 11, 1823. 

Richmond wdiS also formed under the act of 1789, and called Pitts- 
town. April 6, 1808, the name was changed to Honeoye, and to Rich- 
mond, April II, 181 5. Apart of Canadice was annexed April 30, 
1836, and parts of Bristol and South Bristol in 1848, but the latter were 
restored in 1852. 

Seneca was formed in 1793 under the provisions of the act of 1789, 
and its territory remained substantially undisturbed until November 15, 
1872, when the town of Geneva was erected by the Board of Super- 
visors. 

South Bristol was formed from Bristol March 8, 1838. 

Victor vjdiS formed from Bloomfield May 26, 1812. 

West Bloomjield ^NdiS, formed from Bloomfield February 11, 1833. 

Now, having sufficiently referred to the various properties and civil 
divisions of Ontario county, it is proper that there should also be made 
a record of the names of persons of the county who have been identified 
with the political history of the Federal, State and county governments: 

United States Senator — Elbridge G. Lapham, elected July 22, 
1881. 

Secretary of War United States — John C. Spencer, October 12, 1841, 

Posttnaster- General United States — Francis Granger, March 6, 1841. 

Secretary of Treasury United States — Charles J. Folger, October 27, 
1881. 

Representatives in United States Congress — Thomas Morris, 180 1-3; 
Oliver Phelps, 1 803-5 \ Nathaniel W. Howell, 1813-15 ; Micah Brooks, 
1815-17; John C. Spencer, 1817-19; Nathaniel Allen, 1819-21 ; 
John Dickson, 1831-35 ; Francis Granger, 1835-37; Mark H. Sibley, 
1837-39; Francis Granger, 1839-41 ; John Greig, 1841 ; Robert L. 
Rose, 1847-51 ; Emory B. Pottle, 1857-61 ; William H. Lamport, 
1871-75 ; Elbridge G. Lapham, 1875-83 ; John Raines, 1889-92. 

Governor — Myron H. Clark, elected November, 1854. 

Secretaries of State — John C. Spencer, appointed February 4, 1839, 
served to February 7, 1842 ; Frank Rice, elected November, 1889, and 
November, 1891. 

Comptroller — Thomas Hillhouse, elected November 7, 1865. 



116 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Canal Commissioners- — Myron Holley, appointed April 17, 1816; 
William W. Wright, elected November 5, 1861. 

Adjutant- Gefierals — Levi Hubbell, appointed June 4, 1833 ; Thomas 
Hillhouse, August 19, 1861. 

Bank Commissioner — James Rees, appointed February i, 1830. 

Inspector of State Prisons — Jared Wilson, appointed May 10, 1835. 

State Engineer — Charles B. Stewart, elected November 2, 1847. 

Regents of the University — John Greig, January 12, 1825 ; William 
H. Goodwin, June 24, 1865. 

Members of Constitutional Conventions — Convention of 1801, Moses 
Atwater; convention of 1821, Micah Brooks, John Price, David Suther- 
land, Philetus Swift, Joshua Van Fleet; convention of 1846, Robert C. 
Nicholas, Alvah Worden ; convention of 1867, Henry O. Cheesebro, 
Angus McDonald, Charles J. Folger, Elbridge G. Lapham. 

Judges of Court of Appeals — Samuel A. Foote, April 11, 185 1 ; 
Charles J. Folger, May 17, 1870, and chief judge. May 20, 1880. 

Justices of the Supreme Court — Henry W. Taylor, March 27, 1850; 
James C. Smith, May 23, 1862; William H. Adams, November 8, 
1887. 

Senators — Thomas Morris, 1 797-1 801 ; Lemuel Chipman, 1802-5 ; 
John Nicholas, 1806-9; Amos Hall, 1810-13 ; Philetus Swift, 1814- 
15, 1 817; Stephen Bates, 1815-16, 18 17- 19; Gideon Granger, 1820- 
21 ; John C. Spencer, 1825-28; Chester Loomis, 1835-38; Robert C. 
Nicholas, 1839-42 ; Mark H. Sibley, 1840-41 ; Albert Lester, 1844- 
47; Myron H. Clark, 1852-54 (resigned January i, 1855, elected gov- 
ernor) ; William H. Goodwin, 1855; Thomas Hillhouse, 1860-61; 
Charles J. Folger, 1862-69; Stephen H. Hammond, 1876-77; Edwin 
Hicks, 1878-79; John Raines, 1888-89. 

Members of Assembly — Eleazer Lindsley', 1791 ; Israel Chapin, 
1792-93; Thomas Morris, 1794-96; Lemuel Chipman and Charles 
Williamson, 1796-97; Amos Hall^ and Charles Williamson, 1798-99; 
Nathaniel Norton and Charles Williamson, 1800; Lemuel Chipman 
and Nathaniel Norton, 1800-01 ; Daniel Chapin and Peter B. Porter, 
1802; Thaddeus Chapin, Augustus Porter and Polydore B. Wisner, 
18033 ; Amos Hall, Nathanial W. Howell and Polydore B. Wisner, 1804 ; 

' Served from Jan. 4 to April w. '^ Prom Ontario and Steuben counties. ^ Genesee and On- 
tario counties. 



ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. 117 

Amos Hall, Daniel W. Lewis and Alex. Rea, 1804-05 ; D. W. Lewis, 
Ezra Patterson, Alex. Rea, 1806; Alex. Rea, Philetus Swift, Asahel 
Warner,! 1807 ; Amos Hall, William Rumsey, Philetus Swift and Asahel 
Warner, jr., 1808; Micah Brooks, Samuel Lawrence, Richard Leech, 
Hugh McNair and Wm. Rogers. 1808-09; Valentine Brother, Israel 
Chapin, Daniel Dorsey, Wm. Markham, Gideon Pitts, 18 10; Septimus 
Evans, Reuben Hart, Hugh McNair, Stephen Phelps, Asahel Warner, 
181 1 ; Nathaniel Allen, Valentine Brother, David Sutherland, Joshua 
Van Fleet, Ezra Waite, 1812; Abraham Dox, Gilbert Howell, Hugh 
McNair, David Sutherland, Asahel Warner, 1813-14; Hugh McNair, 
Stephen Phelps, David Sutherland, Joshua Van Fleet, Asahel Warner, 
1814; Peter Allen, John Price, James Roseburgh, Ira Selby, David 
Sutherland, 1814-15 ; Peter Allen, Israel Chapin, Jonathan Child, 
Henry Fellows, Myron Holley, Alex. Kelsey, Thos. Lee, Roger 
Sprague, 18 16; Peter Allen, Jonathan Child, By ram Green, Caleb 
Hopkins, Joshua Lee, James Roseburgh, Nathan Whitney, 1816-17 ; 
Phineas P. Bates, Nathaniel Case, Samuel Lawrence, James Roseburgh, 
Ira Selby, John Van Fossen, Ezra White, 1818 ; William BilHnghurst, 
Byram Green, Eli Hill, Wm. McCartney, Elijah Spencer, John A. 
Stevens, Asahel Warner, 18 19; Valentine Brother, Byram Green, John 
Price, John C. Spencer, Elisha B. Strong, John Van Fossen, Matthew 
Warner, 1820; Claudius V. Boughton, William Cornwell, Oliver Cul- 
ver, Truman Hart, Myron Holley, John C. Spencer, Wm. H. Spencer, 
1820-21 ; Birdseye Brooks, Byram Green, Isaac Marsh, Aaron Remer, 
David White, 1822 ; Birdseye Brooks, Richard Hogarth, Jacob Leach, 
Aaron Remer, Ira Selby, Philetus Swift, 1823 ; Daniel Ashley, Gideon 
Pitts, Bowen Whiting, 1824; Claudius V. Boughton, Gideon Pitts, 
Bowen Whiting, 1825 ; Claudius V. Boughton, Francis Granger, Gideon 
Pitts, 1826; Francis Granger, Lemuel Morse, Nathan Parke, 1827; 
Heman Chapin, Francis Granger, Robert C. Nicholas, 1828; John 
Dickson, Walter Hubbell, Robert C. Nicholas, 1829; John Dickson, Fran- 
cis Granger, Robert C. Nicholas, 1830; Thomas Ottley, Samuel Rawson, 
John C. Spencer, 1831 ; Francis Granger, Jonathan Mason, Robert C. 
Nicholas, 1832; Ephraim W. Cleveland, John C. Spencer, James H. 
Woods, 1833 ; Peter Mitchell, Oliver Phelps, Aaron Younglove, 1834 ; 

1 Allegany, Genesee and Ontai'io counties. 



118 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Ariel Hendee, William Hildreth, Mark H Sibley, 1835 ; Amos Jones, 
Henry Pardee, Mark H. Sibley, 1836; Amos Jones, Henry Pardee, 
Henry W. Taylor, 1837; Jonathan Buell, David Hudson, Henry W. 
Taylor, 1838 ; Augustus Sawyer, Z. Barton Stout, Henry W. Taylor, 
1839; Reynold Peck, Abraham A. Post, Henry W. Taylor, 1840; 
Isaac Mills, Daniel A. Robinson, Alvah Worden, 1841 ; Peter M. Dox, 
Staats Green, Joseph C. Sheltcn, 1842; Sylvester Austin, James C. 
Crown, Jedediah Dewey, jr., 1843; Lorenzo Clark, Israel Huntington, 
Henry Pardee, 1844; Timothy Buei, jr., Israel Huntington, Alvah 
Worden, 1845 > Elias Cost, Joseph C. Shelton, Alvah Worden, 1846; 
Emmery B. Pottle, Ezra Pierce, 1847 I Charles S. Brother, Hiram Ashley, 
1848; Dolphin Stevenson, Josiah Porter, 1849; John L. Dox, Josiah 
Porter, 1850; Thomas J. McLouth, Henry Pardee, 1851; William R. 
Pettit, Elnathan W. Simmons, 1852; Marcus Parsons, Hiram Ashley, 
1853 ; Jesse Cost, Stephen V. R. Mallory, 1854; William H. Lamport, 
Oliver Case, 1855; Samuel A. Foot, Oliver Case, 1856; Samuel A. 
Foot, Zoroastar Paul, 1857; Volney Edgerton, Ira R. Peck, 1858; 
Ulysses Warner, Shotwell Powell, 1859 ; Lewis Peck, Shotwell Powell, 
i860; Perez H. Field, Stephen H. Ainsworth, i86i ; David Pickett, 
P'rancis O. Mason, 1862 ; Perez H. Field, Lanson Dewey, 1863 ; Perez 
H. Field, Lanson Dewey, 1864; Volney Edgerton, Edward Brunson, 
1865; Hiram Schutt, Edward Brunson, 1866; Hiram Schutt, Samuel 
H. Torrey, 1867 ; Henry Ray, Samuel H. Torrey, 1868 ; Henry Ray, 
George Cook, 1869; Henry Ray, David E. Wilson, 1870; George W. 
Nicholas, David E.Wilson, 1871 ; Ambrose L, Van Dusen, Cyrillo S. 
Lincoln, 1872-73 ; Stephen H. Hammond Cyrillo S. Lincoln, 1874-75 ; 
Seth Stanley, Hiram Maxfield, 1876 ; Dwight B. Backenstose, Amasa T, 
Winch, 1877; David Cosad, jr., Amasa T. Winch, 1878; John Robson, 
Charles R. Case, 1879; Charles R. Case, 1800; John Raines, 1881-82 ; 
Frank Rice, 1883-84; John Raines, 1885 ; Edward P. Babcock, 1886 
-87; Robert Moody, 1888-89 ; Sanford W. Abbey, 1890; Frank O. 
Chamberlain, 1891-92; Wm. L. Parkhurst, 1893. 

County Judges — Oliver Phelps^, May 5, 1789; Timothy Hosmer, 
Octobers, 1793; John Nicholas^, January 27, 1803; Natnaniel W. 

' Date of appointment or election. 

2 No record of his appointment found in minutes of Com. of Appointments.— Civil Abstract No. i 
Sec'y St. Off. shows that he received a general commission as fiist judge, dated March n, 1805. 



ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. 119 

Howell, March 13, 1819; Oliver Phelps, April 30, 1833; Bowen Whit- 
ing, July 17, 1838 ; Charles J. Folger, May 7, 1844; E Fitch Smith, 
February 10, 1845; Mark H. Sibley, June, 1847; Charles J. Folger, 
185 I ; Peter M. Dox, 1855 ; John M. Bradford, March 18, 1856; Henry 
W.Taylor, 1857; George B. Dusinberre, i860; William H. Smith, 
1868; Francis O. Mason, 1872 ; William H. Smith, 1878; Frank Rice, 
1884; J. Henry Metcalf, app. January, 1890, and elected November, 
1890. 

Surrogates — John Cooper, May 5, 1789; Samuel Mellish, March 22, 
1792 ; Israel Chapin, jr., March 18, 1795 ; Amos Hall, February 23, 
1796; Dudley Satonstall, January 25, 1798; Reuben Hart, February 

16, 1809; Eliphalet Taylor, February 13, 1810; Reuben Hart, Febru- 
ary 5, 181 1 ; Eliphalet Taylor, March 9, 18 13; Reuben Hart, March 

17, 1815 ; Stephen Phelps, April 10, 18 17; Ira Selby, March 5, 1821 ; 
Jared Wilcox, March 28, 1823 ; Jared Wilson, March 31, 1827 ; Orson 
Benjamin, January 29, 1840; George R. Parburt, April 10, 1844, 
count judge, June, 1847; George Wilson 2d, November 2, 1851; 
Orson Benjamin, December 2, 1852 ; Samuel Salisbury, February 18, 
1853; John N. Whiting, November, 1855; Orson Benjamin, Novem 
ber, 1857; Elihu M. Morse, October 11, 1861 ; Isaac R. Parcell, No- 
vember, 1869; Charles A. Richardson, 1873; Edward P. Babcock, 
1879; David G. Lapham, 1885; David G. Lapham, 1891. 

District Attorneys — William Stuart, appointed March 31, 1796; 
Nathaniel W. Howell, appointed February 9, 1797, for the Sixth Dis- 
trict ; William Stuart, ^ 1802; Daniel W. Lewis, 1810; William Stuart, 
181 1, Vincent Matthews, 1813 ; Daniel Creger, 181 5; John C. Spen- 
cer,2 18 18; Abraham P. Vosburgh, 1821 ; Bowen Whiting, 1823; 
Henry F. Penfield, 1832; George W. Clinton, 1835; Nathan Parke, 
1836; Thomas M. Howell, 1840; Barzillai Slosson, 1847; James C. 
Brown, 1849; Stephen R. Mallory, 1851; Jacob B. B. Faurot, 1853; 
Thomas O.Perkins, 1855; Edwin Hicks, 1857; William H. Smith, 
1857; Edwin Hicks, 1863 ; Frank Rice, 1875; Oliver C. Armstrong, 
1881-84; Maynard N. Clement, 1887-90, and re-elected for second 
time. 

1 The above were appointed under the act of 1801 for the Seventh District. 

2 Year of appointment or election under act of 1818. 



120 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Sheriffs — Judah Colt, 1790; Nathaniel Norton, 1794; Roger Sprague, 
1798 ; Benjamin Barton, 1802 ; Stephen Bates, 1806; James R. Gurn- 
sey, 1807; Stephen Bates, 1808; James Rees, 1810; Stephen Bates, 
1 811; William Shepard, 18 13; Nathaniel Allen, 181 5; Phinehas P. 
Bates, 1819 ; Samuel Lawrence, 1821 ; Phineas P. Bates, 1822 ; Joseph 
Garlinghouse, 1825 ; Jonathan Buell, 1828; Jonas M. Wheeler, 1831 ; 
Joseph Garlinghouse, 1834; Myrop H. Clark, 1837; John Lamport, 
1840; Eri Densmore, 1843; Phenas Kent, 1846; William H. Lam- 
port, 1849; Owen Edmondston, 1852 ; Henry C. Swift, 1855; William 
Hildreth, 1 858; Harlow Munson, 1861; John Whitwell, 1864; William 
W. Clarke, 1867; Darwin Cheney, 1870; Nathaniel R. Boswell, 1873; 
David V. Benham, 1876; Orrin S. Bacon, 1879; Hiram Peck, 1882; 
Robert H.Wheeler, 1885; Irving Corwin, 1888; Avery Ingraham, 
1891. 

County Clerks — Nathaniel Gorham, jr., 1789; John Wickham, 1795 ; 
Peter B. Porter, 1797; Sylvester Tiffany, 1804; James B. Mower, 
1808; Myron HoUey, 18 10; James B. Mower, 1811 ; Myron Holley, 
1813 ; Hugh McNair, 181 5; John Van Forsen, 18 19; Gavin L. 
Nicholas, 1821-24; Ralph Lester, 1825; Charles Crane, 1831 ; John 
L. Dox, 1834; Thomas Hall, 1837; Alexander H. Howell, 1843; 
Reuben Murray, jr., 1849; John J. Lyon, 1852; Elnathan W. Sim- 
mons, 1858; Jefferson J. Whitney, 1861 ; Nathan J. Milliken, 1864; 
Frederick W. Prince, 1867; Walter Marks, 1870; Washington L 
Hicks, 1873; Myron S. Hall, 1876; William G. Dove, 1879; Bolivar 
Ellis, 1882; Martin H. Smith, 1885 ; William R. Marks, 1888; Devoy 
J. Harkness, 1891. 

County Treasurers'^ — Henry K. Sanger, 1848; Ralph Chapin, 185 i ; 
William H. Phelps, 1854; Jacob J. Mattison, 1855 ; Spencer Gooding, 
1858; Charles A. Richardson, 1864; George N. Williams, 1870; 
Harrison B. Ferguson, 1876; Ira B. Howe, 1882; E. Chapin Church, 
1885; Jesse B. Coutant, 1891. 

' Elected under Constitution of 1846 ; formerly were appointed by supervisors 



FROM THE REVOLUTION TO 1815. 12I 



CHAPTER XI. 

Early Settlement in Ontario County — Character of the Pioneers — Yankees, Eng- 
lish, Scotch and Irish— Disturbances on the Frontier — British Soldiers Still Occupy 
Forts on the United States Side of the Treaty Line — The Simcoe Scare — Their 
Withdrawal in 1796 — Events Precedine; the War of 1S12-15 — Political Sentiment 
in Ontario County — "War" and "Peace" — Meetings — The Outbreak, the Struggle 
and Final Peace — Population of the County at Different Periods. 

THE permanent and substantial settlement of the Genesee country- 
began soon after the purchase by Phelps and Gorham of the pre- 
emption right ceded to Massachusetts. However, there was made by 
the pioneer " Friends," or followers ©f Jemima Wilkinson, a permanent 
colonization on the west side of Seneca Lake even before Phelps 
and Gorham acquired and perfected their title. As is well known, 
these proprietors held the right to purchase from the Indians all the 
territory of the State west of Seneca Lake, but as a matter of fact, they 
secured only about 2,600,000 of the more than 6,000,000 acres included 
within the region, the large remainder having reverted to Massachu- 
setts, and being secured by Robert Morris, was by him sold to the so- 
called Holland Land Company, except that portion west of the Phelps 
and Gorham purchase and east of a meridian line, starting at a point 
twelve miles west of the southwest corner of the Phelps and Gorham 
purchase, which was supposed to contain about 500,000 acres, which 
Mr. Morris reserved, and which was commonly called the Morris 
Reserve, and which was afterwards sold to different parties in various 
tracts ; and it was under these proprietorships that the legitimate settle- 
ment of the region was begun. 

The purchasers and settlers who acquired title from Phelps and Gor- 
ham direct were mainly New Englanders — Yankees; many of whom 
were veterans of the Revolution, and being imbued wifh a spirit of 
enterprise, thrift, independence and courage, so characteristic of their 
class, they sought a home in the then new country which they well 
knew to be highly fertile, and in which the peaceful art of agriculture 
16 



122 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

might be carried on with generous returns. Therefore the Yankees 
came and settled in the region among the first pioneers; and to-day 
many of the residents of Ontario county can trace their ancestry back 
directly to New England stock, and justly proud, too, they are of the 
fact. 

In the same region, also, and within the limits of Ontario county as 
constituted previous to 1823, came the "Friends" and built up their 
little colony hardly more than a score of miles south of old Kanadesaga. 
This people came from both New England and Pennsylvania, and the 
improvements made by them were of the most substantial cha*^acter for 
the period. They were thrifty, earnest plodders, but did not wish to 
be considered enterprising, for they were a strictly pious people and 
the devoted followers of an equally conscientious leader. The New 
Jerusalem, as they called the locality of their settlement, included some 
of the most productive lands of the Genesee country, and the faithful 
tillers of the soil who dwelt within the region steadily increased their 
possessions and left to their descendants an goodly inheritance in lands. 

However, it must be acknowledged that under the proprietorship of the 
London Associates, and under the direct and personal superintendence 
of Charles Williamson, original Ontario county received its most sub- 
stantial early development. Captain Williamson was a man well cal- 
culated by nature and education to head an enterprise such as that with 
which he was entrusted, and, moreover, instead of being the haughty 
and overbearing manager, he proved himself the courteous and obliging 
gentleman, and one who fostered alike the interests of proprietors and 
purchasers ; and he had at his command an almost unlimited fund of 
money with which to develop the region under his charge. The settlers 
under Charles Williamson came from New England, Maryland, Virginia, 
Pennsylvania and Eastern New York, while in addition to the settle- 
ment by Americans, he also induced immigration from foreign lands, 
mainly from England and Scotland, with an occasional Irishman. 

The settlement and^ development of the region of the original county 
west of the Genesee River in no manner devolved upon Captain Will- 
iamson, but that country was likewise under competent management, 
and therefore was occupied and improved almo.'^t as rapidly as the 
Phelps and Gorham tract. The Holland Land Company and its man- 



FROM THE REVOLUTION TO 1815. 123 

aging agents were earnest and progressive, and while their settlers were 
principally Americans, there were nevertheless many among them of 
Dutch descent, while from across the Canadian borders there came a 
fair contingent of French and English. Some of these also drifted over 
the Genesee and located within the boundaries of Ontario county as it 
existed prior to the creation of Genesee county. 

However, during the period of pioneer settlement and early develop- 
ment of Ontario county, all was not peace and unretarded prosperity 
within the region. In the extreme western part of the State was Fort 
Niagara, while further east was Oswego ; at both of which places the 
English still maintained garrisons, and that notwithstanding the results 
of the late war. The British soldiery had no love for the Americans, 
and their hatred and jealousy prompted many of the petty insults and 
indignities they were charged with having committed. The treaty of 
peace in 1783 fixed the forty fifth parallel as the boundary line 
between the province and the States, except as was otherwise deter- 
mined, but the British claimed that the people of the United States 
frequently violated the provisions of the treaty to such an extent that 
the Canadian government, at the suggestion of the crown, felt it a duty 
to maintain an armed force along the frontier, extending as far west as 
Detroit. In doing this, however, the British not only assumed to pro- 
tect their own possessions, but actually trespassed on United States 
territory with full knowledge of the fact, so determined was the Cana- 
dian government to show proper resentment of what were claimed to 
be breaches of the treaty stipulations. The result of this awkward 
situation, though possibly not dangerous in character, worked many 
disadvantages in Western New York, and somewhat retarded its settle- 
ment, for it was not until 1796 that the British finally withdrew from 
the territory. John Jay's treaty of amity, commerce and navigation 
was concluded with Great Britain November 19, 1794, and proclaimed 
February 29, 1796. Thus ended an embryo war, but it was not 
finally concluded until after Gen. Anthony Wayne had improved an 
opportunity to administer severe punishment to the Indians and Cana- 
dian provincial troops in a sharp battle on the Maumee River on the 
20th of August, 1794. 

The year 1794 was an eventful period in the history of Ontario 
county and Western New York. In the month of August, Governor 



124 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Simcoe, ©f Canada, sent Lieutenant R. H. Sheafife with a protest and 
letter to Captain Charles Williamson, demanding that he should relin- 
quish his design of forming a settlement at Sodus and move off the 
ground. This was delivered to Williamson at Sodus, he having gone 
there in company with Thomas Morris and Nathaniel Gorham, jr., on 
being notified to meet the messenger of Governor Simcoe. The news 
of this hostile demonstration of the governor of Canada rapidly spread 
through all the settlements of the new country, and caused great con- 
sternation among the people. The attitude of Great Britain in persist- 
ently retaining the forts at Oswego and Niagara, contrary to the stip- 
ulations of the treaty ©f peace — the act of the governor of Canada in 
marching a body of troops and erecting a fort at the Rapids of Miami, 
seventy miles within the territory of the United States — the tampering 
of British officers and agents with the Indians of New York, and the 
evidence of aid extended by them to the western Indians who were 
hostile to the United States, and who had in turn defeated and repulsed 
Generals Harmar and St. Clair, and the fears of a like result in the issue 
that General Wayne had made with them and which was then pending, 
was enough to create a feeling of the greatest uneasiness among the 
people. An unusual emigration of the New York Indians to Canada 
had only a few weeks before occurred, which included the great body 
of the Onondagas. The Senecas, as a body, remained in the State, but 
they had become morose and quarrelsome and had committed many 
outrages upon the settlers. In great numbers they had gone to the 
aid of their western brethren, fitted out with blankets, clothing and 
decorations from the king's stores at Niagara. When this message 
and demand from Governor Simcoe came, it seemed as if the sequel 
would speedily be the breaking out of a general war, and such was 
the alarming crisis that many of the settlers made hasty preparations 
for a sudden flight and at least a temporary abandonment of their homes. 
In writing of this affair to Sir William Pulteney, Captain Williamson 
says that Governor Simcoe had " left nothing undone to induce the 
Six Nations, our neighbors, to take up the hatchet the moment he 
gives the word." 

For months previous to this the country had been excited on account 
of the act of the British officers and agent and with the alarming con- 



FEOM THE REVOLUTION TO 1815. 125 

duct of the Indians ; the Legislature of this State had enacted a law 
for the erection of fortifications and for supplying the necessary arms 
and ammunition. General Knox, secretary of war of the United States, 
in response to a representation made, on July 3, of the situation of affairs 
on the northern and western borders of the country, had replied that 
correspondence had taken place on the subject with the British minis- 
ter, and that an order had been issued in favor of the governor of New 
York for one thousand muskets, cartridge boxes and bayonets. 

The act of Governor Simcoe in ordering the people of the United 
States out of the Indian territory in Western New York was at once 
officially communicated to John Jay, who had sailed for England on 
the 1 2th of May. Under date of August 30, 1794, President Wash- 
ington wrote to Mr. Jay. and observing " on this irregular and high 
handed proceeding of Mr. Simcoe," he says, " this may be considered 
as the most daring act of the British agent in America, though it is not 
the most hostile and cruel. I All the difficulties we encounter with the 
Indians, their hostilities, the murder of helpless women and children 
along our frontiers, result from the conduct of agents of Great Britain 
in this country) They keep in irritation the tribes that are hostile to 
us, or we of them, to unite in the war against us; and whilst it is an 
undeniable fact that they are furnishing the whole with arms, ammu- 
nition, clothing, and even provisions to carry on the war, I might go 
father, and if they are not much belied, add, men also in disguise." 

Under the provisionsoftheact of the Legislature heretdfore mentioned, 
Governor Geo. Clinton, from New York May 29, 1794, writes to James 
Watson, Mathew Clarkson and Benjamin Walker, commissioners for 
purchasing field artillery, etc., for the use of the militia, saying: "The 
present aspect of affairs on our western frontiers renders it advisable to 
deposit at Canadaque, in Ontario county, one thousand weight of 
powder, and a proportionate quantity of lead, and the same quantity of 
each in Onondaga county, which you will be pleased to cause to be 
done without delay, as it is represented to me that the militia of those 
exposed counties are destitute of ammunition. Lieutenant- Colonel 
Othniel Taylor will take charge of that directed to be deposited in On- 
tario county, and Major John L. Hardenburg of that to be deposited 
in Onondaga county." 



126 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

About the middle of July Captain Williamson and Thos. Morris re- 
ceived proposals for palisades, thirteen feet long and one foot square to be 
delivered on Pultcney Square, Geneva, for the purpose of erecting a 
fortification at that place. This was in response to an advertisement for 
one thousand palisades and the price asked was six pence ( 1 2-^ -cents) 
each. An a.rUc\e \n the A //?a7ij^ Gazette, September ii, 1794, under 
date of September 6, says: Governor George Clinton writes to Major 
General Ganscvoort that a British officer had protested against the oc- 
cupation of any part of the Indian territory for war or settlement by the 
United States until all questions between Great Britain and the United 
States were definitely settled. Governor Clinton says arms must be 
sent at once westward, particularly to Ontario county, that the principle 
set up by the protest " cannot for a moment be tolerated by our gov- 
ernment, and if any attempt should be made on the part of the British' 
to carry it into excution, it will be justifiable and necessary on our part 
to repel force by force " 

" The commissioners appointed to carry into operation the law 
directing fortifications to be erected on our northern and western 
frontiers, have fixed on the following places for erecting block- houses 
and pickets, to-wit: On the western frontier — a block house at Can- 
andaigua, Canawagus, on Genesee River, and at the town of l^ath. 
Pickets at Fort Brewerton, at Three River Point, at Geneva, at Mud 
Creek, at the head of Canandaigua Lake, and at the Painted Post, 
near the Pennsylvania line. On the northern frontier — a block- house 
at Skeensborough, at Willsborough, at Peru, at Plattsburgh, and at 
Thurman's Patent." 

In this connection it may as well be stated that Charles Williamson 
had met with a good deal of opposition. He had been a captain in 
the British army, but as he was a prisoner of war at Boston, having 
been captured while on his voyage to this country, he had taken no 
active part in the war. For a long time he was much mistrusted by 
many of the early settlers, who remembered the cruelties they had en- 
dured during the war, and retained a strong hatred against the British, 
so that up to the time of the affair at Sodus he was looked qpon by 
many with suspicion. In writing about this he says: "To such an 
extent was this carried that every road T talked of was said to be for 



FROM THE REVOLUTION TO 1815. 127 

the Indians and British ; every set of arms I procured — though really 
to enable the settlers to defend themselves against the Indians — was 
said to be for supplying the expected enemy ; and the ver>' grass seed 
I brought into the country for the purpose of supplying the farmers, 
was seized as gun powder going to enemies of the country." His 
energy and activity in the year 1794 against the acts of the British 
and Indians had much to do in gaining the confidence of the settlers, 
and in the course of time this was fully accomplished. 

Very soon after the affair of Sodus, a bright and cheering ray of hope 
appeared, and strong anticipations of peace and quietness prevailed. 
Only a short time elapsed before the spirited onset of General Wayne 
took place, and the western Indians were so badly beaten and com- 
pletely routed, that they became demoralized, were quite humbled, and 
anxiously sued for peace. The Senecas returned completely crestfiallen. 
The warfare of General Wayne was one they had been unused to ; it 
was impetuous, terrific and crushing, and in their imagination he seemed 
more than human and inspired them with a terror that conquered effect- 
ually as his arms. The proud and haughty spirit of the Iroquois was 
humbled and completely subdued, and they began to quietly settle 
down in their villages and resumed amicable and peaceful relations with 
their white neighbors and the settlers began to feel that they were once 
more in peace and security. 

The withdrawal of the British from the State and the quiet which 
followed left the region of Western New York in a condition of absolute 
peace, and an era of great prosperity ensued. From that time (1796) 
until the beginning of the second war with Great Britain, the history of 
the county consisted chiefly of a constant flow of immigration into the 
townships, and as rapidly as they were filled, or even partially so, there 
came a demand for the division of the territory and the creation of new 
counties. In a preceding chapter is told the history of the frequent 
divisions of old Ontario, and the number of times it was called upon to 
surrender territory to new county formations. During the period re- 
ferred to the growth and development of this region of countr>' were 
almost phenomenal, but ;i5 the years immediately preceding the war of 
1812-15 were fraught with numerous political disturbances, a feeling of 
bitter animosity was engendered between the contending governments. 



128 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

and even in this county there arose a serious division of sentiment 
which temporarily checked the tide of settlement and turned the public 
attention to the affairs under discussion, to the neglect of personal con- 
cerns. However, this is a subject which naturally leads to a narrative 
of the events of the war as they related to Ontario county ; but in the 
present connection these events may be very briefly treated, for this 
county was not the site of any of the stirring events of the war, and the 
contention therein was chiefly at the polls and in the frequent " war" and 
" peace " meetings held in several of the towns. 

The causes which led to the second war with Great Britain were nu- 
merous. Although charged to the contrary, the United States always 
carefully observed the provisions of the peace treaty made at the close 
of the Revolution, and had also maintained a strict neutrality during the 
progress of the Napoleonic war with the British kingdom, when grati- 
tude should have induced a participation in it. For several years the 
aggressive acts of the British had been the subject of anxiety and regret 
and finally engendered feelings of animosity on this side of the Atlantic, 
and resulted in the laying of an embargo upon shipping in American 
ports, but as that measure was found injurious to commercial interests 
it was repealed and the non- intercourse act passed in its stead. This, 
too, was temporarily repealed, the British ambassador at the time con- 
senting to a withdrawal of the obnoxious "orders in council." How- 
ever the English government refused to ratify the agreement and recalled 
her minister, whereupon the president revoked his proclamation and 
again put in operation the non-intercourse act. 

War was formally declared on the 19th of June, 1812, but the meas- 
ure was not invariably sustained throughout the Middle and Eastern 
States The opposing element was embraced in the Federal party, its 
chief ground of opposition being that the country was not prepared for 
war. The Federalists constituted a large and influential minority in 
Congress, and had a considerable following throughout the country. 
They asked for further negotiations, and met the denunciations of the 
ruling party (the Democratic and Republican, for it went by both names) 
upon the English government with bitter attacks upon Napoleon, whom 
they accused the majority with favoring. 

Just what may have been the prevailing sentiment in Ontario county 
at that time would be difficult to determine with accuracy. However, 



FROM THE REVOLUTION TO ISln. 129 

it is very well known that a majority of the people of Western New 
York were deeply interested in the American cause, and active in their 
efforts both at the polls and in organizing the militia for warlike opera- 
tions. The Federalist party in the county numbered among its mem- 
bers men of wealth and influence, and its opposition measures were sub- 
stantially confined to public discussion; yet on September lo, i8i2, 
they held a formidable meeting at Taylor's Hotel in Canandaigua at 
which time resolutions expressive of the sentiment of the party were 
adopted, but no determined opposition to the war was advocated. 

In i8i I, the year preceding the outbreak of the war, the villages of 
Onondaga, Canandaigua and Batavia were made depositories for mili- 
tary stores, supplies, ammunition and arms. At that time and previous- 
ly as well the entire able-bodied male population between the ages of 
eighteen and forty-five years were among the enrolled militia of the 
State ; and in accordance with the prevailing custom of the period the 
militia men of each county were expected to meet at the general train- 
ing and annual muster to perfect themselves in the arts of war. This 
precautionary measure of enrolling available militia men was adopted 
soon after the Revolution for the purpose of guarding the frontiers, 
should occasion therefor arise, but more particularly in this region of 
country were the militia organizations desirable to repel any sudden at- 
tack on the part of the Indians of the region. 

As has already been stated, British troops remained in possession of 
the posts at Niagara and Oswego from the close of the Revolution to 
1796, from which time they frequently attempted to incite Indian hos- 
tilities against the Americans ; and during the years preceding the 
War of 1 812, the same influences were again at work both in Canada 
and in this State, that the Indians might be induced to declare war upon 
the frontier settlements of Western New York. Hardly a week passed 
during the first years of the war that rumors of Indian outrages did not 
startle the inhabitants of this county and cause them to look with 
anxious eyes on the half-tamed Senecas of the region, many of whom 
had more than once bathed their hands in American blood. Fortun- 
ately, however, the rumors proved false, but the terror they inspired 
was none the less real. 
17 



130 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

The news of the outbreak of the war was brought into Ontario county 
by express very soon after the beginning of hostiUties, and within 
six days thereafter a large public meeting was held at Canandaigua for 
the purpose of adopting such measures as should be necessary for the 
public good. Major William Shepard was chosen chairman and John 
C. Spencer secretary of the meeting, and a committee of correspondence 
was also appointed, comprising Nathaniel W. Howell, Thaddeus Cha- 
pin, Zachariah Seymour, Oliver L. Phelps, John C. Spencer, Nathaniel 
Gorham, Moses Atwater, James Smedley and Hugh Jameson. At this 
time it was decided to organize a " Citizens' Corps," to be composed 
of men exempt from military duty, and who should defend the county 
against a possible Indian invasion which might occur while the militia 
was on the frontier. Other equally patriotic meetings were held in East 
Bloomfield, Farmington and Seneca, and at each effective measures for 
the defence of the county were taken. A noteworthy organization was 
that formed in the town first mentioned, and called the " East Bloom- 
field Alarm Company," the members of which determined to arm them- 
selves, and if called upon to hasten to the relief of any portion of the 
county which might be attacked. 

Fortunately, however, the people of Ontario county were exempted 
from an Indian attack during the period of the war. On the 26th of 
May, 1812, Erastus Granger, superintendent of Indian affairs, with in- 
terpreters Horatio Jones and Jasper Parrish, held a council with the 
chiefs of the Six Nations who were then living in the United States. 
Mr. Granger did not seek to enlist their services, such not being the 
policy of the government, but urged them to remain neutral. To this 
they agreed, but said they would send a delegation to consult with their 
brethren in Canada. Red Jacket, the renowned Seneca sachem, at 
first declared for neutrality, but when the British invaded their reser 
vation lands that action was a signal for digging up the hatchet, and 
they became united with the Americans. However, the Indians fre- 
quently met in council before they took up arms against the British, 
and on one of these occasions Red Jacket addressed his hearers (both 
whites and Indians) as follows : " Our property is taken possession of 
by the British and their Indian friends. It is necessary now for us to 
take up the business, defend our property and drive the enemy from it, 



PROM THE REVOLUTION TO 1815. 131 

tf we sit still upon our seats and take no means of redress, the British, 
according to the custom of you white people, will hold it by conquest. 
And should you conquer the Canadas you will hold it on the same 
principle, because you have taken it from the British." 

Another council was soon afterward held, at which a formal declara- 
tion of war was adopted and reduced to writing by an interpreter; and 
this was undoubtedly the only formal declaration of war published by 
an Indian nation. Notwithstanding the declaration, however, no con- 
siderable number of the Indians took the field on the American side 
during the year 1812, and there were many of the chiefs who were 
really desirous that their people should remain neutral. 

Upon the outbreak of the war the militia kept marching to the front- 
ier, there being no apparent lack of numbers, and all were anxious to 
capture Canada the next day after their arrival. But they were quite 
ignorant of actual war, and the first touch of reality chilled them to the 
marrow. In one respect they were prepared for the struggle, in that 
the regiments were amply provided with officers. General Amos Hall, 
of Bloomfield, major general of this division of the State militia, was 
in command on the frontier for a short time, succeeding General Wads- 
worth. On July 1 1 he was superseded by Major-General Stephen 
Van Rensselaer, who established headquarters at Lewiston. The dis- 
astrous defeat of the latter caused him to be succeeded by General 
Alexander Smyth, a regular army officer, but even he failed to accom- 
plish hoped for results, wherefore he resigned in December, 181 2. In 
April, 181 3, Major-General Lewis and Brigadier- General Boyd arrived 
on the frontier and assumed command of the American troops. 

The new officers found great difficulty in obtaining a permanent force, 
as the military system of the country was in an unorganized condition, 
and it was considered a remarkable thing if a volunteer should remain 
three months on the frontier. Officers were plenty, but inexperienced, 
those who fought in the Revolution being generally too old for present 
service. Added to these disadvantages, the country then possessed a 
a timid, vacillating president, and a dominant South which was unwill- 
ing to strengthen the North and its outposts. These were some of the 
reasons for the feebleness which characterized the prosecution of the 
War of 1812-15. 



132 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

In the spring of 1813 General Lewis invited the warriors of the Six 
Nations to come to his camp, and soon received three or four hundred 
of them under the lead of Farmer's Brother. However, it is difficult to 
state who was their acknowledged leader, one account saying it was 
Farmer's Brother, and another names Henry O'Bail (the Young Corn- 
planter) as holding that position, while a third authority credits Young 
King with being the principal war-chief. After their enrollment by 
General Boyd, the Indians remained in service a short time and then 
returned to their habitations. 

Turning from these events of the war, we may observe the move- 
ments and disposition of the Ontario county soldiery. During the year 
18 1 2 the local troops were on the frontier much of the time and en- 
gaged in such movements and operations as were required, yet the bat- 
tles of the campaign were not of such a character as to test the mettle 
of the county militia. However, in 181 3 the men of Ontario county 
w«re actively engaged in the campaign in Western New York. The 
report of General Hall shows that he reviewed his force in Buffalo and 
that they comprised one hundred twenty- nine mounted volunteers from 
Ontario county under command of Colonel Seymour Boughton ; also 
four hundred thirty-three Ontario county volunteers commanded by 
Lieutenant-Colonel Blakeslie, together with other militia from Buffalo, 
Canada and Genesee county. General Hall's command was in the bat- 
tle at Black Rock, where the Ontario militia did most of the fighting 
and acquitted themselves with credit by sustaining the attack of the 
Royal Scots with much firmness, but not being properly supported and 
finding the enemy attacking them on two sides, they were compelled 
to retreat. However, General Hall was determined to make a firm 
stand at the borders of Buffalo village, but at that time the cry of " In- 
dians are coming" filled the men with terror and they fled precipitately. 
The result was that Buffalo village was plundered and burned, while the 
inhabitants of the entire region deserted their homes and sought refuge 
and safety in the villages and settlements to the east. In the campaign 
of the year the Ontario militia suffered severe loss, forty of Colonel 
Blakeslie's regiment being made prisoners. General Hall rallied two 
or three hundred of his discouraged troops at Williamsville, but their 
services were not required, and no further conflict followed. The gen- 



FROM THE REVOLUTION TO 1815. 133 

eral acted with all possible energy and failed only through the defection 
of his force and his own inexperience in military art. 

The destruction of Buffalo, and the threatened invasion of Genesee 
county, carried dismay into every heart and suffering into every house- 
hold. The defenceless families at once abandoned their homes and 
possessions and fled eastward, having no definite end in view other than 
to escape death at the hands of the British and their Indian allies. 
Along every thoroughfare of travel they came, foot-sore, weary and 
half- starved across the border of Genesee county and into Ontario, 
where they were received and cared for as well as the means of the 
people would permit Their sufferings would have been greater had 
not the prompt measures of relief been taken by the public authorities 
and the citizens of more fortunate localities. The Legislature voted 
$40,000 in aid of the devastated territory, besides $5000 to the 
Tuscarora Indians and a like sum to residents of Canada who were 
driven away from home on account of their friendship for the United 
States. The citizens of Canandaigua appointed a committee of relief, 
who raised a considerable amount in that and surrounding towns, and 
sent communications soliciting aid through all the country eastward. 
They were promptly responded to, and liberal contributions were raised 
throughout the State. With this aid, and that of the commissary de- 
partment and the assistance of personal friends, those who remained on 
the frontier managed to live through the unfortunate winter of 18 13- 
14. 

The Canandaigua Relief Committee just mentioned addressed a com- 
munication to Hon. Philip S. Van Rensselaer and others, of which the 

following is a copy: 

Canandaigua, January 8, 1814. 

Gentlemen, — Niagara county, and that part of Genesee which lies west of Batavia, 
are completely depopulated. All the settlements in a section forty miles square, and 
which contained more tlian twelve thousand souls, are effectually broken up. These 
facts you are undoubtedly acquainted with ; but the distresses they have produced 
none but an eye-witness can thoroughly appreciate. Our roads a^e filled with people, 
many of whom have been reduced from a state of competency and good prospects to the 
last degree of want and .sorrow. So sudden was the blow by which they have been 
crushed that no provision could be made either to elude or meet it. The fugitives from 
Niagara county especially were dispersed under circumstances of so much terror that 
in some cases mothers find themselves wandering with strange children, and children 



134 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

are seen accompanied by such as have no other sympathies with them than those of 
common sufferings. Of the famihes thus separated, all the members can never again 
meet in this life ; for the same violence which has made them beggary has forever de- 
prived them of their heads, and others of their branches. Afflictions of the mind, so 
deep as has been aPotted to these unhappy people, we cannot cure. They can prob- 
ably be subdued only by His power who can wipe away all tears. But shall we not 
endeavor to assuage them ? To their bodily wants we can certainly administer. The 
inhabitants of this village have made large contributions ^^or their relief, in provisions, 
clothing and money, and we have been appointed, among other things, to solicit 
further relief for them from our wealthy and liberal-minded fellow-citizens. In pur- 
suance of this appointment, we may ask you, gentlemen, to interest yourselves par- 
ticularly in their behalf. We believe that no occasion has ever occurred in our 
conntr}' which presented stronger claims upon individual benevolence, and we humbly 
trust that whoever is wilhng to answer these claims will always entitle himself to the 
precious reward of active charity. We are, gentlemen, with great respect, 

William Siiepard, 
Thaddeus CnAPiN, 
Moses Atwater, 

N. GORRAM, 

Myron Holley, 
TnoMAS Beals, 
PniNEAS p. Bates, 
Committee of Safety and Relief at Canandaigiia. 

The campaign for 1814 was a remarkable contrast to those of the 
previous years of the war. Early in April there came to the general 
rendezvous (Williamsville) Brigadier- General Winfield Scott, followed 
soon after by Major- General Brown, the latter having been ordered to 
command the army that should be collected in Western New York. 
His force consisted of two brigades of regulars under Generals Scott 
and Ripley, and one of volunteers under General P. B. Porter. This 
was composed of five hundred Pennsylvanians, six hundred New York 
volunteers, all of whom had not arrived when movements began, and 
nearly six hundred Iroquois warriors. In General Porter's command 
were the Ontario county militia. They took part in the capture of Fort 
Erie, the battle of Chippewa, Lundy's Lane, Conjockety Creek and the 
later attack and attemped capture, by the British, of Fort Erie. The 
fort was relieved and saved, however, by the splendid action of General 
Porter and his Western New York and Pennsylvania volunteers. Very 
high credit was given to General Porter for his eloquence in engaging 
the volunteers, and his skill in leading them. The press sounded his 



FROM THE REVOLUTION TO 1815. 135 

praises, the citizens of Batavia tendered him a dinner, the governor 
brevetted him major-general, and Congress voted him a gold medal. 

The raising of the siege of Fort Erie was substantially the close of 
war on the New York frontier, and all the troops except a small guard 
were withdrawn from Fort Erie. During the following winter com- 
missipners were endeavoring to negotiate a treaty of peace at Ghent, 
and there was a universal desire for their success, for in Western New 
York at least the people had had enough of the glories of war. The 
victory at New Orleans was soon afterward followed by the signing of 
the treaty at Ghent, and everywhere was immediately spread the wel- 
come news of peace. 

In the present chapter we have already stated that the early settle- 
ment of Ontario county was somewhat retarded by the events of the 
War of i8i2 and the years immediately preceding it. A glance at the 
records of the war will suffice to show why this was so. But, not- 
withstanding the fact that settlement and development may for the time 
have been checked, they were by no means suspended ; and it is a fact 
that regardless of adverse circumstances and unfortunate events the 
growth in the county's population, even during the decade in which 
the war took place, was almost remarkable. In proof of this we may 
with interest refer to the population of the county at different periods. 

In 1790, the year following that in which Ontario was separated from 
the mother county, the census enumeration of the several towns showed 
that the number inhabitants in the entire county, with its 6,6oo,ooo 
acres, was only one thousand and eighty- one. Ten years later, in 
1800, the territory of the county had been materially reduced by the 
erection of Steuben county, notwithstanding which the census of that 
year showed Ontario to have 15,218 inhabitants During the next 
ten years, the county of Genesee was created, taking within its 
boundaries almost half of the original territory of Ontario, nevertheless 
the census of 18 10 gave the latter county a population of 42,032. By 
1820 the number of inhabitants had increased to 88,267, as .shown by 
the census of that year. Between 1820 and 1830 the area of this 
county was still further reduced by the erection of Livingston, Monroe, 
Yates and Wayne counties, and the enumeration of the last named 
}'ear naturally showed a less population, the number then being 40,167. 



136 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

No further curtailment of the county's territory has since been made, 
and the fluctuations of population, as shown by the several federal 
census enumerations, have been as follows: In 1840, 43,501 ; 1850, 

43,929; i860, 44.563 ; 1870, 45.108 ; 1880, 49,541 ; 1890, 48,453- 



CHAPTER XII. 
Ontario County in the Rebellion — 1861-1865. 

GROWING out of the agitation of the slavery question there be- 
came engendered a feeling of bitter hostility between the people 
of the North and the South many years before the actual outbreak of 
the War of the Rebellion. In November, i860, Abraham Lincoln was 
elected to the presidency, and the news of that election was received 
by the southern people with great indignation and the violent expres- 
sion of treasonable sentiments. On the 20th of December South Caro- 
lina passed an ordinance of secession, and less than a week afterward 
seized upon certain forts and public properties of the government and 
raised over them the palmetto flag. Still later, on the 9th of January, 
1861, the rebel batteries in Charleston harbor fired upon the Star of 
the West, a merchant steamer in the government employ, which had 
been sent with supplies and troops for the relief of Major Anderson. 

The example set by South Carolina was soon afterward followed by 
other Southern States, and the final result was that the whole country 
became involved in a Civil war which continued for more than four 
years, and cost the State of New York more than $150,000,000, and 
more than 50,000 men. 

The war of 186 1-5 was actually begun by the firing upon Fort 
Sumter at half-past four o'clock on the morning of the 12th of April, 
1861. The news of the bombardment was received at the capital on 
the 14th, and on the following day the president issued a proclamation 
calling upon the militia of the several States to the number of 75,000 
men to suppress the treasonable combinations and to enforce the law. 
To the State of New York was assigned the quota of seventeen regi- 



THE COUNTY IN THE REBELLION. 137 

ments, or an aggregate force of 13,280 men. Governor Edwin D. 
Morgan and other officials, who comprised the State Military Board, 
took immediate action and issued orders for the available organized 
militia to prepare to march. Military depots were established at 
Albany, New York and Elmira, with branches in other prominent 
cities and needed supplies and equipments were provided with all pos- 
sible dispatch. 

The efforts of the governor and other officials were ably and heartily 
seconded by the Legislature, which was then in session, the senator 
from Ontario county being Thomas Hillhouse, while the respective 
assembly districts were represented by Perez H. Field and Stephen H. 
Ainsworth. In this connection it is proper to mention the names of 
the senators and assemblymen who served in those respective capacities 
during the other years of the war. In the fall of 1861 Charles J. 
Folger was elected senator and continued in that capacity throughout 
the war. In 1862 the Ontario county assemblymen were David Picket 
and Francis O. Mason ; in 1863, Perez H. Field and Lanson Dewey, 
who also were re elected and served during the legislative session of 
1864. In 1865 Volney Edgerton and Edward Brunson were members 
of assembly from this county. 

It would be extremely difficult, if not almost wholly impossible, to 
state the number of men furnished by Ontario county in all branches of 
the service during the period of the war. However, we may state in a 
general way that representatives of Ontario county served in twenty - 
nine different military organizations of the State and in each of these 
was at least a considerable contingent. In the Cavalry service men 
from the county were in the Eighth, Ninth, Fifteenth, Twenty-Fourth, 
First Mounted Rifles, and the First Veteran. In the Artillery the 
county was represented by men in the First, Fourth, Ninth, Plleventh, 
Thirteenth and Sixteenth regiments. In the regiments of Engineers 
men from the county were in the First, Fifteenth (new) and Fiftieth. 
The county was also represented in the following Infantry regiments, 
viz.: Eighteenth, Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Thirty-third, Thirty- 
eighth, Eighty-fifth, One Hundredth, One Hundred Twenty- sixth, One 
Hundred Forty-eighth, One Hundred Fifty-fourth, One Hundred 
Sixtieth, One Hundred Seventy-ninth, One Hundred Eighty-eighth, 
and One Hundred Ninety- fourth. 
18 



138 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

It is the purpose of the present chapter to make some reference to 
each of the several regiments in which were men from Ontario county ; 
but inasmuch as each of these commands has had its history previously 
written, many of them at length and in great detail, it will be unneces- 
sary in this work to repeat what is already extant, and our record may 
therefore be very much condensed, and at the same time furnish to the 
reader all the facts desirable to be known in connection with the services 
of each command. 

The Eighteeiith Regiment of Infantry, otherwise known as the New 
York State Rifles, was the first organization that numbered in its ranks 
men from this county. Company G, which was recruited at Canan- 
daigua was organized by the election of Henry Faurot as captain ; 
James H.Morgan, first lieutenant, and William H. Ellis, jr., ensign. 
The regiment, which was under command of Colonel William A. Jack- 
son, was accepted by the State and mustered into service on May 13, 
1861. It was organized at Albany and mustered into service May 17, 
1 86 1, for two years. At the expiration of the term the three years' 
men were transferred to the 121st New York Volunteers. 

The companies comprising the Eighteenth were recruited mainly as 
follows ; A and E at Schenectady ; B, F, H and T at Albany and its 
vicinity ; C at Fishkill ; D (Walkill Guards) at Middletown and in Sul- 
livan county; G at Canandaigua, and K at Ogdensburg. On June 19 
the regiment left the State, served for a time at Washington, D. C.and 
from July 13 in the Second Brigade, Fifth Division, Army N. E. Vir- 
ginia. Later on it served in Franklin's and Newton's Brigade in the 
Army of the Potomac, with which army, though variously assigned, it 
continued its service until May 28, 1863, when it was honorably dis- 
charged and mustered out at Albany. 

During the period of its service the Eighteenth lost an aggregate of 
seventy-five, being five officers and seventy enlisted men, three of the 
latter dying in the hands of the enemy. 

Battles of the Eighteenth. — 186 1 : Braddock Road, Va., July 16; 
Fairfax Station, July 17 ; Blackburn's Ford, July 18 ; Bull Run, July 
21 ; Munson's Hill, August 28 and November 16; Springfield Station, 
December 4. 1862: Union Mills, March 12; West Point, May 7 ; 
Seven Days Battle, June 25 to July 2 ; Gaines Mills, June 27; Gar- 



THE COUNTY IN THE REBELLION. 139 

nett's and Golding's Farms, June 28; Glendale, June 30; Malvern Hill, 
July I ; Burke's Station, August 28; Crampton Pass, September 14; 
Antietam, September 17; Fredericksburg, December 11-15. 1863: 
Franklin's Crossing, April 29 and May 2 ; Marye's Heights and Salem 
Church, May 3-4. 

The Twenty-seventh Regiment w^ls, organized and accepted by the 
State May 21, 1861, and mustered into the service at Elmira in the 
early part of July, to serve for two years. The companies of the Twen- 
ty-seventh were recruited in Southern and Western New York, a part 
of the Company G being from Ontario county. The regiment left the 
State July 10, 1861, in command of Henry W. Slocum, served the full 
term of its enlistment and was mustered out of service May 31, 1863 at 
Elmira. During its service the Twenty-seventh lost, from all causes, a 
total of 146 men. The battles in which it participated were as follows : 
1861 : Bull Run, July 21 ; Pohick Church, October 4. 1862: West 
Point, May 7 ; near Mechanicsville, May 22, and June i ; Seven Days 
Battle, June 25 to July 2 ; Gaines Mills, June 27 ; Garnett's and Gold- 
ing's Farms, June 28 ; Glendale, June 30 ; Malvern Hill, July i ; Cramp- 
ton Pass, September 14; Antietam, September 17; Fredericksburg, 
December 11-15. 1863: Franklin's Crossing, April 29 to May 2 ; 
Marye's Heights and Salem Church, May 3-4. 

The Twenty-eighth Regiment of Infafitry, otherwise known as the 
" Niagara Rifles " and the " Scott Life Guard," was recruited princi- 
pally in the western part of the State, companies A, B, C and K, being 
raised at Lockport ; D at Medina ; E at Canandaigua ; F at Batavia ; 
G at Albion ; H at Monticello ; and I at Niagara Falls. The Ontario 
county company was commanded by Theodore Fitzgerald, captain ; J. 
J. Whitney, first lieutenant, and Harry Paddleford, ensign. When mus- 
tered in the regiment was in command of Colonel Dudley Connolly, and 
when mustered out was in command of Colonel Edwin F. Brown. The 
Twenty-eighth was organized at Albany, and mustered into service for 
two years. May 22, 1861. It left the State June 25, serving for a time 
at Washington, thence in Butterfield's Brigade, Keim's Division, Dis- 
trict of Pennsylvania, and after October 15 in Banks's Division, Army of 
the Potomac. Later on it served with the Army of Virginia and the 
Army of the Potomac until mustered out at Albany, June 2, 1 863. The 



140 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Twenty-eighth during its service lost an aggregate of 1 1 5 officers and 
men. The engagements in which it took part were as follows : 1861 : 
Near Martinsburg, July 11; in Virginia, opposite Point of Rocks, Au- 
gust 5 ; Berlin, September 18. 1862 : Winchester, March 23 ; Monte- 
veido, March 27 ; near Columbia Furnace, April i 5 ; near Harrisonburg, 
April 24 ; operations in Shenandoah Valley, May 23—25 ; Front Royal, 
May 23; Middletown, May 24; Newtown, May 24; Winchester, May 
25 ; Bunker Hill, May 25 ; near Luray, June 30; Rappahannock, July 
25 ; Cedar Mountain, August 9 ; General Pope's campaign, August 16 
to September 2 ; Rappahannock Station, August 23; Sulphur Springs, 
August 23-24 ; Antietam, September 1 7. 1 863 : Chancellorsville, May 

1-3- 

The Thirty -third Regiment of hifantry, which afterward became 
known as the " Ontario Regiment," Col. Robert F. Taylor command- 
ing, was organized at Elmira, and mustered into the United States serv- 
ice July 3, 1861, for two years, to date from May 22, 1861, at which 
time the regiment was accepted by the State. To the numerical 
strength of the Thirty-third the county contributed nearly three com- 
panies, one' from Canandaigua, under Capt. John R. Cutler, and the 
others from Geneva, commanded by Captain Walker and Captain Wa- 
terford, respectively. However, the most recent recognized military 
authority in the State places the organization of the companies of the 
Thirty third as follows: A and K at Seneca Falls; B at Palmyra; 
C (Waterloo Wright Guards) at Waterloo ; D at Canandaigua ; E at 
Geneseo ; F at Nunda ; G (Richmond Guards) at Buffalo; H at Ge- 
neva ; I (Keuka Rifles) at Penn Yan. 

The Thirty- third broke camp at Elmira, July 8, 1861, and proceeded 
at once to Washington, where it performed service for some time. On 
August 4 it was attached to W. F. Smith's Brigade, and on September 
25 was transferred to Stephen's Brigade, Smith's Division, Army of the 
Potomac. In March, 1862, it formed a part of the Fourth Corps 
and in May following was attached to the Sixth Corps. The appended 
list will give the reader an idea of the service performed by the Thirty- 
third, in addition to which we may say that it lost an aggregate of 152 
men from all causes. On June 2, 1863, still under command of Colonel 
Taylor, the regiment was honorably discharged and mustered out of 
service at Geneva. 



THE COUNTY IN THE REBELLION. 141 

The engagements in which the Thirty- third participated were as fol- 
lows: i86i, near Chain Bridge, July 25; near Lewinsville, September 
25 ; Big Chestnut, October 13. 1862, Watts's and Young's Mills, April 
4; siege of Yorktown, April 5 to May 4; near Lee's Mills, April 5 ; 
Lee's Mills, April 8 and 16; before Yorktown, April 26; near Lee's 
Mills, April 28 ; Williamsburg, May 5 ; Mechanicsville, May 24 ; Gold- 
ing's Farm, June 5 ; Seven Days Battle, June 25 to July 2 ; Garnett's 
Farm, June 27 ; Garnett's and Golding's Farms, June 28 ; Savage Sta- 
tion, June 29; White Oak Swamp, June 30; Malvern Hill, July i; 
Harrison's Landing, July 3; Jefferson Pass, September 13; Crampton 
Pass, September 14; Antietam, September 17; Fredericksburg, De- 
cember 11-15. 1863, Marye's Heights and Salem Church, May 3-4. 
Gettysburg, detachment, July 1-3 ; Fairfield, July 5 ; Antietam and' 
Marsh Run, July 7; Williamsport, July 14. 

The Thirty- eighth Regiment of Infantry, otherwise known as the 
" Second Scott's Life-Guard," was organized in the city of New York 
for two years, June 3 and 8, 1861. Its colonel was J. H. Hobart Ward. 
The companies were recruited as follows: A, B, C, D and F in New 
York city ; E in Westchester county ; G in Westchester and Dutchess 
counties; H at Geneva; I at Horseheads, and K at Elizabethtown 
The Geneva company was commanded by Captain W. H. Baird. 

The Thirty-eighth proceeded to Washington June 19, 1861, and be- 
came a part of the Army of the Potomac. In December, 1862, the 
regiment was consolidated into six companies, to which was added four 
consolidated companies of the Fifty-fifth Infantry, which completed the 
regiment. On June 23, 1863, Col. Augustus Funk was authorized to 
reorganize the regiment, but this he did not succeed in doing, and the 
enlisted men were transferred to the Seventeenth Veteran Volunteers. 
The Thirty- eighth was honorably discharged and mustered out, under 
Col. James C. Strong, June 22, 1863, at New York city. During its 
service the Thirty- eighth lost a total of six officers and 115 enlisted 
men, but the following list of engagements will furnish a more compre- 
hensive idea of the services of the regiment. 1 861, Fairfax C. H., July 
17; Bull Run, July 21 ; near Munson's Hill, August 18. . 1862, siege 
of Yorktown, April 5 to May 4 ; Williamsburg, May 5 ; Fair Oaks, 
May 31 to June 1 ; Seven Days Battle, June 25 to July 2 ; Jourdan's 



142 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Ford, June 29 ; Glendale, June 30 ; Malvern Hill, July i ; General 
Pope's Campaign, August 26 to September 2 ; Centerville, August 28 ; 
Groveton, August 29: Bull Run, August 30; Chantilly, September i; 
Fredericksburg, December 11-15. 1863, Chancellorsville, May 1-3. 

The Eighty -Fifth Regiment, (Veteran). — This command was organ- 
ized November 7, i86i, and was the first regiment in which were On- 
tario county men that was mustered into service for three years. Its 
first commander was Col. Uriah Davis, under whom the regiment was 
mustered into service between August and December, 1861. The On- 
tario county contribution to the Eighth-fifth comprised two companies, 
B, which was credited to Canandaigua, and G, which was recruited 
principally at Geneva. William W. Clark, of Naples, practically organ- 
ized Company B. and was chosen its captain, C. S. Aldrich and Amos 
Brunson being respectively first and second lieutenants. Company G 
was raised in and about Geneva by John Raines, who was made its cap- 
tain, with George W. Munger and Thomas Alsop first and second lieu- 
tenants. 

The other companies comprising the Eighty- fifth were recruited 
principally as follows ; A at Olean ; C at Friendship ; D at Little Gen- 
esee ; E at Granger ; F at Black Creek and Friendship ; H at Wells- 
ville ; I at Richburgh ; and K at Hinsdale. The regiment left the State 
December 3, 1861, and was attached to the Army of the Potomac in 
the Third Brigade and Case's Division. 

In March, 1863, it was attached to the department of the South. 
During the years 1862 and '63, the services of the Eighty-fifth were 
not specially severe, its greatest losses being at Fair Oaks in the latter 
part of May and the early part of June, 1862. However, on April 20, 
1864, at Plymouth, N. C, the regiment lost eleven men killed, and the 
whole command surrendered to the enemy, together with the entire 
brigade. During the period of its service the Eighty-fifth lost an 
aggregate of 378 men, of whom 245 enlisted men died in rebel prisons. 
The engagements in which the regiment participated were as follows : 
1862, siege of Yorktown, April 17 to May 4 ; Lee's Mills, April 28; 
Williamsburg, May 5 ; Seven Pines, May 24 ; Fair Oaks, May 30. May 
31, and June i ; New Market Road, June 8 ; Fair Oaks, June 24-25 ; 
Seven Days Battle, June 25 to July 2; Malvern Hill, July i ; Carter's 



THE COUNTY IN THE REBELLION. ]43 

Mill, July 2 ; Franklin, October 31 ; Tuni, November 18 ; Exp. from 
New Berne to Goldsboro, N. C, December 1 1-20 ; Kinston, December 
14; White Hall, December 16; Goldsboro, December 17; Williams- 
ton, December 27. 1863, New Berne, March 14; Nixouton, April 16 . 
Blont's Creek, April 9; Little Washington, April 19-20; Free Bridge, 
July 6; Williamston, July 27 ; Chowan, July 28. 1864, Harvelsville, 
January 20; Plymouth, April 17-20. 

The Ninety -Eighth Regiment of Infantry, a veteran organization, was 
organized at Albany in the early part of 1862, The command was 
otherwise known as the " Malone and Lyons Regiment," the " Wayne 
County Regiment," and " Franklin's Own." Companies A, B, C and 
E were principally recruited at Malone ; D and G at Bangor ; H at 
Fort Covington, and F, K and I at Lyons. In the companies last 
named was a fair contingent of Ontario county men. However, the 
Thirty- fourth Regiment of militia formed the nucleus of the command, 
which contained, also, a few St. Regis Indians. 

The Ninety-eighth was mustered into service from the ist to the 6th 
of February, 1862, and under Col. William Dutton left for the front and 
was attached to Palmer's Brigade, Casey's Division, Fourth Corps of 
the Army of the Potomac. Its battles began with the siege of York- 
town in April, and closed with the fall of Petersburg, April 2, 1865. 
Its most serious losses were at Fair Oaks, Swift Creek, Cold Harbor, 
the operations before Petersburg and Richmond, the assault on Peters- 
burg, and the battle at Chaffin's Farm. During the period of its 
service the regiment lost eight officers and 230 enlisted men. It was 
honorably discharged and mustered out under Col. William Kreutzer, 
August 31, 1865, at Richmond, Va. The engagements in which the 
Ninety-eighth took part were as follows: 1862, siege of Yorktoxvn, 
April i6-May 4; Lee's Mills, April 28 ; Williamsburg, May 5 ; Bottom's 
Bridge, May 21-22; Savage Station, May 24; Fair Oaks, May 31, June 
I, and June 24-25; Seven Days Battle, June 25-July 2; White Oak 
Swamp Bridge, June 30; Malvern Hill, July i ; Carter's Hill, July 2. 
1864, operations before Petersburg and Richmond, May 5-31 ; Port 
Walthall and Chester Station, May 6-^ \ Swift Creek, May 9-10; 
Proctor's Creek, May 12 ; Drury's Bluff, May 14-16; Bermuda Hun- 
dred, May^ 18-26 ; Cold Harbor, June 1-12; (First Assault, June i; 



144 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Cold Harbor, June 2 ; Second Assault, June 3 ;) before Petersburg and 
Richmond, June 15 and April 2, 1865; Petersburg Assault, June 15- 
19, 1865 ; Chaffin's Farm, September 29, October i ; Fair Oaks, October 
27-29, 1864; Fall of Petersburg, April 2, 1865. 

The One HiindredtJi Regiment of Infantry (Veteran) was organized 
during the fall and winter months of 1861 under the supervision of 
General G. A. Scroggs, and its companies were mustered into 
service by detachments as rapidly as they were recruited. James M. 
Brown was made colonel of the regiment, and with the command left 
for the front March 10, 1862. The Ontario county contingent was 
mainly in Company B, the recruits being from the town of Victor. 
The service of the One Hundredth began with the siege of Yorktown 
in April, 1862, and continued throughout the war, ending with the fall of 
Petersburg and the final surrender at Appomattox. Its severest losses 
were at Fair Oaks, Va., Battery Wagner, S. C, the operations against 
Petersburg and Richmond, the battle at Strawberry Plains, and in the 
final Appomattox campaign. Its total losses were thirteen officers and 
384 enlisted men. The regiment was mustered out of service at Rich- 
mond, Va., August 28, 1865. 

The One Hundred and Second Regiment, the "Van Buren Light In- 
fantry," a veteran organization, was organized early in 1862, at a time 
when the government was seriously in need of men. The Ontario 
coimty contribution to the regiment was exceedingly small, being a 
{^w recruits enlisted by Captain M. E. Cornell, and his brothers George 
and Stephen, and obtained in the western part of the county. The 
regiment was mustered into service between November, 1861, and 
April, 1862, and was mustered out at Alexandria, Va., July 21, 1865. 

The One Hundred and Twenty -Sixth Regiment was raised by Col. 
Eliakim Sherrill, who received authority therefor June 15, 1862. It 
was to have been recruited in Ontario, Washington and Yates counties, 
but instead of Washington, Seneca county appears to have been utilized. 
The regiment was organized at Geneva and there mustered into service 
for three years August 22, 1862. On December 25, 1864, it was con- 
solidated into a battalion of five companies, A to E, and on June 2, 
1865, the men not mustered out with the regiment were transferred to 
the Fourth New York Artillery. Glancing over the records, we dis- 



THE COUNTY IN THE REBELLION. 145 

cover that companies A and B were recruited in Yates county; C and I 
in Seneca county; D, H and K wholly in Ontario county; E at Geneva 
and Rushville ; F in Ontario and Seneca counties, and G in Ontario, 
Seneca and Yates. 

As a stimulus to hasten the raising of this regiment, a reward of $200 
was offered for the first company recruited in Ontario county. D 
gained the prize, the money being paid by H. B. Gibson, of Canandai- 
gua. The first officers of this company were Philo D. PhiHips, captain; 
Charles A. Richardson, first lieutenant, and Spencer F. Lincoln, second 
lieutenant. E, the Geneva and Rushville company, was under com- 
mand of Captain Henry D. Kipp, and George E. Pritchett and John 
B. Brough, first and second lieutenants respectively. Company F, 
which was raised in this county and Seneca, was under Isaac Shinier, 
captain, Ira Munson and Ten Eyck Munson as first and second lieu- 
tenants. Company G was commanded by Captain John F. Aikins; 
first lieutenant Frederick Stewart and second lieutenant Sanford H. 
Piatt. The towns of Phelps and Manchester furnished the men for 
Company H, the first officers of which were Orin J. Herendeen, cap- 
tain ; George N. Redfield, first lieutenant and Alfred R. Clapp, second 
lieutenant. The officers of Company K were, captain, Charles M. 
Wheeler; first lieutenant, H. Clay Lawrence, and second lieutenant, 
Isaac A. Seamans. This company was raised principally in Canan- 
daigua and Naples. 

The One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth proceeded to the front during 
the latter part of A^ugust, 1862, where it served in the Middle Depart- 
ment of the Army of Virginia The most notable event in connection 
with its whole service took place at the siege of Harper's Ferry, so 
called, on which occasion the entire regiment, together with 11,000 
other Union troops, surrendered to the enemy. In justice, however, 
to the One Hundred and Twenty- Sixth it must be said that this sur- 
render or capture, for it amounted to the same, was in no manner at- 
tributable to the fault of the regiment, but rather to the weak and 
ill-advised action of the commanding officers of the army. Notwith- 
standing this the whole force was charged with cowardly conduct, a 
stigma which was not removed until after the men were released from 
their parole. By reference to the appended list of battles in which the 

19 



146 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

regiment took part it will be seen that the men fully removed the 
characterization previously applied to them, and demonstrated con- 
clusively that they were as good and true fighters as ever faced an 
enemy. After being paroled the regiment was ordered to Camp 
Douglas, at Chicago, where it remained two months, then being ex- 
changed and at once proceeded to the defences of Washington, at Arl- 
ington Heights. Later on it formed a part of the Twenty- second, and 
still later of the Second Army Corps. At the expiration of the term of 
enlistment the regiment was honorably discharged and mustered out 
June 3, 1865, at Washington, D. C, then being under command of 
Col. J. Smith Brown. 

During the period of its service the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth 
lost a total of seventeen officers and 259 enlisted men. The engage- 
menfs in which it participated were as follows : 1862, siege of Harper's 
Ferry, September 12-15 ; Maryland Heights, September 12-13 ! Boli- 
var Heights, September 15. 1863, Gettysburg, July 1-3; Auburn, 
October 14; Bristoe, October 14; Mitchell's Ford, October 15-16 ; 
Mine Run campaign, November 26-December 2 ; Robertson's Tavern, 
November 27. 1864, Morton's Ford, February 6 ; Wilderness, May 
5-7 ; Spottsylvania, C. H., May 8-21 ; Po River, May 9-10; Salient, 
May 12; Landron House, May 18; North Anna, May 22-26; Tolo- 
potomoy, May 27-31 ; Cold Harbor, June 1-12; before Petersburg, 
June 15, April 2, 1865 ; assault of Petersburg, 1 5-19 ; Weldon R. R., 
June 21-23; Deep Bottom, July 27-29; Strawberry Plains, August 
14-18; Reams Station, August 25. 1865, Petersburg Works, March 
25 ; Appomattox campaign, March 28, April 9; White Oak Ridge, 
March 29-31 ; fall of Petersburg, April 2 ; Deatonsville Road, April 6 ; 
High Bridge, April 7 ; Farmville. April 7 ; New Store, April 8 ; Appo- 
mattox C. H., April 9. 

The One Hundred and Forty eighth Regimetit. — In many respects 
this was one of the important of the many military organizations repre- 
sented by recruits from Ontario county. In fact much of its strength 
came from the county, while the whole regiment was raised in the im- 
mediate vicinity, and had its place of rendezvous at Camp Swift, Geneva. 
The companies were recruited principally as follows: A at Seneca Falls, 
Fayette, Geneva, and Canoga ; B at Dundee, Starkey, Barrington and 



SEE L. 



THE COUNTY IN THE REBELLION. 147 

Milo ; C at Phelps, Hopewell and Geneva; D at Geneva, Fayette and 
Varick ; E in Seneca county ; F at Geneva, Rushville, Gorham, Potter 
Center, Penn Yan and Middlesex ; G at Geneva, Canandaigua and 
Naples ; H in Seneca county ; I partly in Geneva and the balance in 
Yates and Seneca counties, and K at Manchester, Bristol, East and West 
Bloomficld and Hopewell. 

The regimental organization was completed and the command mus- 
tered into service at Geneva for three years, September 14, 1862, at 
which time the field and staff officers were as follows : Colonel William 
Johnson, Seneca Falls; lieutenant-colonel, George M. Guyon, Seneca 
Falls; major, John B. Murray, Seneca Falls; adjutant, Henry T. 
Noyes, Starkey ; quartermaster, Albert Woodruff, Lodi ; surgeon, 
Henry Simmons, Canandaigua ; first assistant surgeon, C. H. Carpen- 
ter, Phelps; second assistant surgeon, Frank Seeley, Rushville. 

The regiment left Camp Swift on the 22d of September, then having 
twelve companies with full 1,200 men. Ten companies being the re- 
quired number orders were received at Watkins, where the regiment 
had proceeded via steamer up Seneca Lake, directing two of the com- 
panies to return to Geneva. In October following these companies 
were attached to the Forty- fourth Regiment of Infantry, N. Y. V. The 
command proceeded to Washington, thence to Portsmouth, Va., and 
still later to Suffolk where its actual service was begun. At first it 
served with the Seventh Corps, and later with the Eighteenth and finally 
with the Twenty fourth. Its battles began with Gwynn's Island in No- 
vember, 1863, from which time it was most actively employed until 
the fall of Petersburg and the final surrender at Appomattox in April, 
1865. During its service the regiment lost, from all causes, six officers 
and 261 enlisted men, twenty-four of the latter dying in the hands of 
the enemy. 

The One Hundred and Forty-eighth participated in the following 
engagements : Gwynn's Island, November 18, 1863 ; operations against 
Petersburg and Richmond, May 5-31, 1864; Swift Creek, May 9-10, 
1864 ; Proctor's Creek, May 12, 1864; Drury's Bluff, May 14-16, 1864; 
Bermuda Hundred, May 18-26, 1864; White House, May 31, 1864; 
Cold Harbor, June I-12, 1864; Second Assault, June 3, 1864; before 
Petersburg and Richmond, June 15, 1864, and April 2, 1865; assault 



148 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

of Petersburg, June 15-19, 1864; Chaffin's Farm, September 29-Octo- 
ber I, 1864; Fair Oaks, October 27-28, 1864; Appomattox Cam- 
paign, March 28-April 9. 1865; fall of Petersburg, April 2, 1865; 
Rice's Station, April 6, 1865 ; Burke's Station, April 7, 1865 ; Appo- 
mattox Court-house, April 9, 1865. 

The One Hundred and Sixtieth Regiment was organized at Auburn 
during the fall of 1862, and was mustered into service for three years at 
New York city on the 21st of November The Ontario county contri- 
bution to this regiment formed a part of Company E, the towns of 
Canandaigua, East Bloomfield, Bristol, and Geneva furnishing the re- 
cruits. The balance of the company was made up of men from Seneca 
Falls, Owasco, Auburn and Tyre. The regiment left the State Decem- 
ber 4, 1862, and was attached to Sherman's Division, Department of 
the Gulf, until about July, 1864, when it came north and joined the 
Army of the Shenandoah. During the period of its service the regi- 
ment lost, from all causes, seven ofificers and 212 enlisted men, seven 
of the latter dying in the hands of the enemy. The command was 
honorably discharged and mustered out at Savannah, Ga., Novem- 
ber I, 1865. The battles of the One Hundred and Sixtieth were 
as follows: 1863: Bayou Teche, La., Jan. 13; Gunboat Cotton, La., 
Jan. 14; Berwick City, La., March 13; Pattersonville, La., March 
28 and April 1 1 ; Fort Bisland, La., April 12-13; Jeanerette, La., 
April 14; Plain Store, La., May 21 ; siege of Port Hudson, La., May 
23-July 8; First Assault, May 27 ; Second Assault, June 14. 1864, 
Red River Campaign, La., March lO-May 22 ; Sabine Cross Roads, 
La., April 8; Pleasant Hill, La., April 9; Cane River Crossing, La., 
April 23; Mausura, La., May 16; Snicker's Ferry, Va., July 20; 
Opequan, Va., September 19 ; Fisher's Hill, Va., September 22 ; Ce- 
dar Creek, Va., October 19. 

The One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Regiment of Infantry was or- 
ganized at Elmira and mustered into service for three years during the 
summer and fall of 1864. Company K was recruited at Buffalo and 
in the towns of Hopewell and Phelps, the other companies of the regi- 
ment being formed by recruits generally from Western and Central New 
York. The command left the State in detachments, being first attached 
to the Twenty-second Corps, from which it was transferred to the Ninth 



THE COUNTY IN THE REBELLION. 149 

Corps and so continued until mustered out June 8, 1865, near Alexan- 
dria, Va. Although its actual service at the front was of less than a 
year's duration the regiment lost, from all causes, 191 men, of whom 
twenty- five died in the hands of the enemy. The battles in which it 
participated were as follows : Cold Harbor, June 11-12, 1864; before 
Petersburg, June 16, 1864, and April 2, 1865 ; assault of Petersburg, 
June 16-19, 1864; Mine Explosion, June 30, 1864; Weldon Road, 
August 18-21, 1864; Poplar Spring Church, September 29-October 
2, 1864; Hatcher's Run, October 27-28, 1864; Fort Stedman, March 
25, 1865; Appomattox Campaign, March 28-April 8, 1865; fall of 
Petersburg, April 2, 1865. 

The One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Regiment of Infantry was re- 
cruited by Colonel John E. McMahon, with headquarters at Rochester, 
where it was organized and mustered in service during the early part 
of October, 1864, to serve for one year. Company B was composed of 
men from Rochester, Avon, Phelps, Victor, Italy, Penn Yan, Naples 
and Geneseo. A few men in Company E were from Richmond, Farm- 
ington and Seneca. Company F had a sprinkling of Canandaigua men 
as also did Company G. In Company I were a few recruits from 
Phelps. The regiment, under command of Major C. C. Davis, left the 
State October 13, 1864, and served in the Second Brigade of the Fifth 
Corps until finally mustered out and discharged July i, 1865, near 
Washington, D. C. Although less than a year in service the One Hun- 
dred and Eighty- eighth lost ninety men from all causes. Its battles 
were as follows: Before Petersburg, October 20, 1864, and April 2, 
1865 ; Hatcher's Run, October 27— 28, 1864 ; Hicksford Raid, December 
6-1 1, 1864; Hatcher's Run February 5-7, 1865; Appomattox Cam- 
paign, March 28-April 9, 1865 ; White Oak Ridge, March 29, 1865 ; 
Gravelly Run, March 31, 1865; Five Forks, April i, 1865; fall of 
Petersburg, April 2, 1865 ; Appomattox C. H., April 9, 1865. 

The One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Regiment of Infantry was re- 
cruited during the early part of 1865 by Colonel Joseph W. Corning, 
and was mustered into service for one and three years. In Company C 
were a few recruits from Canandaigua ; in Company D (Ninth Inde- 
pendent Company) were men from Victor, Seneca and Naples ; in Com- 
pany I (Seventeenth Independent Company) were a few recruits from 



160 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Canandaigua. The regiment was organized at Elmira, and at the same 
place was mustered out after about four months' service, having lost by 
death and disease seven enlisted men. 

The Eighth Regiment of Cavalry, the first organization of its kind 
in which was any noticeable contingent of men from Ontario county, 
was organized in i86i, under authority given to Colonel Samuel J. 
Crooks. This command became a veteran organization, and was always 
known as a Rochester regiment, although many of its men were from 
other counties than Monroe. Glancing over the records, we find men 
from Canandaigua in Co. A ; men from Phelps in Co. D ; from Rush- 
field in Co. G; from Canandaigua in third Co. K, and from the same 
town in second Cos. L and M. 

In the latter part of November, 1861, the Eighth left the rendezvous 
and served during the following winter in the defences of Washington. 
In March, 1862, it was attached to ihe Department of the Shenandoah, 
and in June following was annexed to the Eighth Corps, in the Middle 
Department. Its later service was with Pleasanton's Division of Cavalry, 
the First Division Cav. Corps, the Third Division of the Army of the 
Potomac, the Army of the Shenandoah, and with the Army of the Po- 
tomac. In the numerous operations in which the cavalry participated 
in Virginia and Maryland, the Eighth was present, and at least a part of 
the regiment took part in one hundred and forty-two battles, raids or 
skirmishes. Beginning with the operations in the Shenandoah Valley, 
May 23, 1862, and from that time on to the surrender of Lee's army at 
Appomattox, April 9, 1865, the Eighth was constantly engaged. In 
the Shenondoah Valley in May, 1862, its losses amounted to thirty-one 
men; at Harper's Ferry, ninety-two; at Beverly's Ford, fifty; at 
Gettysburg, forty ; Chester Gap, twenty-five ; Brandy Sta., eighteen ; 
on the raid to South Side and Danville R. R., 117; in the Appomattox 
campaign, thirty-one. 

At the expiration of the term of enlistment, the men entitled thereto 
were ordered to Rochester and there discharged and mustered out of 
service, the remaining men being consoldated into a battalion of eight 
companies. The regiment, commanded by Colonel Edmund M. Pope, 
was finally mustered out June 27, 1865, at Alexandria, Va., having lost, 
during its entire service, 19 officers and 305 enlisted men, of whom 3 
officers and 70 men died as prisoners in the hands of the enemy. 



THE COUNTY IN THE REBELLION. 151 

The NmtJi Regiment of Cavalry {^ Q\QX2,Vi) otherwise known as Stone- 
man's Cavalry and the "Westfield Cavalry " was recruited by Colonel 
John Beardsly under authority from the State. Its organization began 
at Westfield and was completed at Albany. The companies compris- 
ing the regiment were mustered into service between September 9 and 
December 13, 1861. The records show that Ontario county was rep- 
resented by a few recruits in this regiment, but the number was so small 
that no extended mention of its services is necessary in this chapter. 
In Company F were a few men from Farmington, and in Company M 
was a small contingent of recruits from Geneva. The services of the 
Ninth began at Yorktown, Va., in the early part of April, 1862, and 
closed with the surrender at Appomattox, three years later. However, 
the regiment served in and about Washington from the latter part of 
November, 1861, until the beginning of the campaign of the next year. 

The Fifteejith Regiment of Cavalry was organized at Syracuse and 
mustered into service by companies during the summer and fall of 1863. 
A portion of Company C which was mustered in August 8, was from 
Canandaigua and Geneva, the representation, however, from this county 
being exceedingly small. The services in the field began with the 
battle at Hillsboro', Va., in January, 1864, and closed with Appomattox 
C. H., April 9. 1865. 

The Tzveniy -fourth Regiment of Cavalry was organized by Colonel 
William C. Raulston during the latter part of 1863, and its companies 
were mustered into service in December of that year, and in January, 
1864. Portions of Companies H and L were recruited at Canandaigua 
prominent in connection with which were Captain F. T. Brown, Lieu- 
tenant William F. Jessup and Byron F. Crain. The command left the 
State in February, 1864, and served for a time, dismounted in the de- 
fences of Washington. It afterward served for a brief time in the 
Twenty-second Corps, but later and more prominently in the Ninth 
Corps in connection with the Army of the Potomac. Colonel Raulston 
was captured September 29, 1864, and in attempting to escape was 
shot and died of wounds in December following. He was succeeded 
by Colonel Walter C. Newberry, under whom the regiment was con- 
solidated with the Tenth N. Y. Cavalry July 10, 1865, the new organ- 
ization receiving the designation " First Provisional Regiment, N. Y 
Vol. Cav." 



152 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

The battles in which the Twenty- fourth participated began with the 
Wilderness, May 5-7, 1864, and closed with Appomattox C. H., in 
April, 1865. 

The First Regiment of Mounted Rifles. In the summer of 1862, Ma- 
jor Dodge was authorized to organize several companies of cavalry in 
order to complete a regiment, a battalion having previously been or- 
ganized by permission of the war department. The result was the for- 
mation of the First Mounted Rifles, to which the towns of Richmond 
and Victor contributed recruits, the men being enlisted in Company K. 
On July 21, 1865, the regiment was consolidated into a battalion of 
seven companies. Company K, in which were the Ontario county men, 
was mustered into service in August, 1862. 

The First Regiment of Veteran Cavalry was organized by Colonel 
Robert F. Taylor, under authority granted July 20, 1863. According 
to the original design, this command was to have been designated the 
Seventeentli Regiment of Cavalry, but the plan was changed before the 
organization was completed. The regiment was organized at Geneva, 
where, September 17, 1863, the recruits intended for the Seventeenth 
Cavalry were transferred to it. The companies mustered at Geneva 
were C, D, E, F, G, H, I and K, and the date October 10. Companies 
L and M were mustered in November 17 and 19, at the same place. 
In October, 1864, Company M was consolidated with A, and the for- 
mer replaced by a new Company M. It would be difficult indeed to 
determine accurately the number of Ontario county men which were 
members of this command, as the recruits were scattered through sev- 
eral of its companies. Men from Geneva were in Companies C, D, E, 
G, H, I, L and M. Canandaigua was also represented in Company E, 
and Seneca in Company L. The regiment left the State by companies 
and served in the Department of Washington until February, 1864, and 
was then attached to the Army of West Virginia. In October follow- 
ing it formed a part of the Army of the Shenandoah, but in March, 
1865, returned to the Army of West Virgina. On July 20, 1865, then 
under command of Colonel John S. Plainer, the First Veteran Cavalry 
was honorably discharged and mustered out of service at Camp Piatt, 
W.Va. 

The Second Regiment of Cavalry was organized during the summer 
of 1861, and mustered into service in August and October of that year. 



THE COUNTY IN THE REBELLION. 153 

The command was originally known as the " Harris Light Cavalry," 
but the War Department designated it the " Seventh Regiment of Cav- 
alry " in the service of the United States. However, when the regiment 
was turned over to the State it was numbered the " Second Regiment 
of N. Y. Vol. Cavalry." 

The original command was composed of recruits and squadrons from 
New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Indiana; and 
as one of the actively employed regiments in the Army of the Potomac, 
its services was necessarily severe and its losses heavy. At the expi- 
ration of its term of service many of the men were mustered out, and 
the remainder consolidated into a battalion of four companies. In Sep- 
tember and October, 1864, eight new companies joined the command 
and again raised it to a regiment ; and it was among these recruits that 
we find the names of Ontario county men, representing principally the 
towns of Farmington and Hopewell and members of Company K. 

The Fourth Regiment of Heavy Artillery (Veteran) was organized 
during the summer and fall of 1861, and mustered in by companies in the 
following winter. It was recruited under authority given to Colonel T. D. 
Doubleday, and was originally known as " Doubleday's Heavy Artil- 
lery," but afterward designated the "First Heavy Artillery, "andstill later 
as the "Fourth Heavy Artillery." In this commnd the greater part of the 
Ontario county contribution are said to have been in Company H ; in 
fact that has been called the Ontario Company. However, Canandaigua 
and Geneva both furnished recruits to Company M, and the village last 
named to Second Company D. 

The regiment went to Washington in February, 1862, and served in 
that vicinity for a time, and later with the Twenty-second Corps, serv- 
ing both as artillery and infantry. Its battles were fought nearly with- 
out exception in Virginia, but during the period of its service, the 
regiment lost a total, from all causes, of four hundred and sixty-four men 
of whom ninety-seven died as prisoners in the hands of the enemy. 
On September 26, 1865, at Washington, the Fourth was mustered 
out of service. 

The Ninth Regiment of Heavy Artillery, a command which was 
otherwise known as the " Second Auburn Regiment," and the " Cay- 
uga and Wayne County Regiment," was organized during the late 
20 



154 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

summer of 1862, being mustered into service on the 8th and 9th of 
September, and designated the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Regi- 
ment of Infantry. It was converted into an artillery regiment in De- 
cember, 1862, and received the designation as given above. A small 
part of Company F of the Ninth was recruited in Geneva, but the con- 
tingent of men was so very small that little mention of the regiment 
need be given here. The Ninth was mustered out of service July 6, 
1865. 

The Thirteenth Regiment of Heavy Artillery was organized during 
the spring and early summer of 1863, and was mustered into service by 
companies as rapidly as formed. In Company B were a few men from 
the town of Seneca. 

The Sixteenth Regiment of Heavy Artillery was organized in pursuance 
of authority granted to Colonel Joseph J. Morrison, and the command 
itself was raised during the summer and fall of 1863. In the regiment 
were a few Ontario county men, who were enlisted in Companies D and 
H, and who represented the towns of Canandaigua and Bristol. The 
company first mentioned was mustered into service December i, 1863, 
and the latter February 8, 1864. The regiment left the State by de- 
tachments, and its service in the field was also of a detached character 
previous to July, 1865, when it was united. It was mustered out of 
service at Washington, D. C, August 21, 1865. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

THE BEINCH AND BAR OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

TO properly understand and fully appreciate the history of the judi- 
ciary of any commonwealth, and the worth and attainments of the 
magistrates and practitioners at the bar, some knowledge of the origin 
and development of the machinery and spirit of this branch of the gov- 
ernment is necessary. 

The sentiment is commonly expressed that the judicial system of the 
State of New York is largely copied from the common law pf England. 




u£iW{lharr.B i/BroMT 




c 




THE BENCH AND BAR. 155 

This is true in many respects, and resemblances may be traced therein, 
but a close study of the history of the laws and judicial practice of this 
State will reveal the fact that they largely are an original growth, and 
differ materially from the old systems of Europe. This difference is 
strikingly manifested in the simple matter of entitling a criminal process. 
In this State it is the people versus the criminal ; in England it is rex 
versus the criminal. In the one the requirement is an independent 
judiciary responsible to the people only ; in the other it is a court sub- 
servient to a king. 

This great idea of the sovereignty of the people, even over our laws, 
has had a slow, conservative, yet progressive and systematic unfolding 
of the germ into organism. In the early history of the State the gov- 
ernor was in effect the maker and interpreter, as well as enforcer of the 
laws. He was the chief judge of the court of final resort, while his 
councillors were generally his obedient followers. The execution of 
English and colonial statutes rested with him, as did also the exercise 
of royal authority in the province ; and it was not until the adoption of 
the first constitution in 1777, that he ceased to contend for these pre- 
rogatives, and to act as though the only functions of the court and 
councillors were to do his bidding as servants, while the Legislature 
should adopt only such laws as the executive should suggest and 
approve. By the first constitution the governor was entirely stripped 
of the judicial authority which he possessed under the colonial rule, and 
this power was vested in the lieutenant-governor and the Senate, the 
chancellor and justices of the Supreme Court; the former to be elected 
by the people, and the latter to be appointed by the council. Under 
this constitution there was the first radical separation of the judicial 
and legislative powers, and the advancement of the judiciary to the 
position of a co-ordinate department of the government, and subject 
only to the limitation consequent upon the appointment of its members 
by the council. This restriction, however, was soon felt to be incom- 
patible with the independence of the judiciary, though it was not until 
the adoption of the constitution of 1846 that this connection between 
the purely political and judicial parts of State government was abol- 
ished, and with it disappeared the last remaining relic of the colonial 
period. From that time the judiciary became more directly represent- 



156 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ative of the people. The development of the idea of the responsibility 
of the courts to the people, from the time when all its members were 
at the beck of an irresponsible master, to the time when all judges (even 
of the court of last resort) are voted for directly by the people, has 
been indeed remarkable. 

Let us now look briefly at the present arrangement and powers of 
the courts of the State, and then at the elements from which they have 
grown. The whole scheme is involved in the idea of first a trial before 
a magistrate and jury — arbiters, respectively, of law and fact — and then 
a review by a higher tribunal of the facts and law, and ultimately of 
the law by a court of last resort. To accomplish the purpose of this 
scheme there has been devised and established, first, the present Court 
of Appeals, the ultimate tribunal of the State, perfected in its present 
form by the convention of 1867 and '68, and ratified by a vote of the 
people in 1869 ; and taking the place of the old court for the trial of 
impeachments and correction of errors. The Court of Appeals as first 
organized under the constitution of 1846, was composed of eight 
judges, four of whom were elected by the people and the remainder 
chosen from the justices of the Supreme Court having the shortest time 
to serve. As reorganized in 1869, and now existing, the court consists 
of a chief judge and six associate judges, who hold ofiice for the term of 
fourteen years. 

The court is continually in session at the capital in Albany, except 
as it takes a recess on its own motion It has full power to correct 
or reverse the decisions of all inferior courts when brought before it for 
review. Five judges constitute a quorum, and four must concur to 
render judgment. If four do not agree the case must be reargued ; but 
no more than two rehearings can be had, and if then four judges do 
not concur, the judgment of the court below stands affirmed. The 
Legislature has provided how and when proceedings and decisions of 
inferior tribunals may be reviewed, and may in its discretion alter or 
amend the same. Upon the reorganization of the court in 1869 its 
work was far in arrears, and the law commonly known as the "judiciary 
act" provided for a commission of appeals to aid the Court of Appeals; 
and still more recently there has been organized a .second division to 
assist in the disposition of the business of the general court caused 
by an overcrowded calendar. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 157 

Second to the Court of Appeals in rank and jurisdiction stands the 
Supreme Court, which is made up of many and widely different elements. 
It was originally created by an act of the colonial Legislature, May 6, 
1691, and finally by order of the governor and council May 15, 1699, 
and was empowered to try all issues to the same extent as the English 
courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas and Exchequer. It had juris- 
diction in actions involving one hundred dollars and over, and to revise 
and correct the decisions of inferior courts. An appeal lay from it to 
the governor and council. The judges, of whom at first there were 
five, made an annual circuit of the counties, under a commission issued 
by the governor, and giving them nisi prius, oyer and terminer, and 
jail delivery powers. Under the first constitution the court was re- 
organized, the judges being then named by the council of appointment, 
and all proceedings were directed to be entitled in the name of the 
people. 

By the constitution of 1821 many and important changes were made 
in the character and methods of the court. The judges were reduced 
to three, and appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate, 
to hold office during good behavior, or until sixty years of age. They 
were removable by the Legislature on the vote of two- thirds of the 
Assembly and a majority of the Senate Four times a year the full 
court sat in review of their decisions upon questions of law. By the 
constitution of 1846 the Supreme Court was abolished, and a new court 
of the same name and having general jurisdiction in law and equity was 
established in its place. This court was divided into General Term, Cir- 
cuits, Special Terms and Oyer and Terminer. Its members were com- 
posed of thirty-three justices to be elected by the people, and to reside 
five in the first and four in each of the seven other judicial districts, 
into which the State was divided. By the judiciary act of 1847, Gen- 
eral Terms were to be held at least once in each year in counties hav- 
ing more than 40,000 inhabitants, and in other counties once in two 
years ; and at least two special terms and two circuits were to be held 
yearly in each county except Hamilton. By this act the court was 
authorized to name the times and places of holding its terms, and those 
of the Oyer and Terminer, the latter being a part of the Circuit Court, 
and held by the justice, the county judge and two justices of sessions. 



158 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Since 1882 the Oyer and Terminer consists of a single justice of the 
Supreme Court. 

The Court of Chancery of the State of New York was an heirloom of 
the colonial period, and had its origin in the Court of Assizes, the 
latter being invested with equity powers under the duke's laws. The 
court was established in 1683, and the governor (or such person as he 
should appoint), assisted by the council, was designated as its chan- 
cellor. In 1698 the court went out of existence by limitation ; was 
revived by ordinance in 1701, suspended in 1703, and re-established 
the next year. At first the Court of Chancery was unpopular in the 
province, the assembly and the colonists opposing it with the argument 
that the crown had no authority to establish an equity court in the 
colony. 

Under the constitution of 1777 the court was reorganized, but its 
chancellor was prohibited from holding any other office except delegate 
to Congress upon special occasions. Upon the reorganization of the 
court in 1778, masters and examiners in chancery were provided to be 
appointed by the council of appointment ; while registers and clerks 
were appointed by the chancellor, and the latter licensed all solicitors 
and counselors of the court. Under the constitution of 1821 the , 
chancellor was appointed by the governor, and held office during good 
behavior or until sixty years of age. Appeals lay from the Chancery 
Court to the Court for the Correction of Errors. 

Under the second constitution equity powers were vested in the cir- 
cuit judges, and their decisions were reviewable on appeal to the chan- 
cellor. This equity character, however, was soon taken from the cir- 
cuit judges, and the duties devolved upon the chancellor, while the • 
judges referred to acted as vice-chancellors in their respective circuits. 
The constitution of 1846 abolished the Court of Chancery, and its 
powers and duties were vested in the Supreme Court. 

By an act of the Legislature passed in 1848 and entitled the " Code 
of Procedure," all distinctions between actions at law and suits in 
equity were abolished, so far as the manner of commencing and con- 
ducting the same was concerned, and one uniform method of practice 
in all actions was provided. Under this act appeals lay to the General 
Term of the Supreme Court from judgments rendered in the justice's, 



THE BEISCH AND BAR. 159 

mayor's or recorder's and county courts, and from all orders and deci- 
sions of a justice at special term or circuit, and from judgments rendered 
at any trial of the Supreme Court. 

The judiciary article of the constitution of 1849 was amended in 1869, 
the Legislature being authorized to provide (not more often than once 
in five years) for the organization of General Terms, consisting of a 
presiding justice and not more than three associates, but by chapter 
408 of the laws of 1870, the then organization of the General Terms 
was abrogated, and the State was divided into four departments, and 
provision made for holding General Terms in each. By the same act 
the governor was directed to designate from the justices of the Supreme 
Court, a presiding justice and two associates to constitute a General 
Term in each department. Under the authority of the constitutional 
amendment adopted in 1882, the Legislature in 1883 divided the State 
into five judicial departments and provided for the election of twelve 
additional justices to hold office from the first Monday in June, 1884. 

In June, 1877, the Legislature enacted the code of civil procedure to 
take the place of the code of 1848. By this many minor changes in 
the practice of the court were made, among them a provision that every 
two years the justices of the General Terms and the chief judges of the 
Superior City courts should meet and revise and establish general rules 
of practice for all the courts of record in the State, except the Court of 
Appeals. 

These are, in brief, the changes through which the Supreme Court 
has passed in its growth from the prerogative of an irresponsible gover- 
nor to one of the most independent and enlightened instrumentalities 
for the protection and attainment of the rights of citizens of which any 
nation, ancient or modern, can boast. So well is this fact understood 
by the people that by far the greater amount of business which might 
be done in inferior courts at less expense, is actually taken to this court 
for settlement. 

Next in inferiority to the Supreme Court is the County Court, held 
in and for each county in the State at such times and places as its 
judges may direct. This court had its origin in the English Court of 
Sessions, and like it had at first only criminal jurisdiction. By an act 
passed in 1683, a Court of Sessions, having power to try both civil and 



I 
160 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

criminal causes by jury, was directed to be held by three justices of the 
peace of each of the counties of the province twice a year, with an ad- 
ditional term in Albany and two in New York. By the act of 1691, 
and the decree of 1669, all civil jurisdiction was taken from this court 
and conferred on the Common Pleas. By the sweeping changes made 
by the constitution of 1846, provision was made for a County Court in 
each county in the State, except New York, to be held by an officer to 
be designated " the county judge," and to have such jurisdiction as the 
Legislature might prescribe. 

Under the authority of this constitution County Courts have, from 
time to time, been given jurisdiction in various classes of actions, and have 
also been invested with certain equity powers in the foreclosure of mort- 
gages and the sale of infants' real estate, and also to partition lands 
and to admeasure dower, and care for the persons and estates of luna- 
tics and habitual drunkards. The judiciary act of 1869 continued the 
existing jurisdiction in all actions in which the defendant resided within 
the county and the damages claimed did not exceed one thousand 
dollars. 

Like the Supreme Court the County Court now has its civil and 
criminal sides : In criminal matters the county judge is assisted by two 
justices of sessions, elected by the people from among the justices of the 
peace in the county. It is in the criminal branch of this court, known 
as the " Sessions" that the minor criminal offenses are now disposed of. 
All indictments, except for murder or some very serious felony, may be 
sent to it for trial from the Oyer and Terminer. By the codes of 1848 
and 1877 the methods and procedure and practice are made to conform 
as nearly as possible to the practice of the Supreme Court. This was 
done with the evident design of attracting litigation into this court, and 
thus relieving the Supreme Court. In this purpose, however, there has 
been an evident failure, as litigants much prefer the broader powers of 
the Supreme Court. By the judiciary act the term of office of county 
judges was extended from four to six years. Under the code the judges 
can perform some of the duties of a justice of the Supreme Court at 
chambers. The County Court has appellate jurisdiction over actions 
arising in Justice's Courts and Courts of Special Sessions. Appeals lie 
from the County Court direct to the General Term. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 161 

Surrogate's Courts, one of which exists in each county of the State, 
are now courts of record, having a seal, and their especial jurisdiction is 
the settlement and care of the estates, both of infants and also of the 
dead. The derivation of the powers and practice of these courts is from 
the Ecclesiastical Court of England, also through a part of the Colonial 
Council which existed during the rule of the Dutch, and exercised its 
authority in accordance with the Dutch Roman law, the custom of 
Amsterdam and the law of Aasdom, the Court of Burgomasters and 
Schepens, the Court of Orphan Masters, the Mayor's Court, the Prerog- 
ative Court and the Court of Probates. 

The settlement of estates and the guardianship of orphans, which was 
at first vested in the director-general and council of New Netherland, 
was transferred to the Burgomasters in 1653, and soon after to the Or- 
phans' Masters. Under the colony the Prerogative Court controlled all 
matters in relation to the probate of wills and settlement of estates. 
This power continued until 1692, when, by act of legislation, all probates 
and granting of letters of administration were to be under the hand of 
the governor or his delegates, and two freeholders were appointed in 
each town to take charge of the estates of persons dying intestate. 
Under the duke's laws this duty had been performed by the constables, 
overseers and justices of each town. In 1 778 the governor was divested 
of all this power, except the appointment of surrogate, and it was con- 
ferred upon the judges of the Court of Probates. 

Under the first constitution surrogates were appointed by the Coun- 
cil of Appointment, but under the second constitution by the governor 
with the approval of the Senate. The constitution of 1846 abolished 
the office of surrogate in all counties having less than forty thousand 
population, and conferred its powers and duties upon the county judge. 
By the Code of Civil Procedure surrogates were invested with all the 
necessary powers to carry out the equitable and incidental require- 
ments of their office. In its present form, with weekly sessions, this 
court affords a cheap and expeditious medium for the care and settle- 
ment of estates and the guardianship of infants. 

The only remaining courts which are common to the whole State are 
the Special Sessions, held by a justice of the peace for the trial of minor 
criminal offences, and also Justice's Courts with a limited civil jurisdic- 
21 



162 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

tion. Previous to the constitution of 1821 (modified in 1826) justices 
of the peace were appointed, but since that time they have been elected. 
The office and its duties are descended from the English office of the 
same name, but are much less important, and under the laws of this 
State it is purely the creature of the statute. 

This brief survey of the courts of New York, which omits only those 
that are local in character, gives the reader some idea of the machinery 
provided for the use of the members of the bench and bar at the time 
of the creation of Ontario county in 1789. 

The organization of the courts in Ontario county was accomplished 
without ceremony and with but little formality. The act creating the 
county was passed January 28, 1789, and among other things provision 
was therein made for a " Court of General Sessions of the Peace, and a 
Court of Common Pleas," to be held at "such suitable and convenient 
place within the county as the judges of the Court of Common Pleas 
and the justices of the Court of Sessions may direct." It was also pro- 
vided that there should be held two terms every year, " to commence 
on the first Tuesday in June, and end on the Saturday following; and 
on the first Tuesday in November, and to end on Saturday of the same 
week." 

A later section of the erecting act provided that "it shall not be the 
duty of the justices of the Supreme Court to hold Circuit Court once in 
every year in said' county of Ontario, unless in their judgment they shall 
deem it proper and necessary." However, by an act passed April 9, 
1792, this provision was repealed. 

The first judge of Common Pleas of Ontario county was Oliver 
Phelps, who was appointed to that office May 5, 1789. The other offi- 
cers of the court, with dates of their appointment, were as follows : 
Sheriff", Judah Colt, April 7, 1790; clerk, Nathaniel Gorham, jr., May 
5, 1789. The first surrogate of the county was John Cooper, appointed 
May 6, 1 789. However, it was not until the first Tuesday in June, 1 792, 
that a term of the Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace 
was in fact held within the count}', and at that time the court-house had 
not been erected, and the session was held in the unfinished chamber 
of Dr. Moses Atwater's house. It is said also that Vincent Matthews 
was the only lawyer present at the opening of the court. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 163 

The first court-house of the county was erected in pursuance of an 
act of the Legislature, passed April 9, 1792, by which the supervisors 
were authorized to raise by tax the sum of six hundred pounds, with an 
additional allowance for collection. The building, a plain frame struct- 
ure, stood at the northeast corner of the public square, and was erected 
during the year 1794. Later on, after the second court house was 
built, the old pioneer building was removed to the west side of Main 
street, on the park lot, and still later to Court street, where it still 
stands. 

The second Ontario county court-house was a more pretentious struct- 
ure than its predecessor, and was erected at an expense of about $6,000, 
under the authority of an act of the Legislature passed in April, 1824. 
This building is now used as a town house and, therefore, requires no 
extended mention in this chapter. On the 4th of July, 1824, the cor- 
ner stone was laid with due ceremony, and on that occasion nearly all 
the legal profession of the county and region were present, many of 
them participating in the proceedings. 

In 1857 and 1858 the present court- bouse was erected at the joint 
expense of the county and the United States government, the latter con- 
tributing, it is said, about $30,000 of the entire cost of construction, and 
having an interest in the property to the extent of a large room on the 
first floor for use as post-office, and room above for the Federal Courts. 
However, as the county buildings are fully described in another chapter 
of this volume, no further reference to them is requisite here ; but rather 
we may turn to the profession which has been so particularly promi- 
nent in connection with the past and present history of this county. 

The legal profession of Ontario county has ever been noted for its 
strength. On the bench and at the bar of the courts have been men of 
the highest character and of great moral worth. Among the leading 
legal minds of the State Ontario county has furnished a liberal propor- 
tion, many of whom have attained distinction and some eminence. 
They were, indeed, characterized by strict integrity as well as rare abil- 
ity ; qualities which have made for them a high standard, not only in 
the courts, but also in the legislative halls both of the State and the 
nation. 



164 TilSTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Prominent Members of the Old Bar.i 

Oliver Phelps was the first judge of Ontario county, but was not a 
member of the legal profession, nor was he " learned in the law " as 
attorneys and judges now understand the term. However, he was a 
man of much prominence, and through his efforts the county was cre- 
ated. As the first judge of the county he is entitled to at least a 
passing mention in this chapter. 

Vincent Matthews, a lawyer of repute in the early history of the 
Genesee country, was one of the pioneers of the profession in the region, 
and enjoyed the distinction of being the only attorney in attendance at 
the opening of the first term of court in this county. However, he was 
never a resident of the county, his home being at Newtown (Elmira), 
but afterward at Rochester, where he died in 1846. He was the co 
temporary of Judge Howell and Peter B. Porter, who are mentioned in 
this chapter. 

Among the prominent members of the early bar of the county may 
be mentioned the familiar name of Nathaniel W. Howell, more familiarly 
known, however, as Judge Howell, a title he honestly earned by his 
long service upon the Common Pleas bench of the county. Mr. Howell 
wns born in Orange county, N. Y., January i, 1770, and came to this 
county from Elmira in 1796. He was engaged in some of the impor- 
tant cases tried during the early history of the county, and was con- 
sidered a leader at the bar, though his manner and bearing were such 
that he showed to better advantage on the bench than in practice. He 
became judge in 1819 and served in that capacity thirteen years, then 
retiring from active professional life to the more congenial pursuits of 
farming and gardening. His sons, Alexander H. and Thomas M. 
Howell, likewise entered the legal profession, the latter dying in 1892, 
and the former quite recently. Judge Howell was admitted to 
practice in 1794, and for a time lived in Tioga county before coming 
to Canandaigua. He became the legal adviser of Charles Williamson, 
agent of the Pulteney Associates, and also was connected in the same 
capacity with the Holland Land Company. In 1799 Mr. Howell was 

' The data upon which these sketches are based have been drawn from all reliable sources, much 
being from the published articles written by Dr. Noah T. Clark and contributed to the Ontario 
County Times. 




^.^2^;%^^.^ 



TflE BSNCH and bar. 165 

appointed assistant attorney- general for the five Western New York 
counties, which office he held until i8o2. In the Thirteenth Congress 
he represented this district, succeeding his old legal associate, Peter B. 
Porter, and being in turn succeeded by him. Judge Howell died in 
Canandaigua in 185 I. 

Dudley Saltonstall was a pioneer at the Ontario county bar. He 
was a highly educated young man, a graduate of Yale, and afterward 
pursued a course of law study in the school of Judge Reeves, at Litch- 
field, Conn. In 1795 Mr. Saltonstall was admitted to practice in this 
county, but later on left the county seat and took up his residence in a 
Southern State. 

General Peter B. Porter was born in Salisbury, Conn., in 1773, and 
became a resident of Canandaigua in 1795. He was not only one of 
the strong pioneer lawyers of the county, but during the War of 
18 1 2-1 5 won distinction as commander of the militia in a number of 
severe battles of that war on the western frontier of New York. As a 
lawyer he was highly respected, and is credited with having engaged 
in the first jury trial presented in the courts of this county. After an 
honorable service of seven years in Canandaigua, General Porter moved 
to the western part of the State, and died at Niagara Falls in 1844. 

Dudley Marvin, who honorably bore the title of general, was one of 
the most distinguished early members of the Ontario bar, and was also 
one of the ablest advocates who appeared in the courts of the State, 
his especial strength being before the trial jury. However, recollections 
of General Marvin are very meager, and we can only state in a general 
way that he was the peer and cotemporary of Spencer, Willson, Hub- 
bell and Sibley. In the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth sessions 
of Congress Mr. Marvin was one of the representatives of the Twenty- 
sixth District, and after his removal to Chautauqua county, he likewise 
served in the same capacity in- that district. 

John Greig, who is still remembered by the older members of the 
present bar, was in some respects a distinguished lawyer, but was 
especially noted for his peculiarities of manner and conversation, for 
he was a Scotchman and seemed to have inherited to a remarkable 
degree the peculiarities of his people. John Greig was an honorable 
and straightforward citizen and lawyer, and one who enjoyed the full 



166 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

confidence of the people. It is regretted that he left active professional 
life to assume charge of the Hornby estate and interests, as his continu- 
ance in practice would have undoubtedly developed legal abilities far 
beyond the average of his time. Mr. Greig was born in Dumfrieshire, 
Scotland, in 1779, and settled in Canandaigua in 1800, but of his early 
life and education we have no data except that he read law with Judge 
Howell, and began practice in 1804. His old residence on upper Main 
street is still a conspicuous structure, and one which, with many others, 
the people of the present day describe with pleasure and pride. Mr. 
Greig, though not a farmer, was interested deeply in agricultural pur- 
suits, and perhaps preferred the life of farmer to that of lawyer. He 
was one of the early presidents of the the county Agricultural Society, 
and by his efforts did much to promote its prosperity as one of the 
institutions of the locality. Mr. Greig was for a time associated in law 
practice with Judge Howell, an exceedingly strong partnership, for as 
Mr. Howell was inclined to be somewhat severe and possibly harsh in 
presenting a case, Mr. Greig displayed the opposite and more captivat- 
ing qualities of affableness and courtesy; and while at times apparently 
odd in manner and conversation, Mr. Greig was a man of fine sensi 
bilities and cultivated tastes, extremely courteous, and a generous 
entertainer and host. His public service was confined to one term in 
Congress, he being elected to the vacancy caused by the resignation of 
Francis Granger. This was in the Twenty seventh Congress. Mr. 
Greig was also one of the organizers of the old Ontario Bank, and its 
president at one time. In 1825 he was one of the Regents of the Uni- 
versity, succeeding De Witt Clinton, and was himself succeeded by 
William C. Bryant in 1858. Mr. Greig's appointment as vice-chancellor 
of the Board of Regents dated January 9, 1845. He died in Canan- 
daigua in 1858. 

John C. Spencer was the son of Ambrose Spencer, the latter a lawyer 
of distinction, a justice of the Supreme Court in 1804 and chief justice 
in 1 8 19, but not a resident of Ontario county. John C. Spencrr was 
born in Columbia county in 1788, became a resident of Canandaigua in 
1809, left the county in 1845, ^^^ ^^^^ '" Albany in 1855. At the age 
of twenty one Mr. Spencer became a member of the legal bar, and 
although neither the brilliant orator nor charming advocate, he was 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 167 

nevertheless a leading lawyer of his time, and one whose understand- 
ing of the law was almost marvelous. He was highly educated and 
had the highest respect for men of scholarly attainments. Moreover, 
he was deeply interested in all matters pertaining to education. 
As a lawyer in general practice Mr. Spencer acquired an enviable 
reputation, and was associated in the trial of some of the most impor- 
tant cases in this region. In fact, without detracting from the standing 
of his professional associates, it may be truthfully said that Mr. Spencer 
was undoubtedly the' ablest lawyer of the county during his palmy 
days. Naturally a man of his mark could not well avoid being drawn 
somewhat into political life, and we find him in June, 1818, the district 
attorney of Ontario county ; in 1820 he was elected to the Assembly, 
and served several terms in that body. From 1825 to 1828 he was in 
the State Senate. In 1827 he was appointed one of revisers of the 
laws of the State, and on the 4th of February, 1839, was appointed 
secretary of state by Governor William H. Seward. Still later, on 
October 12, 1841, he was appointed secretary of war under the admin- 
istration of President Tyler, and on March 3, 1843, was transferred to 
the cabinet office of secretary of the treasury. Mr. Spencer died in 
Albany in 1855. 

Micah Brooks was a native of Connecticut, and a pioneer of East 
Bloomfield, this county, where he settled in 1799. For several years 
he was one of the associate judges of Common Pleas; a member of 
the Constitutional Convention of 1821, and member of Assembly dur- 
ing the legislative session of 1808-9. ^^ finally left this county and 
resided in Livingston county. 

Myron HoUey was for a time a resident lawyer of Canandaigua and 
held the office of county clerk in 181 1. Later on he moved to Lyons, 
in Wayne county. He was made canal commissioner in 181 6. In this 
year also he was one of the Ontario county assemblymen, and again in 
1820-21. 

Gideon Granger was also a distinguished member of the early bar of 
the county, but earned many of his honors before coming to Canandai- 
gua. He was born in Sufifield, Conn., in 1767, and was educated and 
entered professional life in his native State. From 1801 to 1809, dur- 
ing the administration of Thomas Jefferson, Mr. Granger was post- 



168 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

f 

master general, and continued some time in the same capacity under 

President Madison. In 1816, after retiring from public service, he be- 
came a resident of Canandaigua, the chief object of his coming to this 
locality being to assume charge of certain interests which the State of 
Connecticut then had in lands in Western New York. Although not 
actively identified with professional life in this county, Mr. Granger is 
nevertheless worthy of mention in this chapter. He died in Canandai- 
gua, December 31, 1822. 

The name of Timothy Burt is recalled among the earliest lawyers of 
the county seat, and although remembered as standing well in the 
profession, does not appear to have been prominently connected with 
political life at that time. However, he was town clerk of Canandaigua 
in 1799, and supervisor of the same town in 1 806 and 1807. 

Jared Willson was one of the leaders of the local bar, the partner of 
John C. Spencer, and the cotemporary of Mark H. Sibley, Walter 
Hubbell and Francis Granger. Mr. Willson was born in Massachusetts 
in 1786, and became a resident of Canandaigua in 181 1, immediately 
after his graduation from the University of Vermont. He read law in the 
office of John C. Spencer and after being admitted to practice became 
partner with him. He is not remembered as having been a brilliant 
orator, but he possessed a remarkable knowledge of the law and hence 
soon became recognized as one of the leading lawyers of the county. 
During the early part of his professional career, Mr. Willson was one of 
the leading Democrats of Western New York, but in 1848 the attitude 
of his party on certain questions so disgusted him that he severed his 
connection with it and became a Free Soiler and afterward Republican. 
Mr. Willson died in April, 185 i. 

Bowen Whiting was a native of Massachusetts, but an early member 
of the bar in this county ; having a residence at Geneva. In 1823 he 
was made district attorney for this county ; member of assembly in 
1824-25 ; county judge in 1838, and one of the judges of the Seventh 
Circuit in 1844, 

Daniel D. Barnard was one of the members of the old bar, residing 
in this county as early as 1825, but at a later day locating at Rochester. 
Still later he moved to Albany, and from that county was elected to the 
Assembly, and to Congress, and still later was appointed minister to 
Prussia. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 169 

Walter Hubbell was born at Bridgeport, Conn., February 25, 1795, 
and received his early education in Saratoga county, N. Y,, whither his 
parents had removed while he was a child. He afterward graduated 
from Union College, still later read law with Judge Howell and John 
Greig, of Canandaigua, and was admitted to practice about the year 
1 8 17. Mr. Hubbell was a careful, painstaking and conscientious lawyer, 
and withal an upright Christian man. He sought no political advance- 
ment, yet he was in the Assembly in 1829, and was also master and 
examiner in chancery for a number of years. His law partners were 
Judge Howell, followed by Levi Hubbell, his brother. His third 
partner was David Greig, and his fourth, Thomas M. Howell. Walter 
Hubbell died at Canandaigua March 25, 1848. 

Francis Granger, son of Gideon Granger, was born in Sufifield, Conn., 
and came with his father to Canandaigua in 1816, and soon afterward 
entered the legal profession. Mr. Granger was a lawyer of ability, and 
practiced at the county seat several years before he entered into poli- 
tics. He might have been an eminent legist, but unfortunately for such 
an end, he inherited a large property, and the practice of his profession 
was therefore unnecessary, hence he lost an otherwise impelling power. 
In 1826-27-28, and again in 1830-32, Mr, Granger was one of the 
members of Assembly from Ontario county. In 1835 ^^ was elected 
to Congress and served continuously in that body until March 3, 1841, 
when he resigned and was succeeded by his old Ontario county associ- 
ate, John Greig, Three days after his resignation, on March 6, 1841, 
Mr. Granger was appointed postmaster- general under President Harri- 
son. Returning from his public service, Mr. Granger continued his 
residence in Canandaigua until his death, August 28, 1868. 

Gideon Grenger, son of Francis and grandson of Gideon Granger, 
heretofore mentioned, was also a noted Canandaigua lawyer, of whom 
an extended notice will be found among the personal sketches in an- 
other part of this volume. 

Mark H. Sibley was another of the master minds of the legal pro- 
fession of this county, and was, perhaps, the peer of any lawyer at the 
local bar during his time. He was a native of Great Barrington, Mass., 
born in 1795, and became a resident of Canandaigua in 18 14. He read 
law under the direction and in theoffice of Dudley Marvin, andbecamethe 
22 



170 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

professional rival of his instructor. He was noted as an advocate rather 
than for learning in the law ; was usually successful in winning favor 
with the jury, and hence was popular throughout the region. His law 
partner at one time was Alexander H. Howell, while his other legal 
associates, and not infrequently his antagonists, were Jared Willson and 
William H. Adams. Mr. Sibley represented the county in the Assem- 
bly during the legislative sessions of 1835, and 1836; in the Senate in 
1840 and 1841 ; was made county judge in 1847, serving four years, 
and was a member of the Twenty-fifth Congress, his years of service 
being 1839-41. He died at Canandaigua September i, 1852. 

Alexander Duncan was also one of the members of the old bar of 
Ontario county, but of his antecedents or early record we have no data. 
He did his law business in the land office of John Greig. 

William H Adams was another of the older members of the Ontario 
county bar, and for a number of years lived at Canandaigua. He was 
admitted to practice in 1815, but the greater part of his lite was passed 
in Wayne county, where he became quite prominent, filling the respon- 
sible positions of member of Assembly, district attorney and county 
judge. He died in the village of Lyons. 

The name of Henry F. Penfield is also to be mentioned as one of the 
old bar of the county. He was district attorney from 1832 to 1835. 

Henry W. Taylor, also one of the early bar of the county, was a 
native of New England, and on locating at Canandaigua was the as- 
sociate of Spencer, Willson, Sibley and other prominent attorneys of 
the old bar. He was evidently a man of strength and popularity, for 
during four legislative sessions, beginnmg with 1837, he was in the 
Assembly. On March 27, 1850, he was appointed justice of the 
Supreme Court in the place of Judge Maynard, deceased, and in 
November, 1857, he was elected county judge of Ontario county. At 
one time Judge Taylor was in partnership with one Mason. 

Albert Lester came to Canandaigua from Litchfield, Conn. He read 
law in the ofiice of John C. Spencer, and practiced from about 1825 to 
1850. He was at one time partner with Jared Willson, and the firm was 
one of the strongest in the county. He was State Senator in 1844 and 
1845. M^' Lester died in Canandaigua, in 1867. 

Alvah Worden was born in Saratoga county, June 11, 1798, and 
came to Canandaigua in 1835, then having recently been admitted to 





^ 



/ 



tHE BENCH AND BAR. l7l 

practice law. Early in life he prepared to enter the medical profession, 
but changed his purpose, and for several years engaged in mercantile 
pursuits. However, having a strong inclination for professional work, 
he read law, was admitted, and began practice in Cayuga county. He 
soon came in contact with Mark H, Sibley and defeated him in a 
memorable trial in Cayuga county, and the skill and learning of the 
young attorney so attracted Mr. Sibley that he invited a law partner- 
ship with him at the Ontario county seat. The offer was accepted, and 
the firm soon took rank among the strongest in Western New York. 
Mr. Worden represented Ontario county in the Assembly in 1841, and 
again in 1845 ^"d 1 846. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Con- 
vention of 1846, and under the constitution of that year was appointed 
one of the commissioners to revise and codify the statutes. Mr. Wor- 
den died in Canandaigua in 1856. 

Orson Benjamin came from Bloomfield to Canandaigua, and was for 
several years a practicing lawyer. He held the office of surrogate by 
appointment dated January 29, 1840. 

George R. Parburt was also one of the older lawyers of the county 
seat, and who was appointed surrogate of the county, April 10, 1844. 

John Callister may properly be referred to at this time, but for an ex- 
tended sketch of his life the notice of the reader is directed to the bio- 
graphical department of this work. 

Henry S. Cole was also of the old bar, and as well a native of Can- 
andaigua, born September 23, 1800. He was admitted to practice in 
1 82 1, but soon afterward moved to Michigan, where he acquired a high 
standing in his profession. 

Alexander H. Howell, the oldest son of Nathaniel W. Howell, was 
born in Canandaigua, and was educated at the Canandaigua Academy 
and Hamilton College. He was admitted to the bar and became a 
partner of Mark H. Sibley. After a few years he gave up the law for 
other pursuits. He held the office of county clerk of Ontario for a term, 
for many years was a justice of the peace, and died in 1893, respected 
and beloved by all who knew him. 

Thomas M. Howell, second son of Judge Nathaniel W. Howell, was 
born in Canandaigua in 181 1, and acquired his early education at the 
academy, after which he took a graduating course at Amherst College. 



172 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

He read law under the direction of his father, and was admitted to practice 
in 1834. Then, for a period of full fifty-eight years, Mr. Howell was 
actively identified with the profession in the county, and only a short 
time before his death he argued an important case in the Supreme Court. 
He was a careful and diligent lawyer, and in all his habits in life he was 
characteristically methodical ; hence was a safe counsellor and trust- 
worthy attorney. From 1840 to 1847 Mr. Howell was district attorney, 
was United States commissioner from 1855 until the time of his death, 
and was police justice of Canandaigua from 1876 to 1880. Mr. Howell 
was a strong Democrat, and one of the leaders of the party in the county, 
and he was also deeply interested in local and Indian history ; was an 
acquaintance of the famous Red Jacket, and the local papers frequently 
published interesting historical articles from the pen of our subject. Mr. 
Howell died in Canandaigua, October 27, 1892. 

Jabez H. Metcalf was a native of Ontario county, born in the town of 
Naples, or rather that portion of the town which was afterward set off 
and called Italy. Mr. Metcalf read law with VVillson and Lester of Can- 
andaigua, and began practice in 1843. ^^ resided at the county seat, 
and there he died in 1883. Mr. Metcalf was a brother to Hiram Met.- 
calf, a lawyer at Canandaigua, and father to J. Henry Metcalf, the pres- 
ent county judge. 

Elbridge Gerry Lapham was born in the town of Farmington, Oc- 
tober 18, 1 8 14. His father was a farmer, and on the farm our subject 
passed his youth and attended the public schools, later on, however, 
attending the Canandaigua Academy, where he was the classmate of 
the afterward eminent Stephen A. Douglass. Mr. Lapham studied 
civil engineering and was for some time employed on the Michigan 
Southern Railroad, which was then being built. He read law with 
Jared Willson, and was admitted to practice in 1844. He opened an 
office at the county seat, his first partner being Jabez Metcalf, father of 
the present county judge. In 1855 he formed a law partnership with 
James C. Smith, which continued until Mr. Smith entered upon his 
duties as justice of the Supreme Court. Later on Mr. Lapham was in 
practice with William H. Adams, and so continued until elected to 
Congress, in November, 1875. He served continuously in that body 
throughout the Forty- fourth, Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth and Forty- 




^n.C^:^<^4^ ^(^ ^ ^^^iKy^^C^ 



T^E BENCH AND BAR. 173 

seventh Sessions, and then returned to his law practice, not engaging 
in it, however, as ardently as before, but being connected with many- 
important cases. Mr. Lapham was a very strong lawyer, especially so 
as an advocate before a jury, and in this branch of practice he attained 
much prominence. Originally he was a Jackson Democrat, but in 
1856 became a Republican, and was ever afterward identified with that 
party ; and in the councils of the party he occupied a high position, 
and was considered one of its leaders in the State. On July 22, 1881, 
Mr. Lapham was elected United States senator to the vacancy caused 
by the resignation of Roscoe Conkling In 1867 he was a delegate to 
the Constitutional Convention. Mr. Lapham died in Canandaigua, 
January 18, 1890. 

Henry O. Chesebro was born in Canandaigua in 1822. He was 
educated at the academy and afterward was graduated from Union 
College ; read law with Alvah Worden, and was admitted to practice 
in 1846. From this time on and until the death of Mr. Worden (in 
1856), Mr. Chesebro was associated with him in law practice. He died 
at Canandaigua, November 24, 1888. 

Stephen V. R. Mallory was another lawyer of note residing in Canan- 
daigua, and who in 1854 represented this county in the State As- 
sembly. 

John Rankine, when a child, emigrated with his father from Scotland, 
was educated in the Canandaigua Academy, and after graduating at 
college, read law, married Juliri, the second daughter of Jared Willson, 
who still survives him, engaged in the practice of his profession in Can- 
andaigua, and was for a time the president of the Canandaigua and 
Niagara Falls Railroad Company. He died about 1880. 

James M. Bull was born in Canandaigua, read law, was admitted to 
practice, and was for some years managing clerk in the law ofifice of 
Smith & Lapham. While occupying that position, in 1862, he enlisted 
in the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment of N. Y. State Vol- 
unteers, was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the regiment in Sep- 
tember, 1862, was promoted to the colonelcy in July, 1863, soon after 
the battle of Gettysburg, in which he distinguished himself by his 
bravery, resigned in April, 1864, in consequence of ill health, and died 
soon after the war. 



l74 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COtNTY. 

Edgar W. Dennis, a native of Canandaigua, was educated at the 
academy there, read law and was admitted to practice, and enlisted in 
the military service of the United States in the war of \S6i-6$. 
After the close of the war he removed to Topeka, Kansas, was the 
counsel of important railroad corporations in that State, and died at 
Topeka in the prime of life, but not before he had attained distinction 
in his profession. 

In the same connection also may be recalled the name of Oliver 
Phelps, the grandson of the proprietor, who was a member of the old 
bar, and as such entitled to notice in this chapter. 

In the present connection we may also appropriately mention the 
name of Samuel A. Foot, who for a number of years was a member of 
the Ontario county bar, although his professional life had its beginning 
in the eastern part of the State. Judge Foot came to Geneva from New 
York city. On the iith of April, 185 i, he was appointed to a vacancy 
on the Court of Appeals bench, and in 1856 and 1857 he represented 
Ontario county in the Assembly. Judge Foot died in Geneva. 

Henry H. Van Rensselaer was the first lawyer in Geneva, but re- 
mained here only a few years. 

Herman H. Bogert, born October 13, 1768, began the practice of 
law in Geneva in 1797. He was also largely interested in real estate in 
this county ; was one of the incorporators of the Bank of Geneva, and 
the founder of the village of Dresden. He died in June, 185 i. 

David Hudson was born in 1782, and practiced law at Geneva at a 
very early day. He achieved some political fame, and was State canal 
commissioner from 1840 to 1842. He died in i860. 

Daniel W. Lewis was a member of the old Geneva bar, but moved to 
BufTalo, where he died. 

Lansing B. Mizner was another of the older Geneva lawyers, and an 
active participant in public affairs. He afterwards moved to Detroit. 

Also among the early lawyers of Geneva there may be mentioned the 
names of Robert W. Stoddard, Mott, Nathan Parke, Godfrey J. Grosve- 
ner, William E. Sill, John M. Bradford, Peter M. Dox, and James H. 
Woods. Some recollections of these lawyers are still preserved in the 
public records. Nathan Parke represented Ontario county in the As- 
sembly in 1827, and was district attorney from August 16, 1 836, to 
May 23, 1840, and is remembered as a lawyer of ability and worth. 




^x^.V'-^'^ 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 175 

Godfrey J. Grosvener was also a lawyer of prominence, and held the of- 
fice of postmaster at Geneva for a number of years. John M. Bradford 
held the position of county judge by appointment, in place of Peter M. 
Dox, resigned. Judge Dox was elected to office in November, 1855, and 
served till March following. Mr. Dox represented Ontario county in 
the Assembly in 1842. Upon his resignation he went to Alabama, and 
was afterward elected to Congress from that State. 

The most distinguished lawyer, however, who made his home in 
Geneva, was the late Charles J. Folger ; and without exception the bar 
of the entire county will freely concur in according to Judge Folger the 
honorable mention made above. Charles J. Folger was born in Nan- 
tucket, Massachusetts, April 16, 18 18, and came with his parents to 
Geneva about the )ear 1830. He was graduated from Hobart College 
in 1836, and afterward read law in the office of Sibley & Worden, of 
Canandaigua ; in 1839 Mr. Folger was admitted to practice. His life 
as an active lawyer was marked by a display of intelligence rarely found 
in a young man, and he naturally soon became a candidate for political 
preferment. In 1844 he was appointed county judge, and served con- 
tinuously until 1855. In November, 1851, he was elected to the same 
office and served four years more. During the legislative sessions of 
1862 and '63, and thence continuously until 1869, Mr. Folger repre- 
sented Ontario county in the State Senate, and during the year 1867, 
also, he was one of the delegates at large to the Constitutional Conven- 
tion. On May 17. 1870, he was elected judge of the Court of Appeals, 
and ten years later, May 20, 1880, was elected chief judge of the same 
court. In 1 88 1, on the 27th of October, Judge Folger was appointed 
by President Arthur to the cabinet office of secretary of the treasury, 
consequently he resigned from the Court of Appeals bench on Novem- 
ber 14 following. In 1882 he became the candidate of the Republican 
party for the office of governor of New York State, but on account of a 
widespread feeling of discontent then existing in the party, and in which 
Judge Folger was neither directly or indirectly concerned, he was over- 
whelmingly defeated at the polls, but not one whit did this disaster re- 
flect adversely upon the character, standing, popularity or worth of its 
victim. After the campaign Judge Folger returned to his cabinet posi- 
tion. However, he lived only a short time afterward, and died the 4th 
day of September, 1884, at his old home in Geneva. 



176 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

In point of numbers Geneva has been hardly less productive of law- 
yers than the county seat. Through the courtesy of counselor John E. 
Bean, of Geneva, we are enabled to reproduce a nearly complete list of 
the lawyers who in the past have practiced in the village, but who have 
either moved to other places or are now dead. The list referred to is 
as follows : 

Judge' Gordon, Bowen Whiting, Judge Sutherland, Charles J. Folger, George M. 
Horton, Edgar H. Hurd, Silas Walker, Calvin Walker, Calvin Walker, jr., John M. 
Bradford, W^m. E. Sill, Theodore Sill, John M. Whiting, John Sutherland, Gideon 
Mundy, George R. Parburt, Nathan B. Kidder, James H. Woods, John C. Strong, 
James C. Brown, David and Joseph Herron, Henry V. R. Schemerhorne, Samuel Miles 
Hopkins, Samuel A. Foote, Wilbur F. Diefendorf, George Proudfit, George B. Pritch- 

ett, Peter M. Baum, De Witt C. Gage, Stryker. Marvin D. Reed, Harvey Henry, 

Anthony C. Simpson, Bar^illai Slosson, Geo. B. Dusinberre, Angus McDonald, Robert 
W. Stoddard, Elias R. Stoddard, Godfrey J. Grosvener, Nathan Parke, Herman H. Bo- 
gart, George E. Dodge, Peter M. Dox, John N. Dox, John Mitchell, James Bishop, 
David Hudson, E. Fitch Smith, Hatley W. Hemiup, Silas C. Tease, John H. Bissell, 
Green, John Raines, Frank Rice, Wm. H. Higbie, Moran, W R. Linson. 

The town of Naples has furnished a small numerical contingent to the 
county bar, among whom we can recall the name of Josiah Ward, a 
good lawyer, and who was in practice between 1820 and 1830, but 
about the latter year he left the county and became a citizen of Michi- 
gan. 

Robert Flint was also in practice at Naples about 1830, but he too 
soon left the town and settled in Allegany county. 

Edward P. Babcock was a native of Naples, and lived and practiced 
in that town for many years, except during such times as his duties as 
surrogate required his continual presence at the county seat. He was 
elected to that office in 1879. He was elected member of assembly in 
1886 and 1887. Mr. Babcock died in Naples in October, 1892. 

Emory B. Pottle, of Naples, is one remembered by the present bar 
of the county, he having engaged actively in professional work until 
about the time of his death. Mr. Pottle was a man of worth and ex- 
cellent standing, and hence was honored by the people of the county in 
advancement to positions of trust. In 1847 he was elected to the As- 
sembly, and in the Thirty- fifth and Thirty- sixth sessions of Congress he 
represented the Twenty-sixtli District, the years of his service being 
1857-59 an<^ 1859-61. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 177 

In the town of Phelps one of the earliest legal practitioners was 
Thomas Smith, father of Judge James C. Smith, late justice of the Su- 
preme Court. Mr. Smith was a lawyer of quiet tastes and conservative 
habits. For nearly a quarter of a century he was continued in the office 
of justice of the peace by the votes of his townsmen, and is remembered 
as a sound and upright magistrate and an honest man. He died in 
Phelps in 1863. 

William Marvin was also a lawyer residing in Phelps, and was for a 
time the law partner of Mr. Smith. He afterward became United States 
district judge, and lived in Florida, at Key West. He achieved promi- 
nence in the South during the reconstruction period, he having been ap- 
pointed provisional governor of Florida. He is yet living at Skaneateles. 

George R. Parkhurst and Johnson also practiced in Phelps at a 

comparatively early day, the former, however, afterward emigrating to 
California. 

Dolphin Stephenson, Charles E. Hobby, and Robert W. Lansing 
may also be mentioned as lawyers of the town of Phelps, and members 
of the old bar. 

John Dickson was a lawyer of note in the town of Bloomfield, and 
also gained prominence in the Assembly (1830) and in Congress, he 
serving in the latter body during the Twenty-second and Twenth-third 
Congressional sessions. 

Spencer Cole and Isaac Marsh were also early lawyers in practice in 
Bloomfield, both of them before 18 10. 

Throughout this chapter reference is frequently made to the names 
of lawyers who have at various times filled the offices of county judge, 
surrogate and district attorney ; wherefore, in the present connection it 
becomes proper that we here furnish the succession of persons appointed 
or elected to the offices named. However, no dates of incumbency are 
here given, and should the reader desire to be fully informed in that 
respect, his attention is directed to the county civil list in a preceding 
chapter of this work. 

Succession of County Judges — Oliver Phelps, Timothy Hosmer, John Nicholas, Na- 
thaniel W. Howell, Oliver Phelps, Bowen Whiting, Charles J. Folger, E. Fitch Smith, 
Mark H. Sibley. Charles J. Folger, Peter M. Dox, John M. Bradford, Henry W. Tay- 
lor, George B. Dusinberre, William H. Smith, Francis 0. Mason, William H. Smith, 
Frank Eice, J. Henry Metcalf. 
23 



178 



HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 



Surrogates — John Cooper, Samuel Mellish, Israel Chapin, jr., Amos Hall, Dudley 
Saltonstall, Reuben Hart, Eliphalet Taylor, Reuben Hart, Stephen Phelps, Ira Selby, 
Jared Wilcox, Jared Wilison, Orson Benjamin, George R. Parburt, George Wilson 2d, 
0. Benjamin, Samuel Salisbury, John N. Whiting, 0. Benjamin, Elihu M. Morse, Isaac R. 
Parcell, Charles A. Richardson, Edward P. Babcock, David G. Lapham, Oliver C. Arm- 
strong, John Colmey, David 6. Lapham. 

District Attorneys — John C. Spencer, Abraham P, Vosburgh, Bowen Whiting, Henry 
F. Penfield, George W. Clinton, Nathan Parke, Thomas M. Howell, Barzillai Slosson, 
James C. Brown, Stephen V. R. Mallory, Jacob P. Faurot, Thos. 0. Perkins, Edwin Hicks 
William H. Smith, Edwin Hicks, Frank Rice, Oliver C. Armstrong, Maynard M. Clement. 

The Present Bar. 

The present Ontario county bar is the worthy successor to the old 
bar, the members of which have been fully referred to in a preceding 
portion of this chapter. It is a recognized fact, and one frequently 
mentioned both in and outside the county, that the early bar of Ontario 
ranked well with almost any in the State, and stood at the front of the 
profession in Western New York ; and it has been said, too, that the 
influences of the early bar have reached even to the present representa- 
tives of the profession and inspired them also with high purposes and 
with a commendable ambition to maintain the standard established by 
the old members. In fine the influence of the old bar has been so 
salutary and pervading that the present profession has inherited much of 
its spirit and has maintained a freedom from all unworthy methods. 

However interesting might be a brief reference to the professional life 
of each of the present legal practitioners of the county, such has been 
deemed inadvisable from the fact that many of the bar are still young men 
and although worthy of anything we might feel inclined to say of them, 
have yet their records to complete, and in view of this prefer that no men- 
tion be made of the personnel of the bar except as is disclosed by the 
record of their names taken from the court calendar, which is as follows : 



Canandaigua. 



Jno. S. Andrews, 
Thomas H. Bennett, 
Jean L. Burnett, 
Maynard N. Clement, 
John S. Coe, 
John Colmey, 
Frank A. Christian, 
George B. Cooley, 
Leander M. Dniry, 
Henry M. Field, 



Jacob P. Faurot, 
Elisha W. Gardner, 
Jno. Gillette, 
Spencer Gooding, 
Lorenzo C. Hall, 
Frank H. Hamlin, 
Edwin Hicks, 
Walter S. Hubbell, 
Avery Hemenway, 
Herbert Huntington, 



Walter H. Knapp, 
Charles B. Lapham, 
David G. Lapham, 
Hiram Metcalf, 
J. Henry Metcalf, 
Elihu M. Morse, 
Mark T. Powell, 
Chas. A. Richardson, 
James A. Robson, 



Homer J. Reed, 

John Raines, 
Frank Rice, 
Samuel H. Torrey, 
William H. Smith, 
James C. Smith, 
Royal R. Scott, 
Bradley Wynkoop, 
Jacob A. Wader. 



^HE kEDlCAL PROPESSIOK. 



m 



Geneva. 



Geo. L. Bachman, 
Samuel Baldwin, 
Arthur Baldwin, 
D. B. Backenstose, 
John E. Bean, 



Charles D. Bean, 
Geo. F. Ditmars, 
John G. Farwell, 
Charles A. Hawley, 
Lansing G. Hoskins, 



S. H. Hammond, 
Lewis W. Keyes, 
Chas. N. Hemiup, 
Henry Ludlow, 
Francis 0. Mason, 



Nelson W. Clark, 



Naples. 

Cyrillo S. Lincoln, William L. Pottle, 

Phelps. 

Samuel S. Partridge, Rockwell Brown. 

Shortsville. 

Francis L. Brown. 
Seward French — Miller Corners, East Bloomfield and Victor. 



William S. Moore, 
Geo. W. Nicholas, 
Philip N. Nicholas, 
Arthur P. Rose, 
Geo. W. Bostwick. 



Isaac A. Seamans. 



CHAPTER XIV. 
The Medical Profession in Ontario County. 

T^'HE medical profession of Ontario county has preserved but little 
of its early history, and while there are a few meager records 
from which we may learn the proceedings of the general and local 
societies that have been formed, there are no data upon which can be 
based a faithful history of the developments of the profession. Added 
to this the county Medical Society has to acknowledge the loss of its 
earliest record books, and such facts as are gleaned of its early mem- 
bership rest largely upon the uncertain memory of man, and still less 
reliable tradition. However, there has been incidentally preserved a 
list of the pioneer physicians of the county, while the records from 1842 
to the present time are in existence. 

The medical science which now sheds its light throughout the world 
and does so much to ameliorate suffering, began with Hippocrates 
nearly twenty-three hundred years ago, and he first treated of medicine 
with the simplest remedies, relying chiefly on the healing powers of 
nature. He wrote extensively, and some of his works have been trans- 
lated and served as a foundation for the succeeding literature of the 



180 HISTORY OV ONTARIO COUNTr. 

profession. Jiut it must be said that the greatest advance in medical 
science has been made during the last one hundred years, and chiefly 
during the last half century. 

IJotanists are now acquainted with 150,000 plants, of which a large 
proportion arc being c(;nstantly added to the already appalling list of 
new remedies. Many of the latter possess little if any virtue, yet by 
liberal advertising they hold a place in nearly every drug store. The 
ancients were not so well sui)plied with drugs, and hence they resorted 
to other methods, h^or instance, it is said that the Babylonians ex- 
posed their sick to the view of passers-by in order to learn of them 
whether they had been afflicted with a like distemper, and by what 
remedies they had been cured. It was also a custom of those days for 
all persons who had been sick to put up a tablet in the temple of Escu- 
lapius, whereon they gave an account oi the remedies by which they 
had been restored. Prior to Hippocrates all medicines were adminis- 
tered by priests and were associated with numerous superstitions, such 
as charms, amulets and incantations ; sympathetic ointments were 
applied to the weapon with which a wound was made; human or horse- 
flesh was used for the cure of epilepsy, and convulsions were treated 
with human brains. It may be added that the credulous superstitions 
of early ages has not been fully wiped out, even by the advanced 
medical education of the present day. One of the latest appeals to the 
credulity of the masses is an invention to relieve the unfortunate sick, 
and known as " Christian Science " and " Faith Cure," but so long as 
filth brings fever, prayer will not avail, and those who advocate any 
such method of cure are either self deceived or are deceiving others. 

It is not, however, the i)urpose of this chapter to treat of ancient or 
even modern medical history, and though a review of the progress of 
this science from the time of the Egyptian medical deities, or the Greek 
or Roman medical mythology, would be very interesting as well as in- 
structive, it is not pertinent to the medical history of Ontario county, 
and the foregoing introductory observations are merely to suggest to 
the reader the difference between t-lie ancient and modern means of 
healing. 

The settlement of the region now included in Ontario county began 
about the year 1790, and thereafter progressed very rapidly for more 
than a quarter of a century. At that time, and indeed for a number of 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 181 

years afterward, the facilities for obtaining a medical education were 
very limited. The State of New York, quite unlike New England and 
and Pennsylvania, had done very little to encourage science, and there 
were no schools of medicine worthy of the name nearer than Boston or 
Philadelphia; and few young men could afford to go so far to qualify 
themselves for a profession which then offered but little pecuniary in- 
ducement, hence the prevailing custom was for the medical aspirant to 
enter the office of some neighboring physician and read for two or 
three years, at the same time accompanying his tutor in his pro- 
fessional visits and learned his methods of treatment. At the end of 
the term the young doctor would seek some promising field and begin 
practice. 

The legislation which then regulated the admission and practice of 
physicians was so defective as to be really worthless. However, in 
1806 an act was pas.sed repealing all former laws governing ihe pro- 
fession, and at the same time authorizing a general " State Medical 
Society," and also county societies. The Ontario County Medical 
Society was organized in 1806 in accordance with the provisions of the 
act above referred to, but the profession of the present day has to lament 
the loss of the early records of the society, a fact which deprives us of 
much interesting and valuable information. However, the society was 
organized upon the general plan laid down in the act of 1806, and was 
given the power to regulate the practice and the admission of physicians 
in the county. Its first officers, or indeed any record of its proceedings 
prior to 1842, are not obtainable, it being understood that the minute 
book was destroyed by fire. Notwithstanding this loss, a stray leaf 
from an old record is found, from which we learn the names of the 
early physicians of the county, but there is nothing by which can be 
determined the date of the entry. For the purpose, therefore, of 
bringing to the attention of the reader the names of as many as possible 
of the older physicians of the county, the names on the leaf are copied 
in full. " List of those who do now or have belonged to the Ontario 
County Medical Society : Moses Atwater, Richard Wells, Nathan 
Raymond, Jared Dyer, Joel Prescott, Daniel Goodwin, John Dorman, 
Reuben Hart, Buffum Harkness, Jeremiah Atwater, Thomas Vincent, 
Silas Newcomb, James Carter, Robert W. Ashley, Joshua Lee, Stephen 
Aldrich, Seth Tucker, Hubbard Crittenden, Richard Taylor, William 



182 ' HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

White, Jonas Wyman, Benjamin A. Parsons, Gain Robinson, Cyrus 
Chipman, John Ray, Justus Smith, Daniel Arms, David Fairchild, 
Samuel Stevens, Ralph Wilcox, Charles Bingham, Isaac M. Morgan, 
E. B. Woodworth, John Campbell, Eli Hill, Charles Little, William S. 
Richards, Jason Angel, Isaac Balcom, Henry P. Hecock, Orin Lee, 
Jonah D. Simonds, Lyman N. Cook, Isaac Smith, Jonathan Griffin, W. 
L. Newcomb, William Brown, James White, Calvin Fargo, Oliver 
Butrick, Thomas Beach, Daniel Brainerd, Nathaniel Jacob, Benjamin 
Tucker, John Delamater, Joseph Mallory, Joseph Loomer, Samuel B. 
Bradley, Philctus Sprague, Samuel Dungan, David Sprague, Willis F. 
Clark, Alexander Kelsey, James Thayer, Augustus Torrey, Otis Hig- 
gins, Augustus Frank, Berkley Gillett, A. Woolcott, Hartwell Carver, 
Josiah Lane, William R. Ellis, A. G. Smith, C. C. Coon, Pliny Hayes, 
William A. Williams, Harvey Pettibone, Andrew Huntington, Chauncey 
Beadle, Ezekiel Webb, Jonathan Guernsey, Samuel Hamilton, Lewis 
Hodges, W. A. Cowdry, F. Vanderberg, Enoch Cheney, Samuel 
Daniels, Ira Bryant, Adolphus Allen, Janna Holton, Henry P. Sartwell, 
Jonathan Hurlbut, Linus Stevens, Alex. Mclntyre, Elisha Brown, Silas 
Dunham, Oliver Reynolds, Thomas Williams, Benjamin Bemis, Archi- 
bald Burnett, Ephraim W. Cheney, Andrew Wood, William Frisbie, 
Cyrus Button, James Lakey, Jesse Wood, Joel Amsden, Jacob Gillett, 
jr., Henry C. Hickok, Josiah Bennett, Isaac Beers, Martyn Paine, 
Elisha Warner, Samuel Borrowe, jr., Wynans Bush, Francis Dean, 
Jedediah Smith, Philip N. Draper, Edwin Angel, Gardner Wheeler, 
Edson Carr, Benjamin F. Post, John Gilbert, Elijah Sedgwick, Asahel 
Beach, William A. Townsend, Elias W. Frisbie, William C. Gooding, 
Daniel A. Robinson, James Stewart, Caleb Bannister, Jonathan Pratt, 
George Burch, Samuel Chipman, Enoch Peck, Ira S. Barber, Stillman 
Ralph, James Davis, Willard Doolittle, Albert G. Bristol, Lester Jew- 
ett, Wm. H. Hall, Harvey Jewett, S. V. R. Bogart, Daniel Hudson, 
William F. Sheldon, Joel Gray, William Holland, Lucius W. Crittenden, 
Phineas A. Royce, Thaddeus Garlick, F. C. Bateman, Erasmus D. Post, 
Luther Hecock, Royal Gurley, G. L. Rose, N. J. Smith, Booth North- 
rup, Edward Cutbush, John Staats, C. F. Brower, John Currie, Daniel 
D. Dayton, Jonathan Burt, E. W. Simmons. 

In 1852 the society was substantially reorganized, and new by-laws 
were adopted at that time. However, about that period certain dissen- 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 183 

sions arose among the members, said to have been the result of un- 
favorable legislation, and no meetings were held thereafter until 1857. 
At the latter date the society was revived, and the members subscribed 
to the by-laws adopted prior to the disruption. The following is a list 
of the physicians who signed the roll, but in explanation it must be 
said that many names were added as applicants became members of the 
society. Therefore the membership under the constitution and by laws 
of 1852 was about as follows: E. W. Cheney, Edson Carr, Harvey 
Jewett, John Stafford, J. Richmond Pratt, Daniel T. Webster, Hazard 
A. Potter, Elon G. Carpenter, C. H. Carpenter, Daniel Durgan, M. C. 
K. Crooks, J. W. Palmer, Charles N. Hewett, T. O. Bannister, H. 
Hamilton, Z. Paul, Thomas A. Brown, W. Scott Hicks, B. Monahan, 
David J. Mallory, Charles C. Murphy, P. D. Pettier, H. N Eastman, 
F. Glauner, Mitchell H. Picot, Byron T. Wheeler, H. Fay Bennett, R. 
A. Carncross, John O. Palmer, M. W. Archer, E. W. Simmons, John 
Q. Howe, Joseph T. Smith, Edwin R. Maxson, L. F. Wilbur, George 
Cook, F. G. Bentley, William T. Swart, A. G. Crittenden, F. B. Seelye, 
James H. Allen, M. N. Carson, I. Ackley Gray, D. D. Dayton, L. 
Sprague, George N. Dox, J. T. Rogers, A. B. Snow, J. B. Hayes, C. 
H. Wood, John B. Chapin, J. I. Denman, James Parmely, jr., W. Fitch 
Cheney, L B. Lester, L. Y. Phinney, W. A. Carson, D. G. Weare, J. 
P. Avery, A. R. Shank, F. D. Vanderhoof, S. W. West, H. K. Clark, 
M. D. Skinner, H. C. Gorham, Charles C. Eastman, G. H. Wheelock, 

Flood, Charles Mudge, E. A. Hollister, G. H. Van Deusen, Fred. 

T. Webster, G. S. Gallagher, James F. Draper, Charles R. Dryer, F. 
W. Mailler, Ellis B. Sayre, Le Roy Lewis, Herbert M. Eddy, John H. 
Jewett, Dwight R. Burrell, J. Henry Budd, Alfred M. Mead, O. J. 
Hallenbeck, C. O. Jackson, W. F. Edington, A. D. Allen, T. D. Rupert, 
George E. Flood, N L. Keith, John Hutchins, W. A. Hubbard, Frank 
L. Willson, Albert L. Beahan, George W. Sargent, J. B. Burroughs, 
Frank H. Ingram, J. Pope De Laney, John J. McNulty, James H. 
Haslett, Horace B. Gee, R. W. Walmsley, C. R. Marshall, John A. 
Robson, S. R. Wheeler, Bradford C. Loveland, G. W. McClellan, Wm. 
A. Howe, C. D. McCarthy, J. B. Finucan, John H. Pratt, C. R. Keyes, 
F. E. McClellan, Robert L. Carson, Charles A. Van Der Beck, Frank 
R. Pratt, Edgar O. Grossman, C. C. Thayer, Harry C. Buell, F. B. 
Rasback. 



184 



HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 



As has been stated the society held no regular meetings between 
1852 and 1857, but in the last mentioned year the " Medical Profession 
of Ontario County " held a meeting for the purpose of reorganizing 
the virtually defunct society. From that time until the present, regular 
meetings have been held, and the society has enjoyed a reasonably 
prosperous existence. The present membership numbers about fifty 
regular practicing physicians of the county, as follows : 



A. D. Allen, Gorham. 

J. H. Allen, 

D. S. Allen, 

Albert L. Beahan, Canandaigua. 

F. P. Bell, Naples. 

D. R. Burrell, Canandaigua. 

J. B. Burroughs, Shortsville. 

H. C. Buell, Canandaigua. 

M. R. Carson, 

Robert L. Carson, Canandaigua. 

Edgar O. Crossman, Clifton Springs 

J. Pope De Laney, Geneva. 

J. F. Draper, Victor. 

H. M. Eddy, Geneva. 

L. E. Green, Honeoye. 

O. J. Hallenbeck, Canandaigua. 

W. G. Hemiup, Geneva. 

W. A. Howe, Phelps. 

W. S. Hicks, Bristol. 

John Hutchins, Cheshire. 

C. O. Jackson, Victor. 

J. H. Jewctt, Canandaigua. 

C. R. Keyes, Geneva. 



B. C. Loveland, Clifton Springs. 
A. M. Marsh, Victor. 

G. W. McCIellan, Canandaigua. 
F. E. McCIellan, 

C. D. McCarthy, Geneva. 

H. W. Nichols, Canandaigua. 

J. R. Pratt, Manchester. 

J. H. Pratt, 

F. R. Pratt, 

T. D. Rupert, Geneva. 

F. B. Rasback, Phelps. 

George W. Sargent, Seneca Castle. 

John C. Smith, Clifton Springs. 

E. B. Sayre, Allen's Hill. 

E. W. Simmons, Canandaigua. 
C. C. Thayer, Clifton Springs. 
George H. Van Dusen, Gorham. 

F. D. Vanderhoof, Phelps. 

C. A. Van Der Beck, Canandaigua. 
L. F. Wilbur, Honeoye. 
R. W. Walmsley, Canandaigua. 
S. R. Wheeler, East Bloomfield. 
F. B. Weitling, Naples. 



The officers, president and secretary, of the Ontario County Medical 
Society from 1842 to 1793 (exclusive of the years from 1852 to 1857) 
have been as follows : 



President. 

1842, Henry P. Hickok, 

1843, Enos Barnes, 
1844. 



Secretary. 

Franklin B. Hahn. 

<( 

Daniel T. Webster. 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



185 





PRESIDENT. 


SECRETAKY. 


1845, 


Edson Carr, 


Owen Munson 


1846, 


Nathaniel Jacob, 


" 


1847. 


Harvey Jewett, 


" 


1848, 


Daniel T. Webster, 


Edson Carr. 


1849, 


Erastus B. Woodworth, 


i< 


1850, 


T. G. Meachani, 


i< 


I85I, 


II 


" 


1858. 


Edson Carr, 


J. T. Smith. 


1859, 


E. W. Cheney, 


" 


i860, 


Z. Paul, 


'« 


I86I, 


G. N. Dox, 


II 


1862, 


George Cook, 


" 


1863, 


F. R. Bentley, 


J. B. Hayes. 


1864, 


H. N. Eastman, 


'< 


1865, 


C. C. Murphy, 


" 


1866, 


J. W. Palmer, 


" 


1867, 


A. G. Crittenden, 


" 


1868, 


L. F. Wilbur, 


« 


1869, 


James H. Allen, 


II 


1870, 


C. H. Wood, 


" 


I87I, 


F. D. Vanderhoot, 


" 


1872, 


E. W. Simmons, 


" 


1873, 


H. K. Clark, 


" 


1874, 


J. T. Smith, 


'• 


1875. 


W. S. Hicks, 


•• 


1876, 


S. W. West, 


,<• 


1877. 


Harvey Jewett, 


1. 


1878, 


James Flood, 


" 


1879. 


H. W. Nichols, 


J. H. Jewett. 


1880, 


J. B. Hayes, 


'« 


I88I, 


D. S. Allen, 


<< 


1882, 


J. R. Pratt, 


F. D. Vanderh 


1883^, 


J. H. Budd, 


i< 


1884, 


<( 


" 


1885, 


E. 0. Hollister, 


f< 


24 







186 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

PRESIDENT. SECRETARY. 

1886, G. H. Van Deusen, F. D. Vanderhoof. 

1887, C. O. Jackson. •' 

1888, J. B. Burroughs, " 

1889, M. R. Carson, 

1890, A. D. Allen, 

1 89 1, F. D. Vanderhoof, J. H. Jewett. 

1892, S. R. Wheeler, 

The Homoeopathic Medical Society of the Counties of Ontario and 
Yates was organized at an informal meeting of homoeopathic physicians 
held at the office of Dr. O. S. Wood in Canandaigua on the 1 6th of 
October, 1861. According to the constitution, any regularly licensed 
physician " who has complied with the requisitions of the laws of the 
State of New York, and who shall avow his belief in the homoeopathic 
maxim, similia similibtis curajiter, may be elected a member of the 
society," etc. 

The constitution of the society was signed by a large proportion of 
the homoeopathic practitioners of the counties of Ontario and Yates, 
and the name given above was continued in use until October i6th, 
1889, when an amendment to the constitution was adopted by which 
the name was changed to The Homoeopathic Medical Society of Ontario 
County. 

The original constitution was signed by these physicians: Oliver E. 
Noble, H. Fay Bennett, O. S. Wood, H. W. Smith, George Z Noble, 
M. W. Combs, S. W. West, J. H. Stebbins, E. B. Holmes, E. W. 
Rogers, J. B. Voak, J. A. Hawley, N. B. Covert, A. B. Smith, T. D. 
Prichard, C. T. Mitchell. George C. Prichard, R. B. Covert, E. W. 
Bryan, Frank Tompkins, Henry Foster, Cyrus Allen, Hylon Doty, 
Cassius H. Green, A. Imeson, W. R Townsend, A. J. Frantz, George 
H. Church. E. D. Smith, V. A. Lewis, W. A. Wheeler, Frank E. 
Murphy, John Dudley Cooke, Frank P. Warner, James C. Knapp, 
Fred. H. Lutze, Henry P. Perkins, jr. 

The first officers elected were: Oliver E. Noble, president; H. Fay 
Bennett, vice-president; O. S. Wood, secretary and treasurer; G. Z. 
Noble, M. W. Combs and H. W. Smith, censors ; G. Z. Noble and H. 
Fay Bennett, delegates to State Society. 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



187 



The succession of presidents and secretaries has been as follows : 





President. 


1861, 


Oliver E. Noble, 


1862, 


" 


1863, 


<< 


1864, 


<< 


1865, 


<< 


1866, 


<< 


1867, 


" 


1868, 


T. D. Prichard, 


1869, 


" 


1870, 


J. H. Stebbins, 


I87I, 


(( 


1872, 


J. B. Voak, 


1873, 


<( 


1874. 


(1 


187s, 


<( 


1876, 


(( 


1877, 


Nelson B. Covert, 


1878, 


George Z. Noble, 


1879, 


" 


1880, 


C. T. Mitchell, 


I88I, 


(1 


1882, 


t< 


^1883, 


Henry Foster, 


1884, 


<< 


1885, 


(< 


1886, 


<( 


1887. 


Frank P. Warner, 


1888, 


G. C. Prichard, 


1889, 


<( 


1890, 


(< 


I89I, 


It 


1892, 


J. C. Knapp, 



Secuetary. 

O. S. Wood. 



J. B. Voak 



G. Z. 



Noble. 



G. C. 



C. T. 



Prichard 



Mitchell. 



Present Membership : Henry Foster and F. P. Wilcox, of Clifton 
Springs; George C. Prichard, of Phelps; J. H. Stebbins, Nelson B. 



188 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Covert, A. B. Smith and J. C. Knapp, of Geneva ; C. T. Mitchell and 
F. P. Warner, of Canandaigua ; J. D. Cooke, of Shortsville ; G H. 
Church, of Oak's Corners; B. S. Partridge, of East Bloomfield ; C. A. 
Rowley, of Victor. 

The Society of Physicians of the Village of Canandaigua was organ- 
ized on the 20th of December, 1864, with an original membership of ten, 
as follows : M. R. Carson, John B. Chapin, W. Fitch Cheney, George 
Cook, Harvey Jewett, J. B. Hayes, J. F. Rogers, E. W. Simmons, J. T. 
Smith and W. T. Swart. The first officers were E. W. Simmons, presi 
dent; Harry Jewett, vice-president; J. B. Hayes, secretary. 

The object of the society, as declared by the articles of association, 
is "to promote the scientific improvement and social fellowship of its 
members ; to preserve the unity and to maintain the dignity and honor 
of the profession." 

The honorary members, elected soon after the organization of the 
society, included these persons : Benjamin Richards, A. M. ; E. C. 
Tyler, A. M. ; N. T. Clark, A. M.. Ph. D. ; William S. Zantzinger, M. 
D. ; John Rosewarne, M. D. ; Alexander Murray, M. D. ; and Charles 
S. Hoyt, M. D. 

The Society of Physicians has been in all respects a useful and worthy 
organization, and has enjoyed an uninterrupted prosperity of nearly 
thirty years' duration. However, its greater step forward was taken on 
the 26th of December, 1892, when the society was incorporated, thus 
acquiring recognition by and standing in the State Medical Society. In 
this connection we may also note the fact that the Canandaigua Society 
is not only a pioneer in its class, but was one of the first in the State to 
become incorporated. The active spirits of the incorporation measure 
were the following physicians : Matthew R. Carson, Orlando J. Hallen- 
beck, Albert L. Beahan, Charles A. Van Der Beck and John H. Jewett, 
each of whose names are subscribed to the articles of association. 

From the time of its original organization (in 1864) the active officers 
of the society have been as follows: 

Presi'Dent. secretary. 

1864,1 E. W. Simmons, J. B. Hayes. 

1866, Harvey Jewett, " 

' Elected in December, 1864, and served to Janiiary, 1866. 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



18!) 





PRESIDENT. 


SECRETARY. 


1867, 
1868, 


J. T. Smith, 
W. T. Swart, 


J. B. Hayes. 


1869, 
1870, 


J. B. Chapin, 
M. R. Carson, 


<< 
<< 


I87I. 
1872, 

1873. 


J. B. Hayes, 
George Cook, 
E. W. Simmons, 


H. C. Gorham 

W. T. Swart. 
<< 


1874. 
1875. 
1876. 
1877. 
1878, 

1879. 


Harvey Jewett, 
J. T. Smith, 
W. T. Swart, 
M. R. Carson, 
J. B. Hayes, 
E. W. Simmons, ' 


M. R. Carson. 

<( 

J. B. Hayes. 
M. R. Carson. 


1880, 


D. R. Burrell, 


" 


I88I, 
1882, 
1883, 


D. Nichols, 

E. G. Tyler, 
N. T. Clarke, 


J. H. Jewett. 
<< 


1884, 


W. F. Swart, 


'« 


1885, 
1886, 


J. B. Hayes, 
Charles S. Hoyt, 


A. L. Beahan. 


1887, 
1888, 


J. H. Jewett, 

0. J. Hallenbeck, 


<< 
<< 


1889, 


R. W. Walmsley, 


<( 


1890, 

I89I, 


J. B Hayes, 

Charles A. Van Der Beck, 


0. J. Hallenbe 


1892, 


A. L. Beahan, 


<( 


1893, 


M. R. Carson, 


<( 



Present Members of the Society — M. R. Carson, president ; J. H. 
Jewett, vice president; O. J. Hallenbeck, secretary and treasurer; H. 
C. Buell, Noah T. Clarke, D. R. Burrell, C. N. Van Der Beck, R. W. 
Walmsley, A. L. Beahan. 

Under an act of the Legislature passed in 1880, each physician in 
the county (in each county in the State) was required to register in the 
office of the county clerk his name, place of birth, residence, date of 
diploma, and the institution from which he was graduated, or the 



190 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

authority by which he claimed the right to practice medicine in the 
county. In compliance with the requirements of the act there has been 
a very general registration by the physicians of this county, and in 
order to bring to the notice of the reader the names of as many as pos- 
sible of the past and present medical practitioners, we extract from the 
records the names, with other data referred to, of those legally qualified 
to practice medicine in Ontario county since the law was passed : 

Elnathan W. Simmons, born in Bristol ; authority to practice granted 
by the Regents of the University of the State of New York, January 
23, 1834. 

John H. Jewett, born at Canandaigua ; diploma February 28, 1879, 
from College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city. 

Frederic C. Hawley, born Middlesex, Yates county ; diploma Feb- 
ruary 16, 1854, from Syracuse Medical College. 

Ira F. Hawley, born in Middlesex; diploma March 28, 1878, from 
the American University of Philadelphia. 

J. Richmond Pratt, born Manchester; diploma March 8, 185 i, from 
Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. 

Andrew Merrill, born Utica, N. Y. ; diploma June 20, 1851, from 
Geneva Medical College. 

William Templar, born Steuben county; diploma March 23, 1854, 
by Medical Society of Yates county. 

David J. Mallery, born Cayuga county; diploma January 26, 1847, 
from Geneva Medical College. 

Ziba H. Potter, born Yates county; diploma January 22, 1867, from 
Geneva Medical College. 

Francis R. Bentley, born Onondaga county ; diploma January 26, 
1840, from Geneva Medical College. 

Orlando J. Hallenbeck, born Schenectady county ; diploma Febru- 
ary I, 1879, from Albany Medical College. 

Alfred M. Mead, born Wayne county ; diploma February 25, 1880, 
from Buffalo University. 

James A. Hawley, born in Middlesex, Yates county ; diploma June 
4, 1879, from Genesee Valley District Eclectic Medical Society and 
Eclectic Medical College of Philadelphia. 

William Bell, born Gorham ; diploma June 4, 1879, from Genesee 
Valley District Eclectic Medical Society. 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 191 

Leonidas F. Wilbur, born Windham county, Vt. ; diploma March 4, 
1854, from Harvard University, Boston, Mass. 

Duncan S. Allen, born Montgomery county ; diploma December 26, 
1865, from Albany Medical College. 

Le Roy Lewis, born Seneca Falls ; diploma March 16, 1868, from 
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. 

John Q. Howe, born Wayne county; diploma June 10, 1842, from 
Berkshire Medical School, Pittsfield, Mass. 

Mitchell H. Picot, born Philadelphia, Pa.; diploma March 9, 1861, 
from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. 

Joseph T. Smith, born Farmington ; diploma March 9, 1854, from 
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. 

William T. Swart born Gorham ; diploma February 24, 1847, from 
Western Reserve College at Hudson, O. 

Henry W. Nichols, born Addison county, Vt. ; diploma January 25, 
1845, from Geneva Medical College. 

Henry S. Dimock, born Phelps; diploma August 30, 1880, from 
Eclectic Medical College of New york city. 

Peter P. Van Vleet, born Seneca county; diploma March i, 1869, 
from Bellevue College Hospital, New York city. 

Theodore B. Weitling, born Oneida county ; diploma February 23, 
1873, from College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city. 

Cassius O. Jackson, born Canandaigua ; diploma February 24, 1880, 
from University of Buffalo. 

Jedediah W. Palmer, born Berkshire county, Mass. ; diploma Sep- 
tember I, 1830, from Berkshire Medical Institution, Pittsfield, Mass. 

Harvey Jewett, born Cheshire county, N. H. ; diploma December 
31, 1 83 1, from Medical Society of Herkimer county. 

Michael D. Skinner, born Onondaga county; diploma May 2, 1865, 
from Illinois State Medical Society. 

James H. Allen, born Montgomery county; diploma January 23, 
1853, from Albany Medical College. 

Frank W. Mailler, born Atlanta, Ga. ; diploma February 28, 1877, 
from Detroit Medical College. 

W. Scott Hicks, born Bristol; diploma February 26, 185 I, from Uni- 
versity of Buffalo. 



192 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Dwight R. Burrell, born Loraine county, O. ; diploma March 25, 
1868, from University of Michigan. 

Lewis E. Green, born Steuben county; diploma February 16, 1874, 
from Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery. 

Joseph Byron Hayes, born Canandaigua ; diploma March 15, i860, 
from University of Pennsylvania. 

Frederick D. Vanderhoof, born Manchester; diploma March 10, 
1864, from College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city. 

Jonathan Burt, born Brattleboro', Vt. ; license May 19, 1830, from 
Wayne County Medical Society. 

George W. Prentiss, born Chelsea, Canada; diploma March 5, 1863, 
from Bellevue Hospital Medical College. 

Charles T. Mitchell, born Hamilton, Ont. ; diploma September 10, 
1863, from University of Victoria College, Canada. 

Milton U. Gerhard, born Durham, Pa.; diploma March 15, 1877, 
from University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. 

Ellis B Sayre, born Rushville ; license November 22, 1877, from 
Ontario County Medical Society. 

John Hutchens, born Cheshire; diploma February 20, 1871, from 
University of Buffalo. 

H. A Slingerland, born Canadice ; diploma June 4, 1879, from Gen- 
esee Valley District Eclectic Medical Society. 

H. L. Eddy, born Wayne county; diploma December 11, 1833, from 
Berkshire Medical College, Massachusetts. 

George N. Dox, born Geneva; diploma February 15, 1843, from 
Albany Medical College. 

J. Henry Budd, born Schuyler county; diploma February 23, 1875, 
from Buffalo Medical College. 

Byron B. Havens, born Yates county ; diploma February 21, 1876, 
from Bellevue Hospital Medical College. 

Herbert M. Eddy, born Seneca county ; diploma March 2, 1870, 
from College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city. 

Matthew R. Carson, born Seneca; diploma December 22, 1857, from 
Albany Medical College. 

Gardner S. Gallagher, born Cortland, N. Y. ; diploma March 20, 
1872, from University of City of New York. 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 193 

William A. Wiieeler, born Wayne county; diploma March lo, 
1880, from Hahnemann Homoeopathic Medical College, Philadelphia, 
Pa. 

Alexander D. Allen, born Gorham ; diploma June 10, 1880, from 
Syracuse Medical College. 

Reuben E. Phillips, born Canada; diploma January 18, 1872, from 
Eclectic Medical College of Pennsylvania. 

J. Benson Voak, born Yates county; diploma March i, 1866, from 
Homoeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania. 

James K. King, born Troy, N. Y. ; diploma March i, 1877, ^i"©"! 
Columbia College, New York city. 

Albert G. Cruttenden, born Wyoming county ; diploma February 20, 
1840, from Willoughby University of Lake Erie, Ohio. 

Matthew Bird Gault, born Fayette county; diploma March i, 1870, 
from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa. 

Carmi C. Thayer, born Worcester county, Mass. ; diploma February 
26, 1876, from Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ills. 

Hilem F. Bennett, born Cayuga county; diploma March i, 1866, 
from Bellevue Hospital Medical College. 

Herbert F. Gillette, born Steuben county; license May 18, 1880, 
from Steuben County Homoeopathic Medical Society. 

William F. Edington, born Seneca ; diploma July 24, 1864, from Ge- 
neva Medical College. 

George E. Flood, born Seneca county ; diploma March 4, 1879, from 
Detroit Medical College. 

Nellie L. Kieth, born Madison county; diploma March 15, 1871, 
from Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. 

Mary H. Dunbar, born in Nebraska; diploma March 16, 1868, from 
Woman's Medical College of New York city. 

Henry Foster, born Norwich, Vt, diploma February 23, 1848, from 
Western Reserve College. 

William G. Hemiup, born Geneva; diploma February 28, 1877, from 
Detroit Medical College. 

William M. Silvernail, born Yates county; diploma June 4, 1879, 
from Genesee Valley District Medical Society. 

Jerome P. Avery, born Fairfield, N. Y., diploma February 22, 1854, 
from University of Buffalo. 
25 



194 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Archibald Imesoii, born Canada; diploma June, 1856, from Victoria 
College. 

Stephen P. Johnson, born Oswego county ; diploma December 27, 
1859, from Albany Medical College 

James H. Stebbins, born Monroe county; diploma February 18, 1856, 
from American Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Henry K. Clarke, born Buffalo; diploma December, 1862, from Al- 
bany Medical College. 

Albert J. Frantz, born Seneca county ; diploma June 28, 1871, from 
Detroit Medical College. 

Nelson B. Covert, born Ovid, Seneca county ; diploma February 27, 
1862, from Homoeopathic Medical College of Cleveland, Ohio. 

Edwin O. Hollister, born Batavia ; diploma March i, 1874, from 
Bellevue Hospital Medical College. 

Charles Hoyt Mead, born Fairfield, Conn., diploma March 28, 1878, 
from Physio- Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati, O. 

W. A. Hartman, born Sandusky, O. ; diploma April i, 1854, from 
Philadelphia College of Medicine. 

"" Watson W. Archer, born Hopewell ; diploma January, 1867, from 
Geneva Medical College. 

James F. Draper, born Washington county ; diploma January 27, 
1846, from Geneva Medical College. 

Amos Stoddard, born Blenheim, O. ; license June 25, 1868, from 
Eclectic Medical Society of State of New York. 

Elisaph Dorchester, born Geneva ; diploma February 20, 1849, frorn 
Geneva Medical College. 

George Henry Van Deusen, born Montgomery county ; diploma June 
9, 1 86 1, from University of Vermont. 

George C. Prichard, born Phelps; license October 18, 1870, from On- 
tario County Medical Society. 

Sylvanus E. Parker, born Niagara county ; diploma February 20, 
1877, from University of Buffalo. 

David H. Conley, born Yates county ; diploma February 25, 1868, 
from Western Homoeopathic Medical College, Cleveland, O. 

Jeremiah P. H. Deming, born Pittsfield, Mass. ; diploma November 5, 
1839, from Berkshire Medical College. 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 195 

Nehemiah S. Bryant, born Seneca county; diploma January 25, 1845, 
from Geneva Medical College. 

AmosL. Sweet, born Cortland county; diploma March 9, 1866, from 
University Medical College, New York city. 

Henry D. Weyburn, born Geneva; diploma March 22, 1876, from 
Physio- Eclectic Medical College of Ohio. 

Fred. Francis Webster, born East Bloomfield ; diploma February 23, 
1875, from University of Buffalo. 

Mary E. Stark, born Yates county ; diploma May 27, 1880, from 
Woman's Medical College of New York. Infirmary. 

Amos Bird Smith, born Tompkins county; diploma July 6, 1846, 
from Geneva Medical College. 

Byron D. Hershey, born Gorham ; diploma March 31, 1869, from 
University of Michigan. 

William R. Townsend, born Monroe county ; diploma March 4, 1875, 
from Homoeopathic Medical College of New York. 

William H. Coe, born Genesee county; diploma March 14, 1866, 
from University of PeniKBylvania. 

John Melvin, born Manchester; diploma March 5, 1850, from Eclec- 
tic Medical College, Cincinnati. 

Francis H.Wisewell, born Yates county; diploma, March, 1871, from 
University of Michigan. 

James A. Barringer, born Rensselaer county ; diploma February 24, 
1873, from University of Buffalo, 

Elon G. Carpenter, born Herkimer county; diploma June 6, 1840, 
from Castleton Medical College. 

John Dudley Cooke, born Canada; diploma February 22, i88i,from 
College of Physicians and Surgeons, Buffalo. 

Edward Munson, born Penn Yan ; diploma May 13, 1881, from 
Medical Department Columbia College. ' 

J. Reed Topping, born Geneva; diploma June 23, i88j, from Col- 
lege of the University of City of New York. 

Charles M. Franklin, born Lancaster, Pa. ; diploma March 15, 1881, 
from University of Pennsylvania. 

William A. White, born at Albany; diploma March 4, 1881, from 
Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. 



196 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Wm. A. Hubbard, born Tompkins county; diploma February 21, 
1881, from University of Buffalo. 

E. Clayton Smith, born Richmond ; diploma June 7, 1881, from Ec- 
lectic Medical Institution, Cincinnati. 

Miles B. Butler, born Ontario county; diploma March 3, 1881, from 
New York Homoeopathic College. 

Frank P. Warner, born Phelps ; diploma March 9, 1881, from Uni- 
versity of City of New York. 

Reuben E. Phillips, born Canada; diploma March 2, 1881, from 
United States Medical College, New York city. 

Milo A. Jewett, born in Asia ; diploma June 29, 1881, from Harvard 
University. 

James Arthur Phillips, born Clifton Springs; diploma March 7, 1882, 
from University of City of New York. 

John A. Shannon, born Albany ; diploma March 2, 1876, from Ben- 
nett Medical College. Chicago. 

Rachel T. Speakman, born Chester county, Pa. ; diploma February, 
28, 1863, from Cleveland Homoeopathic College. 

Frank L. Willson, born Oswego county; diploma March 13, 1883, 
from University Medical College, New York city. 

George D. Hamlin, born Naples; diploma March 15, 1883, from 
University Medical College, New York city. 

Benton S. Partridge, born Canadice ; diploma March 6, 1883, from 
Pulte Medical College, Cincinnati, O. 

Frank H. Ingram, born Logansport, Ind. ; diploma March 14, 1883, 
from Bellevue Hospital Medical College. 

Emory A. Eakin, born Gallipolis, O. ; diploma March 2, 1869, from 
Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, O. 

Frederick H. Lutze, born Germany; diploma March 16, 1882, from 
Homoeopathic Medical College, New York city. 

Albert L. Beahan, born Watkins, N. Y. ; diploma March i, 1879, 
from Bellevue Medical College, New York city. 

Murdock K. Macdonald, born Nova Scotia; diploma March 6, 1884, 
from Chicago Homoeopathic Medical College. 

Elon N. Carpenter, born New York; diploma March 11, 1884, from 
Medical Department University of City of New York. 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 197 

Duncan Campbell, born Canada; diploma April 24, 1884, from Col- 
lege of Physicians and Surgeons, Ontario. 

James C. Knapp, diploma March 13, 1884, from New York Homoeo"^- 
pathic Medical College. 

Franklin B. Smith, born Hillsdale, Mich; diploma February 26, 1879, 
from Hahnemann Medical College. 

Charles Mudge, born Oswego county; diploma March 3, 1854, from 
College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city. 

Joseph B. Burroughs, born Paterson, N. J.; diploma June 4, 1881, 
from Syracuse University. 

George W. Sargent, born Wallingford, Vt. ; diploma June 25, 1879, 
from Syracuse University. 

Horace B. Gee, born Cortland, N Y. ; diploma February 26, 1885, 
from University of Buffalo. 

Elmer D. Cooley, born Oswego county; diploma July 2, 1882, from 
University of Vermont. 

John Pope De Laney, born Portsmouth, N. H. ; diploma March 9, 
1885, from Bellevue Hospital Medical College. 

L. M. Phillips, born West Winfield, N. Y. ; diploma June 28, 1882, 
from University of Vermont. 

Robert W. Walmsley, born Dubuque, la. ; diploma March 17, 1881, 
from University of Louisiana. 

Stoughton R. Wheeler, born North Bergen, N. J. ; diploma February 
23, 1886, from University of Buffalo. 

Cuvier R. Marshall, born Bellefontaine, O. ; diploma March 9, 1885, 
from Bellevue Hospital Medical College. 

James Henry Haslett, born Seneca; diploma March 6, 1886, from 
University Medical College, New York city. 

John J. McNulty, born Seneca county; diploma February, 1877, 
from College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city. 

John A. Robson, born Seneca; diploma March 3, 1886, from Albany 
Medical College. 

George M. Skinner, born Richmond ; diploma March 15, 1886, from 
College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore. 

George A. Lung, born Canandaigua ; diploma May i, 1886, from 
University of Pennsylvania. 



198 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

George H. King, born Mechlenburg, N. Y. ; diploma May 28, 1868, 
from Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati. 

Lucius C. Adamson, born Atlanta, Ga. ; diploma March 11, 1885, 
from University of New York City. 

George W. McClellan, born Alton, Ontario ; diploma February 24, 
1885, from University of Buffalo. 

William S. Rogers, born Central Square, N. Y., diploma March i, 
1883, from Eclectic Medical College, New York city. 

Caroline A. Hemiup, born Geneva; diploma March 17, 1881, from 
Woman's Medical College, Philadelphia. 

Kate A. Hathaway, born Hornellsville, N. Y. ; diploma June 30, 
1887, from University of Michigan. 

Charles A. Foster, born England; diploma February 22, 1847, from 
Botanica Medical College of Ohio. 

Chauncey A. Holt, born Hartford, Conn.; diploma February 17, 1877, 
from University of City of New York. 

Henry H. Coburn, born Waterbury, Vt., diploma February 19, 1889, 
from Chicago Homoeopathic College. 

Isidore A. McClellan, born New York city; diploma May 5, 1880, 
from Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati, O. 

Frank Bert Rasbach, born Ilion, N. Y. ; diploma March 30. 1891, 
from Bellevue Hospital Medical College. 



CHAPTER XV. 



History of the Town of Canandaigua, and of the Vh.lage 
OF Canandaigua, the Seat of Justice of Ontario County. 

THE earliest recollections of the town called Canandaigua were in 
connection with the Indian occupation of the region. Near the 
borders of the present town was the once famous Seneca village, 
variously known as Oniiaghcc, OnagJiec and Onnhic, which are only 
modifications of the name Onagheh, the latter meaning ''head,'' and 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 199 

from which we naturally and correctly infer that this locality was once 
a head or chief village of the Seneca Indians. The Indian village of 
Canandaigua or Ganadarque, was an off shoot of this village, and was 
destroyed by General Sullivan in 1779. 

According to Hon. Lewis H. Morgan, LL.D., who is the acknowl- 
edged standard authority on Seneca names, the name in the several 
Iroquois dialects is as follows: Seneca, Ga-nun da-gwa ; Cayuga, 
Ga-na da gwa; Onondaga, Ca-na-da-qua; Tuscarora, Ca-ta-na ra-qua; 
Oneida, Ga-na da-lo-qua ; Mohawk, Ga-na-ta-la qua; the signification 
being " A Place Selected for a Settlement," or, in other words, "the 
chosen spot or city," a fact itself of much significance in view of later 
events, for the Indian location or " spot chosen for a new settlement " 
was also selected by the Phelps and Gorham proprietary as their 
" chosen spot or city," after they had been compelled to leave the 
vicinity of old Kanadesaga; and a little later the same "chosen spot" was 
designated as the shire town of the county, and was therefore destined 
to become a somewhat important point in Western New York in the 
affairs of civilized white settlement as it had been formerly prominent 
in connection with the Indian occupation of the region. However, as 
the subject of Indian supremacy and dominion is fully discussed in the 
early chapters of this volume, it need not be further pursued here, but 
rather may we give attention to the development and improvement of 
the town during its occupation by the whites. 

As is fully narrated in one of the earlier chapters of this work, in the 
year 1788 the region of country now including this whole county was 
sold by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to Oliver Phelps and 
Nathaniel Gorham, they representing an association of eastern capital- 
ists. As soon as they had secured the Indian title they at once caused 
the entire tract to be surveyed into townships, and each numbered by 
range and town. For the purpose of better carrying out their designs, 
the proprietors made a location for a village at the ancient Indian site 
called Kanadesaga, also Geneva, but on running the eastern line of the 
Massachusetts lands it was discovered that the village was east of the 
so-called pre-emption line and therefore not within the purchase 
proper. We may here state incidentally that Geneva was on the west 
side of the line, but owing either to error or fraud the line was so run 



200 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

as to bring that village eastward of it and on lands claimed by other 
proprietors. 

Whether error or fraud located Geneva east of the pre emption line 
matters little at this time, but the circumstance was indeed fortunate 
for the after history of Canandaigua. The proprietary were compelled 
to change their seat of operations from Geneva, consequently in 1789 
Mr. Phelps caused township number 10, in the third range, to be 
resurveyed and allotted for more than usual townships and agricultural 
purposes. Moreover, the town was especially reserved to the proprie- 
tors for their own use, also as a county town, for it seems that the 
worthy proprietor even at that early day had in contemplation the 
erection of a new county out of the territory of old Montgomery. 

Oliver Phelps made generous provision for the future of the pro- 
spective village, and indeed carried out the New England custom of 
donating lands for county buildings, park and schools, and likewise 
laid out the main thoroughfare of the village of ample width, having a 
consideration for the personal comfort of the people as well as for 
private gain. 

Col. William Walker acted as agent for the proprietorg, and to him 
has been given the honor of erecting the first house in the town — a log 
structure built during the year 1788, and standing on the east side of 
the main street, south of the square ; the contract for the erection of 
this building will be found in the chapter of the town of Phelps. Two 
other dwellings were built during the same year, one for James D. 
Fish, and the other for Joseph Smith, but none of these was perma- 
nently occupied by its owner until the following spring. Smith soon 
turned his dwelling into an inn, thus becoming the pioneer landlord of 
the vicinity. 

Joseph Smith was a prominent character at an early day at Canan- 
daigua. He had been a captive among the Indians, and when set free 
he chose to remain among them. He was an open-hearted, generous 
man, and possessed many good qualities. As an Indian interpreter his 
services were often in requisition. He was in business in this region as 
early as October and November, 1788, as the following bills receipted 
by him, and yet in existence, will show : November 22, bill against 
William Walker, for " Mogassens," rum, salt, etc., ;^2i is. Bill against 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 201 

William Walker, for sundries furnished by Smith & Vrooman, to differ- 
ent persons, ^8 04^'. 'jd. As no place is mentioned in the above bills, 
it is uncertain whether they were furnished at Canandaigua or Geneva, 
but from the following receipt for goods stored by Walker on his de- 
parture from the place for the winter, it would seem that Canandaigua 
must at the time have been his residence, although on account of the 
familiarity and friendship of the Indians, the goods would doubtless 
remain undisturbed even if he was not permanently here during the 
winter: 

KaNANDAIGUE, Nov'r 19, 1788. 

Bill of articles belonging to the Hon'ble Mess'rs Phelps & Comp'y, 
William Walker, Esq'r, Agent. 

I Chest containing 

I Broad ax, 9 Narrow Do., i Bush Hook, 2 Pros and one hoe, i 
Drawing knife, i twist augur, i p'r Carpenters Chitzels, i Hand Saw, 
I nail hammer, 2 Iron Wedges, i Small Broken Chain, i Bake Pan, i 
Spider, I Skillet, i Earthen Plate, i Pewter Do., i Tin Ot mug, i case 
knife & 2 forks, \ H. old Pewter, about 3 qts Salt, I Small Brass 
Kettle, Ring of Iron, i Crane Hook, 31 Candles, i Iron Hinge, one 
Sitting Pole Iron, i Door Hook and some small pieces of Iron. 

I Batteau, 3 Oars, i Paddle, 3 Setting Poles and Boat House, 5 
Empty Barrels, and one Large Iron pot and one Grindstone. 

Re'd the above Chest containing said Articles together with Said 
Batteau, Oars, &c and Empty Barels, into my care, all of which are to 
be safely kept and to be delivered to William Walker, Esq'r or to his 
order, when called for. Extraordinaries Excepted. 

James Perry 
Joseph Smith for Joseph Smith 

Endorsed, Joseph Smith's Rec't for Articles left at Canandaiqua. 

The memorandum book kept by Colonel Wm. Walker contains the 
names of a number of people who were early on the ground in the new 
country and employed by him in October, 1788. The following are ex 
tracted therefrom : Colonel Hugh Maxwell, surveyor, and Samuel Whe 
don. Brown and two others, assistants. Frederick Saxton, surveyor; 
Wm. Markham, Capt. Cleveland, Phinehas Blodget and Ransom Smith, 
assistants. Mr. Curtis, surveyor, Joseph Salisbury, Robert White, Ad- 
26 



202 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ner Hickox, John Fanning, assistants. William Ewing, surveyor, 
Henry Reading, Andrew Evers, Benoni Taylor. Four men on the road 
on the falls on the outlet of Canadaque, Cornelius Decker, John Jones, 
E. Phelps, John Culver. Also the following: David Bailey, chain 
bearer, James Parmeter, Enos Boughton, Sewell and Othniel Gilbert, 
James Dugan, Rees Stevens. 

The first permanent settlement in the town was made in 1789, when 
Fish and Smith occupied their respective houses, and about the same 
time there also came to the locality General Israel Chapin, Nathaniel 
Gorham, jr., Frederick Saxton, Benjamin Gardner, Daniel Gates, Dan- 
iel Brainerd, Martin Dudley. These pioneers were soon followed by 
others, and in the same year William Walker opened his land ofifice in 
the village. First events followed one another in rapid succession, and 
from preserved records we learn that pioneer Samuel Gardner opened 
the first store, while Major Willis taught the first school, beginning in 
1792. The first birth was that of Oliver Phelps Rice, and the first 
death was that of Caleb Walker, both events taking place in 1790. 

Although it is well known that the settlement of this town began in 
1788 and 1789, it is quite difficult to determine just when pioneership 
ceased, and equally difficult to ascertain the names of persons and fam- 
ilies who are entitled to mention in that connection. However, we 
may state that early settlements in the town began in the village and 
rapidly extended therefrom in almost every direction until the lands 
were well occupied and put under cultivation. There was no separation 
of the village from the township until 181 5, and for the purposes of the 
record the entire territory may be treated as a body so far as pioneer- 
ship is concerned. 

The greatest difficulty which confronted the pioneers who sought 
homes in this region was that attending the journey from the east, 
and although the opening of a public highway engaged the early at- 
tention and effiDrts of those interested in the lands, and the State as well, 
it was not until the year 1790 that the old *' State Road " from Utica to 
Canandaigua was opened ; and even in the completion of this thorough- 
fare many of the emigrants took part, stopping on their journey for this 
purpose, and thus hastening the work to a successful en^. This road, how- 
ever, was but little better than an Indian path, sufficiently opened to allow 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. , 203 

a sled to pass and the most impassable streams bridged, and it was not 
till 1797 when, on the 28th of March, the Legislature passed an " act 
for opening and improving certain great roads in this State," which pro- 
vided for raising money by lotteries for such purpose. Under the 
provisions of this act and through the energetic exertions of Charles 
Williamson, who made and secured large additions in contributions of 
money, and with the additional assistance of the inhabitants who subscribed 
four thousand days' work, the state commissioner was enabled to com- 
plete the Great Genesee Road of near one hundred mi'es, opening it 
sixty-four feet wide and paving with logs and gravel the moist places 
through which it was carried. Hence the road from Utica to the Gen- 
esee, from being in the month of June, 1797, a little better than an In- 
dian path, was so far improved by the latter part of September that a 
stage route was established on it. 

The construction of the "turnpike" in 1 803-4 opened a valuable 
thoroughfare to travel leading from the eastern country into the then 
comparatively wild Genesee region, and from the timeof its completion, 
settlement and development increased with great rapidity. An ad- 
ditional reason for this sudden influx of pioneers lies in the fact that in 
1789, before the opening of the road, a new county had been created out 
of the territory of old Montgomery, and Canandaigua had then been 
designated as its seat of justice. 

The settlers of this region were fortunate in having a good mill in 
their vicinity, which aided them materially in obtaining lumber for their 
buildings. During the winter of 1789-90 Judge Augustus Porter, a pion- 
eer of the region, agreed with General John Fellows, one of the pro- 
prietors of East Bloomfield, to join together in the erection of a saw- 
mill on Mud Creek, five miles west of Canandaigua, which was in due 
time accomplished. 

However, among the many important, and we may say fortunate, 
early events which contributed to the building up and development of 
this town, that which led them all was the erection of Ontario county 
and the designation of Canandaigua as the county seat. The erecting 
act was passed on the 27th of January, 1789, and by it provision was 
made for the creation of towns under the name of districts, of which 
there were to be not less than two. At that time the county included 



204 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

all the western part of the State, but the total number of inhabitants 
within its boundaries did not exceed one thousand. Therefore, in the 
organization of the territory into provisional districts a large area of 
land was included within each, and, as a matter of fact, the entire county 
contained only six of these districts, one of which was Canandaigua. 

Following close upon the creation and organization of the county 
came the erection of the county buildings, for which the generous pro- 
prietors donated a suitable plot of land, situated on a commanding ele- 
vation, and in the most desirable portion of the village tract. That 
Canandaigua was to be a county seat was of itself sufficient in impor- 
tance to swell the local population and enhance materially the value of 
lands not only in the- village but in the town beyond the settled hamlet. 
Professional men, merchants, speculators and the ever attendant con- 
tingent of persons who are ready almost for anything, soon came to the 
town, and the result was that Canandaigua soon took a position at the 
head of the districts and afterward towns of the county. Of the lawyers 
who made this their place of residence and business we have no positive 
record, but the first medical men of the town were Moses Atwater and 
his brother, Jeremiah Atwater, Samuel Dungan and William A. Will- 
iams, all of whom were here before 1800, while Dr. Moses Atwater is 
credited with having settled in the town in 1791. 

Town Organization. — The district of Canandaigua was organized 
January 27, 1789, but there is no record of proceedings by which we 
can accurately determine either the extent of the district or its first 
officers. However, the district did not long retain that distinctive 
character, for in 1791 it took the name of "town." and included within 
its boundaries townships 9 and 10 of the third range, containing pre- 
sumably seventy-two square miles of land, but in 1824, surrendered to 
Gorham that part of township No. 9 which lay east of Canandaigua 
Lake. Therefore, as at present constituted, the town is twelve miles in 
length, six miles wide on the north boundary and less than three miles 
on the south line. 

The first town meeting (of which there is any record) was held on 
the first Tuesday in April, 1791, and was " opened and superintended " 
by Israel Chapin, esquire. The records appear in the bold and per- 
fectly plain handwriting of pioneer James D. Fish, and from the title 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 205 

line on the initial page it appears that the town was known to the early 
settlers as Canandarguay, for it must naturally be presumed that as Mr. 
Fish was so good a penman he must also have been at least a fair 
" speller," and that his rendition of the name must have been that rec- 
ognized by the inhabitants at that time. 

At the first town meeting just referred to, the following town officers 
were elected : supervisor, Israel Chapin ; town clerk, James D. Fish ; 
assessors, John Call, Enos Boughton, Seth Reed, Nathan Cumstock, 
James Austin, Arnold Potter and Nathaniel Norton ; collectors, Phineas 
Bates and John Codding ; overseers of the poor, Israel Chapin and 
Nathaniel Gorham ; commissioners of highways, Othniel Taylor, Joseph 
Smith, Benjamin Wells ; constables, Nathaniel Sanburn, Jared Bough- 
ton and Phineas Pierce ; overseers of highways, James Latta, Joshua 
Whitney, John Swift, Daniel Gates, Jabez French, Gameliel Wilder, 
Abner Barlow, Isaac Hathaway, Hezekiah Boughton, Eber Norton, 
William Gooding and John D. Robinson. 

The foregoing list of first town officers will bring to the notice of the 
reader the names of perhaps a majority of the pioneers at that time, as 
the number of eligible freeholders was so small that nearly every one 
having an interest or ambition in that direction was freely supplied with 
office. In this connection it may be interesting to refer to the succes- 
sion of supervisors of Canandaigua from the organization of the town to 
the present time as follows : 

Supervisors. — Israel Chapin, 1791-95; Abner Barlow, 1796-99; 
Augustus Porter, 1800— i ; Nathaniel Gorham, 1802-3 ; (no record of 
1804 and 1805); Timothy Burt, 1806-7; Hugh Jameson, 1808 ; Eben- 
ezer F. Norton, 1809; Hugh Jameson, 1810-11; Nathaniel Gorham, 
1812; Reuben Hart, 1813; Phineas P. Bates, 18 14; Eliphalet Taylor, 
1815-16; John A. Stevens, 1817; Nathaniel Gorham, 1818; Lott 
Rew, 1819; Harvey Sanders, 1820; Phineas P. Bates, 1821 ; Francis 
Granger, 1822-25; Oliver Phelps, 1826-31; Phineas P. Bates, 1832; 
Oliver Phelps, 1833 ; Phineas P. Bates, 1834-36; Russell B. Johnson, 
1837; Charles Shepard, 1838-42; William W. Gorham, 1843-47; 
Jabez H. Metcalf, 1848; Gideon Granger, 1 849-5 f I Henry W. Taylor, 
1852; Zebina Lucas, 1853-54; Ebenezer Hale, 1855 ; Evander Sly, 
1856 ; Charles Shepard, 1857 ; Charles Coy, 1858-61 ; Jacob J. Matteson, 



20G HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTT. 

1862; George Cook, 1863; John Callister, 1864; J. Harvey Mason, 
1865-67; Gustavus R. Fox, 1868; Frank O. Chamberlain, 1869-70; 
Charles E. Shepard, 1871-73; Frank O. Chamberlain, 1874; James S. 
Hickox, 1875; John B. Robertson, 1876-78; William L. Parkhurst, 
1879-81; Thomas H. Cost, 1882 ; RolHn L. Beecher, 1883-84 ; Marion 
P. Worthy, 1885 ; Matthew L. Parkhurst, 1886; Joel M. Howey, 1887 ; 
George B. Sackett, 1888; Frederick W. Bryan, 1889: Charles C. Sack- 
ett, 1890-92; PVank O. Sisson, 1893. 

The attention of the first town officers was early drawn to the matter 
of surveying and opening highways ; in fact this duty was about the 
first of importance which required the efforts of the proprietors. From 
the lake running northward a distance of about two miles a splendid 
thoroughfare of travel was surveyed, but it was some time afterward 
that the road was fully completed. This is now known as Main street, 
and was originally laid out six rods in width, but Mr. Phelps had in 
view such grand possibilities for his chosen town that he increased the 
width to eight rods. Cross street was laid out and ever afterward main- 
tained as a six rod road. 

Returning, however, from this- digression to the subject of early set- 
tlement in the town of Canandaigua, we may say generally that great 
difficulty is encountered in learning the names of pioneers, while the 
exact or even approximate date of their settlement in the town cannot 
be learned. In a later department of this volume the reader will find 
sketches of many of the pioneer families in the towns, properly arranged 
and classified, and furnishing a reasonably complete biographical record 
of those named ; wherefore in the present connection it cannot be consid- 
ered necessary to furnish more than a brief allusion to the heads of pio- 
neer families, with a mention of the general locality of their settlement. 

Over in the east part of the town, near the foot of the lake, at an early 
day dwelt pioneers Samuel Rogers, Artemas Lincoln and Charles 
Grimes, the latter the owner of a fulling and cloth mill, an almost indis- 
pensable necessity in a new locality. John Van Orman afterward oper- 
ated the mill and also acquired some fame as a landlord. Liberty Day 
was an early settler on the turnpike, and made brick in a small way, 
but his industry was greatly appreciated by the people of the locality. 
Eliliu Tupper was a pioneer in the same region, and also became pro- 



c 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 207 

prietor of an inn, and as well was the owner of a three-horse team, hence 
a man of some note in the vicinity. He also carried a stock of goods 
and was a tradesman of the town. Lyman and Arnold Hays also were 
pioneers in the vicinity of which we write, and while both were farmers 
the former conducted a fulling mill. Judah Colt, the first sheriff of the 
county, at one time lived in this neighborhood, on what was called the 
Shepard farm. 

In that part of the town north of the locality of which we have just 
written were a number of families of whom several can be recalled by 
name. Zachariah Tiffany was one of these pioneers and the head of a 
large family who followed in the parental footsteps. In this vicinity 
also dwelt the Cassarts and Shulers, the Faurots and Sanders, the latter 
settling here as early as 1795, and being a physician was regarded as a 
man of importance in the town. In this neighborhood there also dwelt 
pioneers De Bow and Latting. 

West of the general locality just mentioned at a very early day were 
made settlements by Caleb Gage, Thomas Pike, Joseph Canfield, Stephen 
Bishop, John Gage, Levi Brockelbank, Chandler Burger, James Reeves 
(a wheelwright), Eliphalet Taylor (a prominent man in town affairs),. 
Oliver Glover, Charles Cassart, William Curtis, and possibly others 
whose names are not now recalled, but all of whom by their efforts 
helped to develop the resources of the town, and laid the foundation for 
prosperity to be enjoyed by a later generation of occupants. 

In the northern part of the town, in the locality which has for many 
years been known as Paddleford, there settled at an early day a number 
of families of much prominence, and among vi^hom can be remembered 
the names of Price, Hudson, Walker, Tilton and Marble. The pioneer 
of this region is said to have been tlie first named settler, Price, Pad- 
dleford as a village did not attain any prominence prior to the building 
of the railroad. Lying to the west of Paddleford is situate District 
Number 20, so called, which is a part of the territory included by the 
settlement above mentioned. Some of the old family names are still 
preserved in the locality but the pioneers themselves are all gone. This 
section of the town was formerly known as the " Bacon Tract." 

The locality of the town lying southeast of the village of Canandaigua 
was settled very soon after the survey of the region was completed. 



208 HISTORY OF -ONTARIO COUNTY. 

The lands here appeared to have been especially desirable, and settlers 
and speculators were active to possess them. Lemuel Castle was one 
of the first to make an improvement in this vicinity, coming here in 
1789. Castle is said to have built the first frame barn for Mr. Phelps in 
1792. Following Castle came other pioneers, among whom were John 
Sutherland, Seth Holcomb (a settler of 1792, and also a hotel keeper), 
Ebenezer Williams, wheelwright and wagon- maker; Captain George 
Hickox, a soldier of the War of 18 12, but a pioneer of 1793. Joseph 
Van Orman, Daniel Case, Giles Mitchell and Hugh Jameson were like- 
wise early settlers in the same region, and are remembered ?s men of 
prominence and worth in the community. 

The country around Centerfield was also desirable as an early (and 
even present) place of abode, and was settled early. Colonel Thaddeus 
Remington and Abner Barlow located here in 1790, while later on came 
other pioneers, among them David Hawley, Noah Heacock, Jesse Mil- 
ler, Isaac Morse, better known as " Papa " Morse, and popular at all 
country sports because of his ability as a fiddler. Enos and Henry 
Hawley, Stephen Ward, Charles and Oliver Johnson, Harvey Steele and 
Oliver Rose were also early residents of this locality. 

A short distance south of Centerfield early settlements were made by 
Rev. Zadoc Hunn, who was a preacher of some note among the pio- 
neers, and who settled here in 1795 and died in 1801. Seba Case came 
here in 1794, and was followed by Elijah Tillotson and George Good- 
ing, both of whom were also pioneers. East of the pioneers just named 
was a locality also occupied at an early day, there appearing the prom- 
inent names of Spencer, Tayloi;, Moore, Root, Castle, Bunnell, Butler, 
and Mack, nearly all of whom are to be recorded as settling in the town 
prior to 1800, and the names of whom are generally represented in the 
locality at the present day. 

Along the west side of the lake th,e early settlers had no thought of 
erecting summer cottages such as now dot its shore, as their attention 
was directed to other enterprises, such as getting suitable buildings for 
family and stock, and earning a livelihood from the lands. Pioneers 
Israel Reed and Miles Hecox, Seth Lewis, Levi Rowley, Epaphratus 
Nott, Christian Seaman, and the Eatons had but little time during the 
early years of this century to devote themselves to pleasure seeking on 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. ' 209 

the lake, but with them, as with all pioneers of an undeveloped country, 
they were content to live frugally and in the enjoyment of such pleas- 
ures as a life of constant toil might afford. 

The Academy Tract. 

In the extreme southeast part of the town is situated what was orig- 
inally known as the Academy tract, containing three thousand acres of 
land which was deeded and donated by Oliver Phelps for the benefit of 
the Canandaigua Academy, from which its name was derived. The 
tract was surveyed into lots, each one hundred and fifty acres, and these 
were in turn divided so that each occupant should have seventy-five 
acres. According to the original purpose, these lands were to be 
rented, but they were gradually disposed of by sale and are now occu- 
pied almost entirely by owners. This generous donation was made by 
the proprietor in 1 804. but it was not until 18 10 that settlement on the 
tract in fact began, and then the lots were taken quite slowly, as the 
lands were supposed to be unproductive. The pioneer settler on this 
tract was named Santliff, but within the succeeding three years the 
lands were occupied by at least fourteen families, as follows : James Cur- 
rier, John Penoyer, Jonathan Croker, William Warren, Solomon Riggs, 
William Holmes, Elias Bascom, Robert McGill, the Widow Holmes, the 
pioneer Santliff and other heads of families named Olds, Gordon, Bul- 
lard and Dickerson. 

These first settlers not only developed and improved the lands for 
their personal benefit, but as well had a care for the spiritual and edu- 
cational welfare of their families and descendants. They built a primi- 
tive school-house, which was soon burned, and at once replaced with 
another, the latter being constructed under the watchful care of Deacon 
James Currier. The building also served as a church until 1832, when 
a more suitable edifice for public worship was erected in the neighbor- 
hood. In 1837 a substantial school house was likewise built. Both of 
these public institutions have ever since been maintained, and the in- 
habitants-of the Academy tract are numbered with the substantial peo- 
ple of the town. Their originally supposed poor lands have developed 
great productiveness, yielding fairly well to general agricultural efforts, 
while hops are also grown with good success. Grapes, too, yield well 



210 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

under careful attention, though the lake region is more especially favor- 
able to this crop than the western part of the tract. 

In the early history of the tract the majority of the people were mem- 
bers of the Methodist church, or society, and that denomination has 
prevailed even to the present day, although the membership of the Chris- 
tian church has acquired large accessions in the locality. The church 
edifice of this society was built in 1832, but later on was replaced with a 
union meeting-house, the use of which was made free to all worshipers 
of whatsoever faith. 

On the Academy tract is a central trading point and post-office, 
named " Academy Post-office," and around the locality has been built 
up a little hamlet, with the usual shops, store and other adjuncts of a 
rural settlement. The first hotel here was established by Benjamin 
Hight, and was afterward kept by Joseph Coy. Deacon James Cur- 
rier was the first millwright, and he followed that pursuit nearly half 
a century. 

Centerfield. 

In the western part of the town of Canandaigua is a productive 
locality whose people are devoted chiefly to agricultural pursuits, and 
which is known as the Centerfield District ; and near the center of the 
district is situated the little hamlet and post-office called Centerfield. 
The pioneers of this vicinity have already been mentioned and we need 
only refer to this hamlet as a trading center and record some of its 
principal interests and institutions. Oliver Rose opened a store here 
about 1 8 10, and was otherwise identified with the place in the capaci- 
ties of school teacher and afterward disti'Uer. Justus Rose, his brother, 
became connected with the business and the partners soon ranked as 
extensive dealers and operators. They were succeeded by the later 
firm of Sackett, Fosket & Carter. During their operations Centerfield 
was made a post-station with John Fosket as postmaster. 

However, it must be said that Centerfield as a village or hamlet is of 
much less importance than its people could boast half a century ago. 
It has been the home of no less than four church societies, yet none of 
them could maintain a permanent organization. As early as 1796 Rev. 
Han)ilton Jefferson formed a Methodist Episcopal class at Centerfield, 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 211 

and among its early members were Roswell and Hebzia Root, Ambrose 
and Lydia Phelps, and Sarah Moore. Some years later " Coke's 
Chapel " was built, its first preacher being James Gilmore. 

In this connection also we may note the fact that a class was organ- 
ized in 1808 at Sand Hill, which numbered among its members John 
Johnson, Elizabeth Cassart, Zachariah Tiffany and wife, Betsey Knapp 
and Catherine De Bow. However, upon the organization of the M. E. 
church and society at Canandaigua village, these outside classes gradu- 
ally diminished. 

On the 1 2th of November, 1832, the Congregationalists of this local- 
ity organized a society, with thirty- five members, under the ministra- 
tions of Rev. Silas Brown, Robert Hill and Edward Bronson, and in 
1833 the church was recognized and received by the Ontario Presby- 
tery. A church edifice was soon afterward built, the first pulpit sup- 
plies being S. S. Howe, Jonathan Leslie, Benjamin Smith, Joseph Ware 
and Silas C. Brown. However, this society, like the others of the 
locality, soon began to lose its membership and hence its influence for 
good, and is not now in active existence. 

About the year 1830, under the pastoral care of Reverend Potter, 
the Baptist worshipers of the vicinity of Centerfield organized a 
society and built a church home. However, misfortunes soon came to 
the society and reduced its membership and influence to such an extent 
that the property was compelled to be sold. It was purchased by the 
society of Trinity parish of the Episcopal church, which was organized 
at Centerfield, September 23, 1832. Among the prominent early com- 
municants of Trinity church in this vicinity were George H. Wheeler, 
Linus Gunn, James Blair and wife, Asa Hawley and wife, Orlando 
Morse, Ashbel Tuttle and wife, Dr. Thomas Williams, Samuel Shrope 
and Thaddeus Remington. The first rector of the parish was Reward 
Kamey, followed by William Hecox and Rev. Chipman. This 
church and society, like its predecessors in the neighborhood, had not 
the numerical and financial strength to permanently maintain its 
organization, hence its services were less regularly kept up, and the 
result was the gradual decline of interest and practical final dissolution. 

The present business interests of Centerfield are briefly mentioned, 
and in fact consist of one small store, which together with one or two 



212 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

small shops, the village post-office, and a few dwelling houses comprise 
all that remains of a hamlet which once enjoyed some prominence in 
the town. The local postmaster is W. L. Hyde. 

Cheshire. 

Among the outlying hamlets of the town, the pretty little village 
called Cheshire is the largest and most important, and that notwith- 
standing its location in the southern part of the town remote from any 
railroad or other thoroughfare of travel that might contribute to its 
population or industries. However, Cheshire is situated in the center 
of a highly productive agricultural region, and one which is well popu- 
lated with thrifty and prosperous inhabitants, hence the hamlet is a 
natural and profitable center of trade. 

The village of Cheshire was so named by the inhabitants of the 
locality, many of whom were former residents of a Connecticut town of 
the same name. However, the locality was earlier known as "Rowley's 
school-house," from the fact that a school was there built on lands of 
pioneer John Rowley, who came and settled here in 1795. Other 
pioneers of the vicinity were Peter Atwell and E. Nott, both of whom 
acquired title from the Phelps proprietary. Milton Gillett, Levi Beebe, 
Jonathan Mack, William Bacon and Stephen Ward were also early 
settlers, in the Cheshire neighborhood, or in School District No. 5. 

In 1812 Jonathan Beebe opened a store at the village, but not until 
two or three years later was there made any direct effort to build up a 
settlement in the locality. About 181 5 a number of families settled 
here, and about the same time, possibly a year earlier, John Rowley 
built a saw-mill on the creek. He also run a distillery, which so 
annoyed some of the staid townsfolk of the locality that they left the 
settlement. Some of the early merchants, whose names can now be 
recalled, were William King, Israel Parshall, Delano & Green, Lorenzo 
Tillotson, Harman Cooley, Ralph Hunter and Isaac Webster. Joseph 
Israel opened a hotel here in 18 18, and about that time the village 
promised to develop considerable size and importance, but later years 
turned the tide of settlement in other channels and Cheshire never at- 
tained any greater importance than that of post village, having daily 
stage and mail from the county seat. A score or more years ago an 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 213 

effort was made to increase the industries and business interests of the 
village, and a carriage shop, steam mill and spoke factory were then in 
operation. But as the place was comparatively remote from any rail- 
road, no advantages in shipping or marketing were presented, hence a 
natural decline in business interests. The mercantile interests of to day 
are represented by two large and well stocked country stores, the pro- 
prietors of which, respectively, are Cyrus H. Wilbur, and Johnson 
Lucas. No industries are now permanently maintained in the village. 
The present postmaster at Cheshire is Ralph Hutchins. 

The first Baptist Church society in the town of Canandaigua was or- 
ganized at Cheshire in the year i8oo, but after a life of vicissitudes 
covering a period of many years, this society, as was that formed at 
Centerfield, was merged in the stronger and more influential organiza- 
tion at the county seat. Among the early members of the mother 
church were pioneers John Rowley, Hugh Jameson, Lemuel Castle, Eli 
Butler, Fairbanks Moore, Solomon Gould, Jeremiah Miller, David 
Hurd, John Freeman and wife, Charity Castle, Rebecca Rowley, Chloe 
Butler, and Janette Jameson. The first meeting-house was built in 1832, 
the early services being held in convenient places in the neighborhood. 
Elder Eli Haskell was pastor of the society for almost thirty years, and 
Rev. A. S. Long followed with a term of seven years. Later on, as 
above indicated, the society began to decline, and eventually merged in 
the society at the county village 

At Cheshire village is now located a union church, which is used 
mainly by the members of the Free Will Baptist Society, while other 
denominations have access thereto upon stated occasions. The Baptist 
society was organized in 1840, and numbered in its membership some of 
the substantial inhabitants of the locality, among them Justus Rose, 
Amasa Salisbury, Lester Heilse, Orin B. Morse, Ellas Huntley, Wm. B. 
Prouty, and Moses Ward. The church edifice was built in 1840. This 
society, like others of the locality, has experienced a varied existence, 
but the organization was of longer continuance. The most recent of- 
ficiating minister was Rev. John L. Langworthy. 

The history of the town of Canandaigua is recorded in the growth 
and development of its abundant resources, in the lives of its pioneers 
and their families and descendants from the time of the first settlement 



214 tllSTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

to the present day. In every school and church, in every industry of 
whatever nature, in every town meeting, is the history of the town also 
established, but the reader will of course know that a complete record 
of all events from the time of the survey of townships nine and ten is 
wholly impossible, but it is believed that enough has been herein re- 
corded to inform the average mind of all that is needful for present and 
future purposes in the town. 

As has been stated in this chapter, the town of Canandaigua was or- 
ganized in January, 1789, and at that time its territory included two 
townships of land, hence about seventy- two square miles of land. How- 
ever, in 1824 all that part of the town lying directly east of the lake was 
annexed to Gorham, and consequently reduced the area and population 
of Canandaigua. The early settlement of the town was surprisingly 
rapid, and notwithstanding the hardships of the pioneer period, and the 
material check to immigration ju=t preceding and during the War of 
1812—15, there was a constant flow of settlers into the region, and 
the most desirable lands were taken up and improved within the first 
fifteen years of the town's history. In 1830, six years after the south- 
east part of the town was set off to Gorham, the census enumeration 
showed Canandaigua to have a population of 5,162, and from that un- 
til the present time the changes in number of inhabitants have been as 
follows: In 1840 the population was 5,652 ; in 1850 it was 6,143 ; in 
i860 it was 7,075 ; in 1870 it was 7,274 ; in 1880 was 8,363 ; and in 
1890 it was 8,229. 

Educational. — While the inhabitants of the town have never been un- 
mindful of their personal interests, they have at the same time shown 
due care for the educational welfare of their children. Among the pio- 
neers of the town every necessary effort was put forth to provide com- 
fortable schools and competent teachers, and for this purpose the terri- 
tory of the town was divided into school districts. In some localities 
school- houses were erected and opened for attendance several years be- 
fore the beginning of the present century, but it was not until the lands 
of the town had become fully occupied that the districts became reg- 
ularly settled by established boundaries ; and however interesting a 
subject for narration might be a complete history of the schools and 
school districts of Canandaigua, the absence of reliable records precludes 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGQA. 215 

the possibility of such a record, and we must content ourselves with a 
brief reference to the educational system of the town as it has for some 
years existed, and is still maintained ; reserving, however, a further 
reference to the schools of the village as a succeeding portion of this 
chapter. 

According to the present arrangement, this town is divided into nine- 
teen school districts (with one union district in the village), in which 
there are employed forty three teachers, and in each of these districts, 
in addition to the customary branches, the pupils are specially instructed 
in the important branches of physiology and hygiene. As shown by 
the last school census, the number of children between the ages of five 
and twenty-one years was 2,259, while the average school attendance 
amounted to 907. In addition to the public schools, the town also has 
three private schools, with an attendance of 250. In the town there 
are twenty two school houses, and the total value of school property 
amounts to $122,850. As shown by the reports of the commissioner 
for the year ending July 25, 1892, the total amount of money received 
for school purposes from all sources was $41,141.19, and of this sum 
there was paid to teachers alone an aggregate of $16,424.48. 

The Village of Canandaigua. 

From the time when Oliver Phelps and his associates changed their 
place of abode from Geneva to Canandaigua it became a fixed fact that 
on the site of their new location would be built up an important village, 
and very soon after that enforced change of base was made the "chosen 
spot," was made the seat of justice of the first county erected in West- 
ern New York. Indeed hardly more than a score of years passed be- 
fore the little hamlet cast off its uncertain character and became an in- 
corporated village. 

In another part of this work the story is told how Oliver Phelps and 
Nathaniel Gorham purchased the pre emption right of all Western 
New York, how they caused the land to be surveyed into townships, 
and sub-divided each into lots. It is also stated that the proprietors 
failed to meet the payments for this land, and that it thereafter passed 
into other hands. However, the town in which Canandaigua village 
is situated was reserved by the proprietors, and was by Mr. Phelps resur- 



216 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

veyed and lotted, with a provision for a village location where afterward 
built up. This provision for a future village was most appropriate, and 
nothing was omitted which could in any manner contribute to the com- 
fort of the people who were expected to inhabit the locality. Beginning 
at the foot of the lake a principal thoroughfare of travel was laid out, 
six (afterward increased to eight) rods in width, and extending northerly 
through the village tract a distance of two miles. This is known as 
Main street, the chief business and residence thoroughfare of the vil- 
age. The parallel and lateral streets and avenues have also been laid 
out with the same liberality that actuated the pioneer in his original 
measures, and in passing along these streets, both principal and auxil- 
iary, the attention of the ordinary observer is at once attracted by the 
evident generosity of the proprietors and early village authorities in 
laying them out and adorning them with foliage trees and ample 
grass plats. More than this, there has been preserved by the later 
generations of villagers much of the original appearance of the place, 
and even the old and substantial dwellings of the early dignitaries and 
principal men of the village appear to be retained as nearly as possible 
according to their original form. This is not an evidence of what is 
vulgarly called "old fogyism," but indicates to the observer that the 
people who first settled here are still represented in present occupants 
of the place, and that the ancestors are still remembered with feelings 
of the highest respect and esteem. 

After surveying the village site the work of building was at once 
begun, and the first house, a small log structure, was erected on lot 
number one in 1788 by John Decker Robison, to be occupied by Will- 
iam Walker, the resident agent of Phelps and Gorham. During the 
same season other houses were built for James D. Fish and Joseph 
Smith. 

In January, 1789, Ontario county was created and Canandaigua was 
designated as its seat of justice. This event had the effect of establish- 
ing the early prosperity of the place, and created an immediate demand 
for property, and materials with which to build and develop the lo- 
cality. In the spring of this year a party of several pioneers, headed 
by General Israel Chapin, came to the village. General Chapin was 
the local agent among the Six Nation Indians, and was a man of much 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 217 

authority and prominence in the region. With him came Nathaniel 
Gorham, jr., Frederick Saxton, Daniel Gates and Benjamin Gardner, 
some of whom were connected with the surveying parties who fre- 
quented the village at that time. Nathaniel Sanborn and family, Judah 
Colt (the first sheriff), Daniel Brainerd, Martin Dudley, Thaddeus 
Chapin, Phineas and Stephen Bates, Orange Brace, Moses and Jere- 
miah Atwater, Samuel Dungan, Dr. William A. Williams. Abijah 
Peters and others, whose names are perhaps lost, were also among the 
earlier residents of the village. 

In 1792 and 1793 the first framed houses of the village were built, 
the first of which was that of Oliver Phelps. This mention leads us to 
note briefly concerning this worthy proprietor and his equally generous 
associate, Nathanial Gorham, though the latter was never a permanent 
resident of the village, his interests here being represented by his son, 
Nathaniel Gorham, junior. 

Oliver Phelps was born in Windsor, Conn., in 1750, and gained some 
early prominence during the revolutionary period. In 1788 he, asso- 
ciated with Nathaniel Gorham, and they representing a body of specu- 
lators of the east, purchased the so called Massachusetts lands in West- 
ern New York, and in connection with that interest made his home in 
Canandaigua. In 1789, upon the organization of the county, Mr. 
Phelps was appointed county judge of Ontario county, and during 
the years 1803-05 was a member of the Eighth Congress. Among 
the donations of land for various purposes made by the proprietors, 
we may mention the tract upon which the county buildings were 
erected, and the "Academy Tract" of 3,000 acres in the southern 
extremity of the township. Oliver Phelps died in Canandaigua, 
February 21, 1809. 

Nathaniel Gorham, jr., son of the great proprietor, was born at 
Charlestown, October 25, 1763. He took charge of his father's landed 
interests in Western New York in 1790, and came frequently from his 
residence on Bunker Hill to superintend them. In 1800 he removed 
to Canandaigua with his family and resided there until his death in 
1826. He erected an elegant mansion on the site of the present court- 
house, which was noted for its profuse and generous hospitality. 

28 



218 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

There, for the remainder of his Hfe, he enjoyed the esteem of his fel- 
low townsmen as an honored citizen, as judge of the Court of Common 
Pleas, and as president of the Ontario Bank. He was a gentleman of 
the old school, of courtly and f)olished manners. He had five children. 

Before the beginning of the present century the village had made 
much progress in the direction of a municipal condition. In 1794 the 
court-house was completed, and one year later the afterward celebrated 
Canandaigua Academy was founded. At the time of which we write 
the village had several hundred inhabitants and a fair representation of 
business interests. Among the first merchants of the place were Samuel 
Gardner, Thaddeus Chapin, Isaac Davis, Thomas Beals, Joseph Smith 
and Luther Cole. Early hotel-keepers were Nathaniel Sanborn, Free- 
man Atwater (on the site now of the Ontario House), Phineas Bates, 
and others now forgotten. The first medical men were Drs. Moses 
Atwater (1791), Jeremiah Atwater, Samuel Dungan (1797), and William 
A. Williams (1793)- The local tailor was pioneer Abijah Peters, while 
the gunsmith of the community was William Antis. A school was 
started in 1792 and Major Wallis taught the children with both book 
and birch. In 1790 the State road from Utica to Canandaigua was 
opened, saw and grist mills were put in operation, and the future 
growth and progress of the village were assured in the general develop- 
ment of the region. 

From the Documentary History of New York we take the following 
general description of Canandaigua in 1792: "This is a settlement 
made by Mr. Phelps, and promises to be a very flourishing one There 
are now about tliirty houses, situated on a pleasant slope from the lake, 
and the adjacent farms are very thriving." In the same connection we 
may also quote from the "Travels of Timothy Dwight," and note what 
that distinguished early observer says of the village, viz. : "The town 
[village] of Canandaigua is built chiefly on a single street formed along 
the great road. Its site is partly an easy, handsome acclivity, and partly 
an elevated level at its termination. The situation is inferior in beauty 
to that of Geneva ; the town itself is greatly superior. The houses are 
remarkably good, in a better style than that of most older settlements, 
and at the same time are not defaced by any appearance of decay. 
The inhabitants are without a church, but have settled, a respectable; 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 219 

clergyman. A good building is erected here for an academy on a very 
pleasant elevation. It is not yet completed, but so far advanced that 
it is intended to establish a school in it the ensuing winter. The stores 
in this town are more numerous and the mercantile business more ex- 
tensive than at any other west of Utica. At present it is the resort of 
the whole surrounding country. . The inhabitants of Canan- 

daigua have availed themselves of their present advantages. A genial 
spirit of industry is everywhere visible, and the whole town wears a 
cheerful appearance of thrift and prosperity " 

Incorporation of the Village. — The growth of population in Canan- 
daigua was so rapid and apparently permanent that there passed hardly 
more than twenty years from the time the first log hut was erected be- 
fore the people of the village asked for the creation of a municipality 
that would enable them to make such improvements as were desirable 
without the objections and hindrances put forth by the residents of the 
township. This subject was under almost constant agitation for three 
or four years before any decisive steps were in fact taken, although in- 
formal meetings were held, and the villagers fully determined upon an 
incorporation. The leading spirits in this movement were John Greig, 
James Smedley, Jasper Parrish, Elisha B. Strong and John A. Stevens, 
and their efforts resulted in the incorporation of the village by an act 
of the Legislature, passed April i8, 1815. Under the act the first 
meeting of the freeholders and electors was held on the first Tuesday 
of June thereafter, and the village organization was there made com- 
plete by the election of the following officers: Trustees, James Smed- 
ley, Thaddeus Chapin, Dr. Moses Atwater, Nathaniel W. Howell and 
Phineas P. Bates; assessors, Jasper Parrish, Asa Stanley, Freeman At- 
water, Abner Barlow and John A. Stevens; treasurer, Thomas Beals ; 
collector, Benjamin Waldron. The trustees held their first meeting on 
June 13, 181 5, and organized by the election of Judge Howell as presi- 
dent, and Myron Holley as clerk, together with the full contingent of 
appointed officers necessary for the conduct of village business. 

In this connection it is interesting to note the succession of presidents 
and clerks of the board of trustees from the first election of officers 
above mentioned. The succession is as follows : 



220 



HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 





Presidents. 


I8I5 


Nathaniel W. Howell, 


I8I6 


Eliphalet Taylor, 


I8I7 


Jeremiah F. Jenkins, 


I8I8 


<< 


I8I9 


James D. Bemis, 


1820 


<( 


I82I 


William H. Adams, 


1822 


Francis Granger, 


1823 


It 


1824 


Henry B. Gibson, 


1825 


John W. Beals, 


1826 


Phineas P. Bates, 


1827 


<( 


1828 


James Lyon, 


1829 


<i 


1830 


William Kibbe, 


1831 


Nathan Barlow, 


1832 


i( 


1833 


William Blossom, 


1834 


Alex. H. Howell, 


1835 


Phineas P. Bates, 


1836 


Nicholas G. Chesebro, 


1837 


<( 


1838 


<< 


1839 


<( 


1840 


Phineas P. Bates, 


I84I, 


Nicholas G. Chesebro, 


1842 


li 


1843 


<( 


1844 


Jabez H. Metcalf, 


184s 


George W. Bemis, 


1846 


i( 


1847 


John A. Granger, 


1848 


<( 


1849 


(< 



Clerks. 
Myron Holley. 

George H. Boughton. 

Mark H. Sibley. 



Jeffrey Chipman. 
Albert Lester 



Ebenezer S. Cobb. 
Ansel Munn. 



Ralph Chapin. 
Elbridge G. Lapham. 



George A. Leete. 
Hiram Metcalf. 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 



221 





PRESIDENTS. 


1850 


, Myron H. Clark, 


I85I 


< 1 


1852 


, Alex. H. Howell, 


1853 


Thomas F. Brown, 


1854 


, Cyrus Townsend, 


1855 


Alex. H. Howell, 


1856 


, John J. Lyon, 


1857 


<( 


1858 


<< 


1859 


<< 


i860 


Henry C. Swift, 


I86I 


" 


1862 


Gideon Granger, 


1863 


Alex. McKechnie, 


1864 


(< 


1865 


Noah T. Clarke, 


1866 


" 


1867 


John C. Draper, 


1868 


Wm. H. Lamport, 


1869 


J. J. Mattison, 


1870 


" 


I87I 


" 


1872, 


Edward G. Tyler, 


1873, 


Marshall Finley, 


1874, 


<( 


1875. 


Rollin L. Beecher, 


1876 


(( 


1877, 


Hilem F. Bennett, 


1878, 


J. Harvey Mason, 


1879. 


Wm. T. Swart, 


1880, 


Amos H. Gillett, 


I88I 


Rollin L. Beecher, 


1882, 


" 


1883 


Lyman C. North, 


1884 


John B. Robertson, 


1885 


<( 



CLERKS. 

Hiram Metcalf. 



Myron H. Peck. 
Hiram Metcalf, 
Cornelius Younglove. 



Fred. A. Lyon. 
Cornelius Younglove. 



Walter Heard. 
George W. Bemis. 

it 
Horatio B. Brace. 



George Couch. 
H. B. Brace. 



Charles H. Paddock. 

Charles B. Lapham. 
(I 

Charles H, Paddock. 



Maynard N. Clement. 



222 HISTORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

PRESIDENTS. ' CLERKS. 

1886, Alex. Greive, Chas. H. Paddock. 

1887, Frank H. Hamlin, Maynard N. Clement. 

1888, Mattison L. Parkhurst, C. E. Crandall. 
1889, 

1890, W. M. Spangle, Samuel F. Warder. 

1891, Charles S. Robertson, " 

1892, Lyman C. North, J. Stanley Smith. 
1893, 

The Fire Department. — One of the first duties which developed upon 
the trustees was to provide a systematic organization to be useful in 
preventing and extinguishing fires ; and the measures which were then 
adopted led to the formation of a fire department — the nucleus of the 
present effective organization, and acknowledged to be one of the best 
equipped and valuable volunteer associations in this section of the State. 

Under an ordinance of the trustees, passed April 22, 18 16, was or- 
ganized the Canandaigna Fire Company, the names of whose original 
members were designated by the board as follows : John W, Beals, 
Charles Underbill, Walter Hubbell, Punderson B. Underbill, Ebenezer 
Ely, Spencer Chapin, Nicholas Chesebro, Charles Hill, Manning Good- 
win, Joseph Bull, George H. Boughton, George Clark, James Lyon, 
Mark H. Sibley, Simeon T. Kibbe, Hiram T. Day, Jeremiah F. Jenkins, 
W. M. Jenkins, John Clark and Abraham H. Bennett. 

In June following the organization of this pioneer company the trus- 
tees voted to purchase a fire engine, hooks and rope, ladders, leather 
fire buckets, leather hose, and also to establish public wells in various 
parts of the village. 

Sixteen years after this, in 1832, the trustees organized the Canandai- 
giia Hook and Ladder Company, and named as its organized members 
these persons : John P. Granger, William H. Ellis, Henry K. Clark, 
Ebenezer J. Cobb, George M. Bemis, Ebenezer Jackson, B. W. Farnum, 
Asa Spaulding, Henry G. Chapin, Stephen W. Ellis, Albert G. Murray, 
Decius W. Stanley, Caleb Morgan, Seth Aldrich, Moses Roberts, Mar- 
tin H. Collins, Charles Taylor, Charles G. Brewster, Augustus M. 
Church and Thaddeus Chapin. The first officers of this company were 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 223 

John A. Granger, foreman ; William H. Ellis, assistant foreman; Hovey 
K. Clark, secretary and treasurer, Ebenezer S. Cobb, steward. 

Previous to this time, however, and in 1830, Fire Company No. 2 
was organized with members as follows : Joseph Bull, A. Berryhill, O. 
E. Sibley, J. Carson, J. B. Street, Reuben Town, G. Gregory, Reuben 
Poor, J. W. Bacon, W. M. Gibbs, W. M. Wyvill, O. A. Branch, W. 
M. Chipman, D. C. Rupp, A. Francis, Chas. W. Chesebro, A. Granger, 
B. Palmer, T. McNutt, J. L. Woodruff, J. B. Hayes, L. L. Morse, A. 
O. Leland, Jesse Mason, John Reznor, Geo. Bull, Ambrose Church, 
Jno. Pinch, Charles Coy, D. H. Ruger, L. L. Boon, Henry Hyde, Benj. 
P. Frazer. 

In 1817 the first engine-house was built and stood on the west side 
of Main street, on the lot where Walter Hubbell's office now stand. 
In 1822 the building was moved down the street to the Gorham lot, and 
in 1857 was moved to Beeman street. The engine-house for company 
No. 2 was erected in 1831 on what was called the " Masonic " lot, but 
was finally moved to Chapin street. 

In 1843 Ontario Fire Company No. 3 was organized, and was especial- 
ly designed to protect property in the north part of the village, hence 
the location of the company's building was at the north end of the 
street, and there it has ever been maintained, while the membership of 
the company has experienced many changes, and the organization is 
now known as Ontario Hose Company No. 3. 

Referring generally to the evolutions of the Canandaigua Fire De- 
partment, it may be stated that it has passed through all the various 
stages of advancement from the Bucket Brigade era to the Steamer 
period and perhaps farther. The leather bucket system was soon 
superseded by the hand engine, while the latter eventually yielded its 
place to the steamer. However, in this village at least the steamer 
seems to have been displaced by the present water supply system, but 
is still held in readiness for use in case of emergency. 

The system of water supply inaugurated by the trustees in 18 16 was 
maintained and enlarged by subsequent village authorities, and served 
the purposes of the village until 1884, when the present operating water 
company was organized and the water works supply established. 
Throughout the principal streets the company laid mains and placed 



224 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

hydrants, and the water being suppHed with sufficient force to render 
needless the use of the steamer, they have been laid aside and their 
companies resolved into hose organizations. 

This leads us to refer to the composition and equipment of the village 
Fire Department as it at present exists Three duty hose companies, 
named Erina No. i, Merrill No. 2, and Ontario No. 3, and Mutual Hook 
and Ladder Company, comprise the active working force of the depart- 
ment. The steamers are kept, one in the main department building on 
Niagara street, and the other in Ontario company's building in upper 
Main street, and, in case an emergency calls them into service, are 
manned, respectively, by the volunteers of Erina and Ontario hose 
companies. Merrill Hose Company No. 2 has its house and apparatus 
on Phoenix street. The department has a large, also a small truck, the 
former for use at fires in the business quarter of the village, and the 
latter in case of fire in more remote localities. The department now 
comprises about one hundred and fifty active members, and its officers 
are as follows : chief engineer, James Fogarty ; first assistant, William 
Carr ; second assistant, Frank Castle ; secretary and treasurer, Harland 
H. Lane. The Fire Wardens of the village are John A. McKechnie 
for the Upper District; William Crowley and William Blanchard for the 
Middle District, and Frank McNulty for the Lower District. 

The Police Department. — Although for many years conducted without 
more formal organization than the supervision exercised by the board 
of trustees, the Police Department of Canandaigua has ever been an 
effiictive branch of local government, but to record its history in any 
definite form is difficult, and possibly unnecessary. In 1882 the Legis- 
lature passed an act providing for the appointment of three police com- 
missioners, in whose charge should thereafter be the affairs of this de- 
partment of government. Marshall Finley, James McKechnie and 
Evander Sly were named in the act as the first police board, who were 
authorized to appoint four policemen, one of whom should be " chief." 
Under this act the afifairs of the police have since been admirably con- 
ducted. The present commissioners are J. C. Norris, Rollin L. Beecher 
and Frank McNulty. The police justice is John J. Dwyer ; chief of 
police, George S. Booth. 

TJie Canandaigua Water Works Company. — Although in no sense a 
municipal institution, but a private corporation, in the present connec- 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 225 

tion we may properly mention this public enterprise. The company 
was organii^ed in 1884 under the personal management of Frank B. 
Merrill, who became its president. The pumping station is situated 
near the lake shore, at the foot of Main street, and pure and wholesome 
water is obtained from the lake, being taken from a " crib " two thous- 
and six hundred feet distant from the main land. The water is then 
pumped to a stand pipe at the head of Main street, two and one- half 
miles distant from the station, and thence is distributed throughout the 
streets of the village, there being now in use fifteen miles of main pipe, 
while for fire purposes there are placed at convenient points ninety 
hydrants. The number of water takers in the village is five hundred and 
twenty five. The present officers of the company are Frank B. Merrill, 
president and treasurer, and Harland H. Lane, secretary. 

Educational. 

The village of Canandaigua has alwa}s been noted for the excellence 
of its educational institutions, and at least one of them, founded nearly 
one hundred years ago, has acquired a State wide reputation. Others 
have also been prominent, but the Canandaigua Academy early attained 
a grade of excellence that placed it among the best in the State; and 
that standing it has ever since maintained. However, before referring 
to this noted institution we may briefly note some of the others which 
existed during the early history of the village, a number of them being 
now numbered with things of the past, while a few became permanent 
and have a present relation to their original character. 

As early as 1792 a school was started in the village, said to have 
been taught by Major Wallis ; and in 1804 Mrs. Whalley opened a 
young ladies boarding and select school. These are believed to have 
been the first schools in the village. 

On the establishment of the public school system in the State, the 
village of Canandaigua was divided into three school districts — Nos. i I, 
12 and 13, but subsequently 11 was changed to 10, and 12 to 11. In 
1 8 10 a brick school-house was erected in No. 11, on the square, west of 
the town-house site, and in 18 12 another brick school was built in No. 
10, about opposite the Catholic church, on land obtained from Colonel 
Antis. Objections were raised against the building on the square, to 

29 



226 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

remedy which Judge Atwater ofifered favorable terms to the trustees 
which induced them to buy lands opposite the old burying-ground, and 
on the lot they erected a brick school-house which continued in use 
until the school on Greig street was built, in 1851. 

School District No. 10 was organized between 18 10 and 18 13, the 
, records dating from the year last named. Among the early teachers 

in this district were Ann Gooding, Newcomb, Joseph Ryan, Ira 

Weston, Edson Carr, B. Stall, Thomas Sellman and Warner Bunday, 
A new school-house was built in the district in 1839, and enlarged in 
185 I. In 1870 preparations were made for the erection of a still larger 
school building, but nothing was in fact accomplished until 1875 when 
a one-story building was erected. In May of this year District 10 and 
ri were consolidated into a Union School District, known as No. 11. 

School District No. 13 is understood as having been organized in 
1830, but no record appears earlier than the meeting held October 10, 
1832, although a school house had be^n erected before that time. A 
new building was erected in 1832 on Chapel street, at a cost of nearly 
$500 One of the first teachers was Hiram Blanchard, followed by 
George B. Northrup, Abigail Munger, Bennett Munger, Messrs. Oakley 
and Haskell, Marshall Finley, A. R. Simmons, M. L. Rawson and others, 
about in the order named. In this connection we may also state that in 
1848 a school for colored children was opened in this district, taught 
by O. L. Crosier, followed by S. A. Sloat. 

In the Union District, after the consolidation, the trustees at once se- 
lected a suitable location for a large and attractive school building, one 
which should be an ornament to a village long noted for the superiority 
of its educational institutions. For the purpose named a committee 
was chosen, and in May, 1875, the Bennett property on the west side 
of Main street, opposite the court house was purchased at a cost of 
$11,000. During the years 1875 and 1876 the High School was 
erected at a total cost, including furnishing, of about $40,000. The 
building has a front of 79 feet, and is 1 14 feet in depth, and three stories 
high. 

The Canandaigua Academy. — This famous institution is one of the 
oldest of its class in Western or Central New York, and has an interest- 
ing and valuable iiistory, yet the story of its founding and career may 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGU7V. ,2li7 

be briefly narrated. The academy without doubt owes its origin to the 
generosity of Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorhani, but in its establish- 
ment and erection a large number of prominent residents of Canan- 
daigua and vicinity had a part, and hence are entitled to honor with 
the founders of the enterprise. 

On the 28th of January, 1791, Nathaniel Gorham and Oliver Phelps, 
proprietors of the vast Phelps and Gorham Purchase, conveyed to cer- 
tain trustees in consideration of their " own pleasure," all that tract of 
land which thenceforth became known as the " Academy Tract," for 
the purpose of "establishing an academy or seminary of learning " in 
the county of Ontario. In February, 1795, application was made to the 
Regents of the University for an act of incorporation, which resulted in 
the passage of such an act on the 4th of March following, and naming a 
board of trustees as follows: Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Phelps, Israel 
Chapin, Nathaniel Gorham, jr., Thomas Morris, Arnold Potter, John 
Smith, Timothy Hosmer, Charles Williamson, James Wadsworth, Oliver 
L. Phelps, Daniel Penfield, Ambrose Hull, John Codding, John Wick- 
ham, Moses Atwater, Judah Colt, Israel Chapin, jr., and Amos Hall. 

At the first meeting of the trustees, July 12, 1796, the name of Na- 
thaniel W. Howell was substituted in place of Israel Chapin, and that 
of Dudley Saltonstall in place of Nathaniel Gorham. At the same time 
a committee was appointed to solicit and receive subscriptions for the 
benefit of the proposed academy, and the result was donations of land 
to the extent of 6,300 acres, and cash to the amount of $4,581. In the 
same year, also, the erection of the academy building was begun, and so 
far progressed that school was opened in the fall, although several years 
passed before it was fully completed. 

The early records of the academy were so obscure and incomplete 
that there cannot be given accurately the name of the first principal or 
other teachers. However, among the early instructors in various capac- 
ities there can be recalled the names of Dudley Saltonstall, Eliphalet 
Coleman, Thomas Beals, Revs. Chapman and Howes, Rev. Ezra Wit- 
ter, and Rev James Stevenson. The teacher last mentioned came to 
the academy in 181 8, remained four years, and was succeeded by Icha- 
bod Spencer, afterward a celebrated divine of Brooklyn, N. Y. George 
Wilson followed Mr. Spencer, and in the spring of 1828 was succeeded 



228 Distort of Ontario county. 

by Henry Howe, under whose administration the institution became 
practically self-sustaining. Also during Mr. Howe's term (in 1836) the 
academy building was materially repaired and enlarged ; in fact, was 
substantially rebuilt, and so arranged as to admit boarding students. 
Mr. Howe continued his services at the head of the institution until 
March, 1849, then retiring because of failing health, and was succeeded 
by George Wilson and Noah T. Clarke, the latter becoming principal 
in 1858, and remaining in charge until June, 1882, when Rev George 
R. Smith was chosen to the position. In September, 1885, the present 
principal. Prof. J. Carlton Norris, entered upon his duties. 

The present board of trustees of the Canandaigua Academy is as fol- 
lows: Walter Hubbell, James C. Smith, William Gorham, William H. 
Smith, Noah T. Clarke. Frank H. Hamlin, Rev. Andrew L. Freeman, 
John D. McKechnie, Robert W. Walmsley, Charles A. Richardson, Rev. 
Nelson M. Calhoun, and Rev. H. C. Townley. The officers of the board 
are : James C. Smith, president ; Frank H. Hamlin, secretary and treas- 
urer. 

The Ontario Female Seminary. — In 1825, through the efforts of James 
D. Bemis, Nathaniel Jacobs, Walter Hubbell, Jared Willson, and Mark 
H. Sibley, this once notable seminary was founded and established. The 
building, a large two-story brick structure, was erected on the west side 
of Main street, on the site now occupied by the McKechnie mansion. 
The names of the first principals are unknown, but in 1830 Miss Han- 
nah Upham, associated with Arabella Smith, were placed in charge, 
and continued, the former until 1848, and the latter till 1842. In July, 
1848, Edward G. Tyler and wife assumed charge of the institution, and 
four years later the capacity of the building was much increased. In 
July, 1854, Benjamin Richards and wife succeeded to the principalship, 
although Mr. Tyler maintained a connection with the seminary until 
1867, at which time Mr. Richards assumed sole charge of its affairs. 

Notwithstanding the favorable conditions under which it was founded 
and began its career, the Ontario Female Seminary continued in ex- 
istence only half a century. The causes which precipitated its decline 
and final extinction were various, and need no recital here. The insti- 
tution was founded with an honest purpose, and upon that basis was 
ever conducted, but from lack of support was compelled to suspend 
operations. 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 229 

The Granger Place School. — In the year 1816, Gideon Granger, post- 
master-general under Thomas Jefferson, and one of the most famous 
early lawyers of Ontario county, built a family mansion at Canandaigua, 
on the grounds used by the troops for barracks during the War of 18 12, 
but which were afterward tastefully laid out and adorned with beautiful 
foliage trees, shrubbery and flower gardens. The mansion here erected 
was maintained in all its beauty and desirability for many years, and in 
1876 fittingly became an institution of learning, for the especial use of 
young ladies, and under the name above given — The Granger Place 
School. It was founded in 1 876, and among its prominent patrons may 
be named Dr. James Carey Thomas, of Baltimore, Md. ; Mr. and Mrs. 

Charles C. Morse, and Rev. and Mrs. A. H. Strong, of Rochester ; 

J. L. Brownell, of Nyack, N. Y. ; Joseph Powell, of Towanda ; Sophia E. 
Howard, M. D., of Fairport. N. Y. ; Mrs. Gideon Granger, Revs. J. H. 
France, S. E. Eiistman, and Annis F. Eastman, of Canandaigua ; Mrs. 
L. A. Skinner, of Westfield ; and Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Leach, and Thomas 
B. Heermans. of Syracuse. 

In the course of time the Granger property was offered for sale, and 
the citizens of Canandaigua,' appreciating the advantages of a superior 
school for girls and young ladies, raised a fund to assist Miss Caroline 
A Comstock, Miss Harriet J. Hasbrouck, Miss Jane M. Slocum, Mrs 
Charlotte Parmelee Crocker, all of them cultivated and experienced in- 
structors, in purchasing the estate and founding the school. This was 
in 1876, and very soon afterward the school was opened. Its object is 
" to develop womanly gifts and graces by the best methods ; to substi- 
tute true culture in place of showy accomplishments ; to impress the 
idea of responsibility in daily tasks, and to inculcate the sentiment that 
all attainment is to be sought as a means of usefulness, rather than an 
end sufficient in itself" The course of study occupies to preparatory, 
three academic, and four collegiate years. 

Churches of Canandaigua. 

The First Congregational Church. — In the year 1799 two zealous 
clergymen named Zadoc Hunn and John Rolph organized the church 
whose name stands at the head of this article. The original members 
were Enos Hawley, Abraham Root, Phineas Bates, William Shepard, 



230 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Thaddeus and Israel Chapin, William A. Williams, Harvey Steele, 
Joshua Geddings, Esther Bates, Dorothy Taylor, Abigail Warren, Abi- 
gail Chapin, Betsy Williams, Susanna Hubbard, Mather, Naomi 

Bates, and Phebe Steele. Three licentiates, in whose presence the or- 
ganization was perfected, were Jedediah Bushnell, Amasa Jerome and 
Timothy Field. The first deacon of the church was Enos Hawley, 
elected at the time of organization and who continued in that office until 
his death, August 1 1, 1807. 

The church edifice of this society was erected during the years 1812 
and 1 81 3, and was repaired and enlarged in 1848. It is an attractive 
brick structure, retaining it is said much of its original appearance, and 
may be justly considered a beautiful edifice still, an additional attraction 
and interest attaching to it on account of its age. In 1872 and 1873 
the stone chapel was built adjoining the church edifice. 

The pastors of the church have been as follows : Timothy Field, Feb- 
ruary, 1800, to June, 1805 ; Henry Channing. January, 1808, to May, 
181 1 ; William T. Torrey, February 9, 1813, to January 5, 1817 ; Evan 
Johns, October 24, 1817, to June 9, 1823 ; Ansel D. Eddy, January i, 
1824, to July 3, 1835 ; M. L. R. P. Thompson, spring of 1836 to May, 
1844; Oliver E. Daggett, January 30, 1845, to October 16, 1867 ; Fred- 
erick B. Allen, April 2, 1868, to April 2, 1873 ; Frank T. Bayley, Sep- 
tember 3, 1873, to January 3, 1878 ; William Adams, July ii, 1878, to 
December 9, 1880; Samuel E. Eastman, November 16, 1881, to Sep- 
tember 23, 1886; Newell M. Calhoun, the present pastor, was called 
September 26, 1887, and entered upon his duties January i, 1888. 

The deacons of the church with date of election, have been as follows ; 
Enos Hawley, 1799; William Shepard, January ii, 1809; Harvey 
Steele, January ii, 1809; Israel Chapin, June 24, 1810; Walter Hub- 
bell, January 15, 1824; Henry W. Taylor, November 28, 1828; Rob- 
ert Antis and Samuel H. Andrews, April 29, 1837 ; Francis J. Castle, 
February 28, 1845 ! George Willson 2d, Noah T. Clarke and W. Myn- 
derse Chipman, June 30, 1848 ; Edward G. Tyler, December 30, 1853 ; 
Joseph Byron Hayes, January 2, 1863 ; Levi B. Gaylord, December 30, 
1870; Cyrus W. Dixson and Teneyck Munson, January 11, 1882; 
Daniel Satterthwaite, March 5, 1887. The foregoing were elected for 
life, but in March, 1888, this church adopted the term of five years for 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 231 

the office of deacon, under which rule Mark S. Smith and J. Carlton 
Norris were elected May 4, 1888; A. Eugene Cooley, January 4, 1889; 
John H. Jewett, March i, 1889. 

The present church officers are as follows: Pastor, Newell M. Cal 
houn ; deacons, Edward O. Smith, Cyrus W. Dixson, Daniel Satter- 
thwaite, Charles T. Mitchell, F. H. Wisewell, A. Eugene Cooley and 
John H, Jewett; treasurer, Chas. T. Mitchell; clerk, Edward O. Smith. 
Present membership, 398. 

As early as September, 1793, the Rev. James K. Garnsey, of Massa- 
chusetts, came to Canandaigua and was for at least a year engaged in 
missionary work. The Congregational missionary societies of Massa- 
chusetts were deeply interested in the missionary cause in Ontario 
county, and through their instrumentality many of the settled pastors 
were induced to temporarily leave their charges and spend portions of 
the summer season in active duties in Western New York. Bekiah 
Hotchkiss received $34.36 for " services as a missionary to the west- 
ward in the summer season, 1798." Under date of May 29, 1799, Rev. 
Joseph Avery was empowered to receive " forty dollars on condition 
that you go and faithfully perform the duties of a missionary twelve 
weeks in the county of Ontario and its vicinities, in the course of the 
summer season following." Receipts of Joseph Avery May 29, 1796, 
$30 ; September 24, 1799, $10 "in full for my services as a missionary 
to the county of Ontario." Up to May 28, 1802, the editor has seen 
receipts from the following persons for missionary work performed, com- 
prising from foiir to twelve weeks, most of it in Ontario county, and 
some of them dated at Canandarque : Revs. Timothy Woodbridge, 
Samuel Fuller, Jacob Catlin. Abiel Jones, David Perry, Aaron Bascom, 
Samuel Leonard and Rev. Aaron Kinne. 

The following is extracted from the history of Berkshire county, Mass.: 
" I'he Rev. Zadock Hunn was called to the pastoral office (Congrega- 
tional church in Becket), September 20, 1770, and ordained June 5, 
177 1. He was dismissed in October, 1788, and subsequently removed 
to the county of Ontario, N. Y., where he labored faithfully and use- 
fully among the new settlers who were then crowding into that region. 
He died at Canandaigua May 12, 1801. He was born in Wethersfield, 
Conn., and graduated at Yale College in 1766." 



232 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

St. Johns Church (Protestant Episcopal). — Previous to 1795 there 
was neither Episcopal church or mission in all Western New York. 
The first missionary services of this church in Canandaigua were begun 
by Robert G. Wetmore in 1796, and on February 4, 1799, a mission was 
founded by Philander (afterward Bishop) Chase, and the result was the 
later parish and church of St. John's. The persons prominently asso- 
ciated with the early history of the church in this village were Ezra 
Pratt and Joseph Colt (both first wardens); John Clark, Augustus Por- 
ter, John Dickens, Nathaniel Sanborn, Benjamin Wells, Jones Field, 
Moses Atwater and Aaron Kent, who were likewise first vestrymen. 

The early efforts to establish the church in Canandaigua were beset 
with many difficulties and discouragements, and not until 18 14 was the 
parish completely organized, and not until 18 16 was a church house 
provided. Services in the mean time were held in the " Town Hall," 
Alanson W. Welton being the first officiating rector or missionary, suc- 
ceeded by Mr. Onderdonk, who afterward became Bishop of Pennsyl- 
vania. In 1 8 16 the society determined to build a church and on the 
i6th of May, following, laid the corner-stone. In December the edifice 
was consecrated, under Bishop Hobart. The old pioneer church build- 
ing continued in use from the time of its erection until 1872, and was 
then replaced with the beautiful stone edifice which now adorns the 
main street of the village, and is an honor to the parishioners who as- 
semble within its walls. 

The succession of rectors of St. John's has been as follows : Alanson 
Welton ; Rev. Dr Onderdonk, appointed 1815 ; William Barlow, Jan- 
uary 13, 1820; Augustine Palmer Prevost, 1836; Joseph Wayland, 
1844; T. M. Benedict, Alfred B. Beach, George N. Cheney, George T. 
Rider, Walter Ayrault, B. H. Hickox, C. S. Leffingwell, Eugene J. 
Babcock and Charles John Clausen, the latter being the present rector 
of the church and parish, and whose ministry began in December, 1892. 

St. John's church has a membership of communicants numbering 
185. The present church officers are as follows : Wardens, James C. 
Smith and D. R. Burrell ; vestrymen, Wm. H. Adams, H. W. Nichols, 
George T. Thompson, W. S. Ball. W. H. Tuttle, M. C. Beard, C. F. 
Booth and F. W. Chesebro. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Canandaigua Village had its 
origin indirectly in the older classes formed at Centerfield and Sand 



TOWN OF OANANDAIOUA. 233 

Hill, but the first meetings which resulted in the village society had 
their beginning in i8i I, and were held in the old court-house, A class 
was formed in 1815 by Rev. Gideon Lanning and William Boughton, 
the latter a local preacher, and in 1817 a chapel was built on Chapel 
street, the same being completed and ready for dedication in July, 
1818. 

On the 4th of February, 1823, the First Society of the M. E. Church 
in the Village of Canandaigtia was incorporated, and David Benham, 
Wm. C. Gooding, Levi Brockelbank, Ebenezer Benham and Silas Ben- 
ham were elected trustees. In 1834, during the pastorate of Wilbur 
Hoag, it became desirable for many reasons to change the location of 
the church building ; therefore a lot was purchased on Main street, and 
in the new edifice the conference of 1836 was held. In 1855 ^^^ the 
year following the building was materially repaired and enlarged at 
a cost of $8,000. 

The preachers on the circuit and pastors of this society, since 18 17, 
have been as follows : Benjamin Paddock, William Balcom, Israel 
Chamberlain, Wm. Barlow, J. B. Alverson, Loring Grant, George 
Harmon, Gideon Lanning, James Hall. Seth Mattison, Gideon Gum- 
ming, Richard Wright, Ira Fairbanks, John Parker, John Easter, Wil- 
bur Hoag, Philo E. Brown, Gideon D. Perry, Thomas Carlton, Thomas 
Castleton, Wm. H. Gooding, John Copeland, Wm. R. Babcock, John 
Parker, J. T. Arnold, Manley Tooker, E. G. Townsend, S. W. Alden, 
J. T. Arnold, K. P. Jervis, Porter McKinstry, F. G. Hibbard, J. K. 
Tuttle, D. D. Buck, F. G. Hibbard, John Alabaster, Charles Z. Case, 
Augustus W. Green, George Van Alstyne, Wm. R. Benham, Luke C. 
Oueal, Manley S. Hard, Theron Cooper, Theron Green and Edmund 
B. Gearhart, the last mentioned being the present pastor. The M. E. 
Church numbers about 500 members. 

The First Baptist Church. — In 1800 a Baptist society was organized 
at Cheshire, and in 1826 another at Centerfield, and both of these were 
afterward transferred to Canandaigua village and merged in the society 
there formed. The first meetings were held in the town hall, and in 
December, 1833, the new organization secured a lot from James D. 
Bemis, and in 1835 the church edifice was built, being dedicated in 
December of that year. The old building was of brick, forty by fifty 

30 



234 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

feet in size, and served the purposes of the congregation until 1879, 
when the present large edifice was erected on the old site. 

The pastors of the church, with dates of ordination, have been as 
follows: John B.Potter. November 5,1833; Marvin Allen, July 5, 
1834; Lewis Ransted, October 8, 1837; J. G. Haskins, January 10, 
1840; W. R. Webb, December 20, 1840; S. Wood, April 9, 1843 ; S. 
Adsit, January 4, 1844; D. Barnard. September 9, 1845; Leonard 
Whitney, November 2, 1845 ; A. S. Kneeland, May 15, 1847; ^- H. 
Douglass, December 2, 1849; W. C. Phillips, June 20, 1852; A. 
Bowles, April 23, 1853; M. P. Forbes, January 15, 1856; A- H. Lung, 
May 7, 1858 ; H. G. De Witt, supply while Mr. Lung was in the army ; 
S, W. Titus, January 16, 1865 ; J. N. Tolman, October 28, 1866; A. 
Wilkins, September 25, 1870; J. B. Ford, March 15. 1874; W. H. 
Sloan, July 21, 1878; C. E. Hiscock, December 14, 1879; S. A. Mc- 
Kay, January 20, 1877; H. C. Townley, D.D., the present pastor, who 
was called October 27, 1889. 

St. Mary's Church (Roman Catholic). — The first missionary services 
which led to the founding of St. Mary's Church and parish were held 
in Canandaigua during the early part of 1848 by Father Bernard 
O'Reilly. In December of the same year the mission became a parish 
under the pastoral care of Father Edward O'Connor. In 1849 the 
church was built, and is still standing, although it has been twice en- 
larged and repaired The succession of pastors has been as follows : 
Fathers Edward O'Connor, Charles McMullen, Michael Purcell, James 
Early, Joseph McKenna, and Dennis English. Father P^nglish came 
to the parish in May, 1869, and has been in charge of the church since 
that time. 

St. Mary's Orphan Asylum and Academy is a worthy institution 
having a connection with the church in the village. It was incorpo- 
rated October 6, 1855, and was for nearly twenty years maintained near 
the church. In April, 1873, the trustees of the church purchased, at a 
cost of $20,000, the desirable Granger property, situate at the corner 
of Main and Gibson streets, upon which the academy has been built, 
while the old and beautiful mansion is used as an asylum for Catholic 
orphan children, and also as a place of abode for the sisters of St. 
Joseph, in whose care is placed the affairs of the large parochial school, 
and guardianship of the orphans at the asylum, 



TPOWIN OF CANANDAIGUA. 235 

The First Presbyterian CJmrcJi was organized May 15, 1870, by the 
withdrawal of a number of persons of that denomination who had 
formerly been associated with the Congregational societv. A few also 
of the original membership of the new organization were drawn from 
other churches of the village. The first public meetings were held in 
the court-house, and on May 15, 1870, Rev. E. A, Huntington, of 
Auburn Theological Seminary, organized the society, fifty seven persons 
then uniting in the original membership, forty six of whom came from 
the Congregational church. John S. Worth, Harlow L. Comstock 
and William H. Lamport were chosen elders, and George Hills and 
Daniel F. Alverson deacons. The Sunda}' school was organized at 
about the same time. 

The corner-stone of the present large brick church edifice was laid 
May 30, 1 87 1, and the dedicatory services were held January 26, 1872. 
The first pastor, Samuel H. Thompson, was installed in November, 
1870, resigned January 30, 1873, and was succeeded by Rev. George 
C. Curtis on October 16, 1873. During the summer of 1875 the 
chapel was erected on the church lot. Mr. Curtis resigned the pastor- 
ate in April, 1884, and was followed by Rev. Wm. Rice, June 3, 1884. 
He resigned in October of the next year, and on the ist of February, 
1886, the present pastor, Rev. Joseph H. France, D.D., entered upon 
his duties. 

The Wesleyan Methodist Church of Canandaigua was erected in 1888 
through the generosity of John Carrington, and was by him presented 
to the connection as a free and voluntary gift. The society of this 
church was organized during the year 1891, and is under the pastoral 
charge of Rev. Sheldon F. Frazier. The church property is situated 
near the corner of Bristol and Main streets. 

Ontario Orphan Asylum. — This charitable and most praiseworthy 
institution had its inception in the efforts of a few of the generous and 
benevolent persons of Canandaigua, and although not an organization 
of the county town, maybe appropriately mentioned in this chapter. 
The articles of incorporation were executed in July, 1863, and soon 
afterward the organization was perfected, and by it provision was made 
(according to the constitution) for the election of seven trustees, and a 
board of managers, twenty- four in number, the latter to be elected 
from the female members of the corporation. 



236 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Upon the completion of the organization, the trustees purchased 
the Greenleaf homestead property, containing five acres of land, to 
which thirteen acres more were subsequently added. The building 
was remodeled and furnished for its proposed use, and the asylum was 
soon ready for the reception of orphan children of the county and vicin- 
ity. We may mention here, also, that this institution has been quite 
liberally endowed by generous admirers of its worth and purpose, and 
now possesses property and securities to the value ot $43,460.19, and 
in addition derives an annual income of $3,000 from a contingent en- 
dowment fund of $75,000. The last mentioned sum of money will 
come to the trustees absolutely upon the death of certain legatees, but 
at this time the asylum receives an annual income equal to the amount 
stated. 

The financial and more difficult affairs of the institution are vested in 
the trustees, vvho are the legal representatives of the corporation, for the 
purpose of receiving and holding the property belonging to it, while 
the conduct of all other affairs of the asylum is entrusted to the man- 
agers. The present trustees are as follows: James C. Smith, president; 
Charles A. Richardson, secretary ; F. H. Hamlin, treasurer; and Henry 
M Field, F. F. Thompson, David G. Lapham, and Max C. Beard. 

The Board of Managers is as follows : Canandaigua — Mrs. A. Mc- 
Kechnie, Mrs. F. F. Thompson, Mrs. H. T. Parmele, Miss Alice Smith, 
Mrs. Geo. N. Williams, Mrs. Charles C. Wilcox, Mrs. H. M. Field, Mrs. 
R. L. Beecher, Mrs. H. M. Finley, Mrs. William Gorham, Mrs. L E. 
Clarke, Mrs. Wm. H. Adams, Mrs. A. M. Stowe, Mrs. D. Alverson, 
Mrs. L. T. Sutherland, Miss Priscilla Hanna, Mrs. A. L P>eeman, Mrs. 
A. Scofield, Mrs. F. H. Hamhn, Miss Ida Canfield, Mrs. Wm. Allen 
Reed. 

Geneva — Mrs. J. W. Smith, Mrs. D. B. Backenstose, Mrs. N. B. 
Covert, Mrs. T. J. Skilton, Mrs. John De Lancey, Mrs. T. C. Maxwell, 
Mrs. D. P. Nelson, Miss Nancy Johnston, Miss Grace Sutherland, Miss 
Julia Sill. 

Victor — Mrs. O. S. Bacon, Mrs. C. O. Jackson, Mrs. Will Osborne, 
Mrs. Higinbotham. 

East Bloomfield— Mrs. H. E. Porter, Mrs. Helen Beebe, Mrs. E. O. 
Hollister, Miss Edna Beach, Mrs. W. Reed, Mrs. Oliver Swift. 



TOWN OP CANANDAIGUA. 237 

West Bloomfield — Mrs. S. H. Ainsworth, Mrs. Myron Shepard, Mrs. 
Will Case, Miss Harriet Hall, Miss Rebecca Orcutt. 

Clifton Springs — Mrs. Dr. Archer, Mns. C. C. Whitney, Mrs. A. A. 
Raymond, Mrs. H. Kellogg. 

Richmond — Mrs. Dr. Wilbur, Mrs. Jackson Bray. 

Bristol — Mrs. Dr. Hicks, Mrs Templar, Mrs. Gooding Packard 

Richmond Mills — Mrs. Charles Reed. 

Gorham — Mrs. John Cody. 

South Bloomfield — Mrs. Simmons, Mrs. Frank Poole. 

Canadice — Mrs. Asher Norton. 

Naples — Mrs. Geo. Gordon, Mrs. E. C. Clark. 

Shortsville— Mrs. O. S. Titus. 

Manchester — Mrs. Sarah McComb, Mrs. Edwin Pratt. 

Miller Corners — Mrs. Erastus Miller. 

The officers of the Board are as follows: President, Mrs. Charles S. 
Hoyt; directresses, Mrs. A. M. Stovve, Mrs D. Alverson, Mrs. F. H. 
Hamlin, Miss Alice Smith ; treasurer, Mrs. Henry M. Field; recording 
secretary, Mrs. Hiram T. Parmele ; corresponding secretary, Mrs. 
William Gorham. 

Brigham Hall. — This institution was founded in 1855, and was 
named in honor of the memory of Dr. Amaria Brigham, the first super- 
intendent of the State Asylum at Utica. Just on the edge of the village 
stands this hall which for many years has been a retreat for patients 
whose friends desire more privacy than is possible in a State institution. 
Beautiful grounds surround the retreat and there is a farm of lOO acres 
in connection. It was established, as has been stated, in 1855, by Dr. 
George Cook and was chartered by special act of the Legislature in 
1859, and afterwards licensed when the law so required. It was the 
first institution for the insane in the State to take the name of " hospi- 
tal," as well as the first where was made a legal requirement for admis- 
sion to have the certificate of two physicians. That personal liberty of 
patients which is now permitted in most all insane hospitals was from 
the first granted by Dr. Cook. There are four classifications on the 
male and the same number on the female side. 

In the management of the institution Dr. Cook procured the services 
of Dr. John B. Chapin, who remained until 1869, then resigning to 



238 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

enter upon the duties of superintendent of Wiliard Asylum at Ovid, In 
1876, upon the death of Dr. Cook, Dr. D. R. Burrell was appointed 
resident physician, and is assisted by Dr. C. A. Van Der Beck, asso- 
ciate physician. 

The Wood Library Association. — During the latter part of 1858 a 
few public- spirited citizens of the village made an attempt to arouse a 
popular enthusiasm, having for its object the founding of a permanent 
library for public use. The first movement in this matter, however, 
proved fruitless of good results, and it was not until May 6th of the 
next year that the organization was in part effected. The first officers 
were H. Bennett, president; F. C. Bennett, vice president ; J. G. 
Gregory, secretary ; H. J. Messenger, treasurer ; trustees, Francis 
Granger, H. O. Chesebro, Lucius Wilcox, Chester Coleman, O. H. 
Smith. The association adopted the name " Wood Library Associa- 
tion," in memory of the honorable career of William Wood, an old 
resident of the village, and a man worthily noted for purity of charac- 
ter and generous bestowal of charities. The association has rooms in 
the Town Hall, and there the library of miscellaneous books is kept. 

The Agricultural Society. — Although an institution of the county, 
rather than of the village or town, we may nevertheless in the present 
connection refer briefly to this organization, which has its permanent 
place of annual meeting in the county town. As early as 18 19 measures 
were taken for the formation of a county agricultural society, at which 
time the first proceedings were had under the patronage of the Board 
of Supervisors, and a meeting was held at the court-house. The result 
was that on February 18, the Ontario Agricultural Society was brought 
into existence with these officers : President, John Nichols ; vice- 
presidents, William Wadsworth, Darius Comstock, Philetus Swift, 
Gideon Granger, Moses Atwater ; secretary, John Greig ; treasurer, 
Thos. Beals. In addition to these officers, a board of managers was 
chosen, each town in the county (there then were thirty-four towns) 
having one representative. The first annual fair was held on October 
18, 1 8 19, and the society, fairly established, became one of the institu- 
tions of the county which has since enjoyed a permanent existence, 
though not without some vicissitudes. It paved the way for a later 
organization, formed during the fall of 1838, and known as the Ontario 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 239 

Agricultural Society, the first public meeting of which was held October 
20, 1840, at which time John Greig was its president, and Oliver 
Phelps and William W. Gorham secretaries. 

For a period of about sixteen years following this reorganization the 
annual fair was held in such town as a majority of the managers should 
designate, but in 1854 a resolution was adopted which designated Can- 
andaigua as the permanent place of meeting. During this year land 
was purchased, and as soon as possible thereafter the necessary im- 
provements were made and buildings erected. Thus, from the small 
beginning above noted, there has grown and developed a society which 
affords to the people of the county generally, and to the farmers in 
particular, a season of interest, amusement and instruction. And while 
the county fair of to-day has little resemblance to that of half a century 
ago, it is nevertheless an indispensable requisite of county progress. 
The founders of the original society offered special inducements to 
farmers to compete in enriching and making profitable their lands, and 
while the societies of the present day are not altogether deficient in this 
respect, they, as a rule, are inclined to award the greatest premiums as 
a result of contests in other directions, and to encourage sports and 
pleasures fully as much as large farm productions. However, be it said 
to the credit of the Ontario county society that it shows greater zeal in 
promoting the agricultural interests than many other of the societies of 
Central and Western New York. 

The Red Jacket Chcb. — " This association shall be known as the Red 
Jacket Club;" and "Its object shall be to promote social intercourse 
among its members and to provide for them the comforts and conven- 
iences of a club house." Such are the first and second articles of the 
constitution of the club the name of which is given above. On the 22d 
of December, 1888, the association was formed, and three days later 
its incorporation was effected and approved. Its first officers were 
James C. Smith, president; Frank Rice, vice-president; James A. 
Robson, secretary ; and William G. Antis, treasurer. 

Soon after its organization the club purchased the north portion of 
the old Gorham residence on the corner of Main and Gorham streets, 
which was remodeled and furnished for the use of the members, and 
convenience and pleasure were especially considered in accomplishing 



240 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

whatever was done in arranging the interior of the house. The officers 
above mentioned have been continued .in their respective positions until 
the present time, except that David G. Lapham succeeded Mr. Antis 
as treasurer and was in turn succeeded by George N. WiUiams. 

The Ca7iandaigua Lake Steamboat Company was organized in March, 
1890, with $35,000 capital stock. The boats of this company are the 
Onnalinda, built in 1887 ; the Ogarita, built in 1889; and the Seneca 
Cliief, a small and old boat which was put on the lake about the year 
1886. The officers of the company are L. R. Gunn, president; J. H. 
Mason, vice-president; H. S. Hubbell, treasurer; and Fred. A. Mc- 
Kechnie, secretary. 

The People s Line is the name of a still younger navigation company 
and own the new steamer Ganundawa The active man in the man- 
agement of the company is John M. Miller. 

The above remarks lead to mention of the older boats on the lake. 
The first steamer was named Lady of the Lake, built and owned by 
Canandaigua capital, and put on the lake in 1823 under command of 
Captain Isaac Parrish. The second steamboat was built, or at least 
begun, at Naples in 1845, ^"<^ floated down to this village and there 
finished in 1846. The third boat was the Joseph Wood ; the fourth the 
Ontario, and the fifth the Canandaigua. 

Banking in Canandaigua. 

In 1 813 the old Ontario Bank was chartered by an act of the Legisla- 
ture, and in the personnel of its management were the leading men of 
the county seat. Nathaniel Gorham was its president, and William 
Kibbe was cashier. The latter, however, was succeeded in 1821 by 
Henry B. Gibson, who was decidedly prominent in local history for 
many years. He continued with the bank until the expiration of its 
charter, in 1856, and afterward did a loaning business, but was not a 
banker later than that date. The Ontario Bank had a capital of $500,- 
000. 

The Ontario Bank was allowed to establish a branch bank at Utica, 
which was done April 10, 181 5. However, by some process the branch 
was operated as a banking institution of Canandaigua, and was so con- 
tinued for many years, under the direction of William B. Welles and 
H. K. Sanger. 




-^■^CampirZl, S c:. ^' 




TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 241 

The Ontario Savings Bank was incorporated April 30, 1830, the in- 
corporators being Judge Howell, H. F. Penfield, Jared Willson, Jno. 
Greig, Jno. C. Spencer, Wni. B. Welles, Oliver Phelps and P. P. Bates. 
In 1832 Thomas Beals wa? elected treasurer, and so continued during 
the existence of the bank. Afterward he conducted a private banking 
business in the village until his death in 1864. 

The Bank of Canandaigua, an individual concern, was opened for 
business April 4, 1854, and at one time had an apparent capital of 
$26,000, consisting of stocks and real estate. Theodore Hart was its 
chief managing officer, and in 1857, he secured a partner in William 
Antis, who was made cashier. After a time Mr. Antis sold his interest 
to H. J. Messenger, who changed its name and conducted its affairs. 

John Mosher succeeded to the banking business formerly conducted 
by Henry B. Gibson, and established the once well-known Exchange 
Bank. In 1861 Mosher assigned to M. D. Messenger, and then what 
was known as the Messenger Bank was started. 

The First National Bank of Canandaigua was established in 1864, 
with a capital stock of $75,000. George Cook was its president, and 
M. D. Munger, cashier. In 1873 E. G. Tyler was elected president. 
In 1887 this bank was about to liquidate and go out of business, and 
about the same time effected a sale, and was succeeded by the present 
Canandaigua National Bank, whose organization dates from December 
I, 1887. Its capital stock is $100,000. The first officers, who have 
ever since been continued in their respective positions, were: F. H. 
Hamlin, president; Robert Chapin, vice-president; H. T. Parmele, 
cashier. The Board of Directors is as follows : Dr. Henry Foster, 
Thompson Sutherland, Marvin A. Wilbur, F. H. Hamlin, W. H. Tuttle, 
H. T. Parmele, J. Henry Metcalf, Walter Marks, Robert Chapin. 

The banking firm of Williams & Barnes is the outgrowth of a bank- 
ing business established by John C. Draper in 1871. He went out of 
business in 1889, and was succeeded by Henry S. Pierce and George 
N. Williams, under the style of Pierce & Williams. In Februar)^ 1890, 
Mr. Pierce died, and immediately thereafter James W. Barnes became 
associated with Mr. Williams, under the firm name of Williams & 
Barnes. 

31 



242 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

The banking firm of McKechnie & Co. was founded and established 
by James and Alexander McKechnie in October, 1882, and although 
a private bank was nevertheless capitalized at $100,000. At the same 
time Alfred Denbow was made one of the banking firm and placed in 
charge as cashier, and so continued until 1890, the year of his death. 
He was at once succeeded by Mack S. Smith, who still fills the position. 
Alexander McKechnie died in January, 1883, and his interest passed 
to his widow and heirs. James McKechnie died in September, 1889, 
and a similar disposition was made of his interest. The active persons 
in connection with the bank at the present time are the heirs and lega- 
tees of James and Alexander McKechnie; Orin S Bacon as executor; 
Mark S. Smith, cashier; and Frank E. Howe and Fred. A. McKechnie, 
assistant cashiers. 

Business Interests — With much truth it may be said that the village 
of Canandaigua has never occupied an advanced position among the 
county seats of the State in respect to the number of its manufacturing 
interests. Indeed it has been asserted that during the early history of 
the village there was much direct opposition to encouraging manufact- 
ures in the community and that many prominent and wealthy families 
were induced to come to Canandaigua on the strength of representa- 
tions assuring them that they should not be annoyed by the presence 
of large factories. However much of truth there may have been in 
this assertion is now unimportant, but it is a fact that manufacturing - 
has never been prominent in this village. 

In general mercantile business, however, the situation has long been 
quite different, and it may be said that there has not been at any time 
a lack of men or capital in any branch of the trade. And we may also 
say, with equal truth, that there is no appearance of over competition 
in any business, but that the supply has been about equal to the 
demand. The business part of the village is peculiarly well situated, 
the stores and blocks being conveniently close to one another, and all 
well centered, 4 great convenience both to tradesman and customer. 
And there does not appear to have been any attempt to extend trade 
north of the railroad, hence the general growth has been to the south, 
on Main street, and slightly to the east and west on some of the lateral > 
thoroughfares. 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 243 

. During the early history of the village, the situation was much the 
same as at the present time, though of course less in number were 
the business houses. Some of the early and prominent merchants of 
the village we may appropriately recall. During the first score of years 
of village history there were in trade Augustus Porter & Co., Freeman 
Atwater, John Cochrane, Thompson & Benjamin, James Sibley, Robert 
Spencer, William Antis, Thompson & Benedict, Peter Brown, Little & 
Hawley, Joel Andrews, Jonathan Phelps, Luther Cole and Ira Blake, 
(general merchants), Whiting, Bemis & Co., Norton & Richards, 
Thomas Beals, Asa W. Wheeler, Charles Cameron William Johnson, 
Aaron Crane, Beals, Johnson & Tiffany, N. Gould & Co., Reuben 
Paddleford, Ebenezer Hale, N. R. Hamilton (butchers), and others 
who are perhaps equally worthy of mention but whose names cannot be 
recalled at this remote day. Concerning the prominent actors on the 
business stage at a little later period, Dr. Clarke's reminiscences afford 
considerable interesting information. About the year 1830, H. & R. 
Chapin were merchants where Cooley's hardware store is located, and 
on the other side of the street was Church's Tavern, the old FrankHn 
House which once served as a jail. Nathaniel Gorham was a merchant 
on the upper corner of Bristol street, while Wm. (Bill) Antis's gun-shop 
was on that below. Henry Howard, John A. Granger, Col. Leicester 
Phelps, B. B. Morris, Ebenezer Hale, Wm. Austin, jr., N. G. Chesebro, 
hat-maker, Bemis & Ward, book sellers, Hammond & Town, A. K. 
Van Rensselaer, J. M. Mead, Thomas B. Lyon, C. & W. Hawley, 
Albert Daniels, and others were representatives of business interests at 
that period, and each in a way of greater or less note. J. L. Wood- 
ruff & Co. and Sanford & Lewis were the principal hardware dealers, 
and Jesse Mason and Seth Lee had a morocco factory at the old tan- 
nery of Asa Stanley on Bristol street. O. E. Sibley was a dealer in 
watches; Thomas Beals & Co. sold lead and oils and seeds; Robert 
Royce, T. McNutt and A. C Leland were the local tailors. 

Of the residence portion of the village at the time, particularly on 
Main street, the same authority says : Beginning at the public square 
and going up Main street on the east side there were the following 
families: Nathaniel Gorham, Mark H. Sibley, H. K. Sanger, Mr. 
Shepard, Albert Daniels, Nathan Barlow, Dr. Dungan, Judge Howell, 



^44 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Wm. Judevine, Jared Willson, Henry Howe, Colonel Bunnell, John A. 
Stearns, Dudley Marvin. Returning on the west side, there was the 
old tavern (Northern Retreat), Dr. Jacobs, Phineas P. Bates, Elijah 
Forbes, Alex. Duncan, John Greig, John C. Spencer, Spencer Chapin, 
John A. Granger, Thos. Beals, Henry F. Penfield, Walter Hubbell, 
Ebenezer Hale, Nath. Sanborn, Mr. Brayton, Dr. Cheney, H. B. Gib- 
son, L. Jenkins and Judge Moses Atwater. 

Present Business Interests. — In this connection but little need be said 
for it is not the purpose of this work to advertise any merchant or branch 
of business. However, as we have referred to past merchants, we may 
with equal propriety mention the names of some of the more prom- 
inent business men of the day.^ 

Agricultural Implements (dealers in) — Caleb Brockelbank, Carpenter 
& Sisson, L. H. Hawley, Hopkins & Francisco. 

Bakers and Confectioners — W. M. Smith & Co., John Stevens, L. C. 
Young. 

Booksellers — F. A. De Graff & Co., William H. Foster, Stewart C. 
McKechnie. 

Boots and Shoes — Alanson Bates, Davidson & Park, Joseph Drum- 
mer, John Hoff, Edwin Lines, Thomas Skidmore, Wm. A. Widman. 

Clothiers and Merchant Tailors — J. J. Conroy, J. S. Crawford, Carl 
Huebler, Hugh McFarland, W. J. Moran, F. W. Kinde, W. M. Spangle, 
L. S. Sprague, E. Weisenbeck. 

Coopers — Benham Bros., Caleb Brockelbank, George Lindner. 

Crockery and Glassware — L B. Smith. 

Druggists — J. A. Baker, Edward W. Simmons, A. S. Newman, LeRoy 
Benham, Charles Paul. 

Dry Goods — George Bradley Anderson, established 1865 by Squires, 
Anderson & Co.; P. Lighten, Henry Simonds, J. Levy Sons, founded 
by J. Levy & Son in 1878. 

Furniture — Joseph Jahn, C. W. Newman & Son, T. Skidmore. 

Grocers — Bull & Co., S. S. Burgher.J. B. Classey, jr , Classey & How- 
ell, Eastman & Wheaton, H. W. Grimes, Wm. S. McKechnie, Moran & 
Berry, Mrs. P. Mulhgan, T. P. Murray, W. W. Parsons, Simmons & 
Humphrey (succeeded by C. R. Simmons), Frank Twist. 

1 Directoiy of 1892-93. 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 245 

Hardware— K. S. & A. E. Cooley, Alex. Davidson, Theodore Per 
kins, Mrs. J. A. Tillotson. 

Hats and Caps—C. H. Maggs, Thomas Skidmore. L. S. Sprague. 

Watchmakers and Jewelers — W. W. Case, C. E. Padleford, Z. Span- 
gle & Son, T. B. Stephenson, E. C. Williams. 

Lumber Dealers — Alex. Davidson, Wm. Garrett, Johnson & Crowley, 
G T. Thompson. 

Meat Markets — Blanchard Bros., Boyle & Gartland, Eldridge & Hus- 
bands, P. Meath. 

Tobacco and Cigars — B. H. Beck, H. Claudius (estate), Coyle Bros., 
J. J. Crough, Thomas Drooney, George French, H. Van Vechten. 

Stove Dealer — Alex. Niblock. 

Undertakers — Cheney & Kennedy, O. N. Crane, John B. Francis 
John O'Leary. 

Manufacturers — As has been intimated Canandaigua village has not 
until quite recently aspired to or attained any special degree of promi- 
nence as a manufacturing center, but since the organization of the local 
Board of Trade there has been made some effort in respect to encour- 
aging this important element of municipal prosperity. In reviewing 
this branch of local history we may briefly refer to some of the more 
prominent past industries and then mention those in operation at the 
present time. 

Throughout this chapter reference has been made to various early 
industries of the village and vicinity, in addition to which we may also 
mention the cooper-shop of pioneer Isaac Legare. Nathaniel Gorham 
and Robert Pomeroy built a large three story grist-mill at the lower 
end of Main street as early as 1825. In it were six run of stone, and 
for the time it was considered a large concern. It was finally destroyed 
by fire. H. M. Mead was the builder of a large mill near the mouth of 
Sucker Brook, which was operated for a time with indifferent success, 
and was afterward changed into a woolen mill. It also burned, but 
Mead afterward built another mill on another site in the lower part of 
the village. In 1840 Robert Higham and Francis Paul had a saw-mill, 
and about the same time John M. Terrill erected a grist-mill. 

The present firm of Smith Bros. & Co., whose large flouring mill is 
located on Mill street in this village, is the outgrowth of the original 



246 HtSTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

firm of Richmond & Miller, the latter having been formed about 1868. 
It was afterward succeeded by the firm of Richmond & Smith, during 
whose ownership (in 1879) the mill was burned. Later on a reorgan- 
ization of the partnership was effected, and the present firm of Smith 
Bros. & Co. was formed, the partners being Lucas Smith, L. L. Smith, 
and John W. Priest. The building occupied by this firm is a large 
frame structure, well adapted for its intended use. The mill has a capac- 
ity for making 150 barrels of flour daily, and employs seventeen sets 
of machinery. The present mill was built in 1879. 

The J. & A. McKechnie Brewing Company was founded by James 
and Alexander McKechnie in 1843, and since that time has ever been 
recognized as the leading manufacturing industry of the village. Al- 
though both the original proprietors are dead the company has been 
continued without interruption and its stock is all held by the descend- 
ants of the founders. The works are very extensive and are located 
on Buffalo street in the north part of the village. The annual output 
amounts to about 50,000 barrels, two-thirds being ale and the balance 
lager beer. Employment is furnished to about lOO persons. 

In the south part of the village, on Parrish street, James B. Murray 
began in a small way the manufacture of cider and vinegar about the 
year i860, and continued in that business until 1889, when James D. 
Murray succeeded him. In these years the buildings and plant had be- 
come materially enlarged, and now about 30,000 bushels of apples are 
annually made into cider. In the same building in 1891 Thomas S. 
Van Dervort began distilling cider and grape brandy, which industry 
has become quite important. 

The Robinson Chilled Plow Company was organized in 1876, but 
prior to that time the firm of Robinson & Herendeen were proprietors 
of a foundry and machine shop on the same site. In 1865 J. S. Robin- 
son became sole owner of the plant and began the manufacture of a 
common iron plow, and so continued until 1874, when he invented a 
process for chilling plows, producing a highly valuable farm implement. 
In 1876 the company was formed and its principal works located at 
Syracuse, and by it the local concern was absorbed and closed for two 
years. In 1878 work was resumed in Canandaigua by the firm of J. S. 
Robinson & Son, under the name of the company mentioned. The 



TOWN OF CANANDATGtJA. 247 

works employ about fifteen men, and the annual product amounts to 
more than five hundred plows of superior quality, and for which there 
is a rapidly increasing demand. 

In 1867 the firm Johnson, Wilcox & Norton started a lumber yard 
on Pleasant street, on the site now occupied by the sash, door and blind 
factory of Johnson & Crowly, the latter being the outgrowth of the older 
firm, though not its direct successor. The present firm was formed in 
1887, the individual members being Thomas Johnson and Wm. M. 
Crowly. 

Howe & Beard (Howe H. L. and Beard M. C.) — The Ontario Iron 
Works, of which the above are the proprietors^ were established in 1883 
by H. L. Howe as a machine shop for repair work and conducted as 
such for few years, when he was joined by Edward I. Dayton, and the 
firm was Howe & Dayton for about three years. Mr. Howe was alone 
again until 1 889, when the present partnership was established. At 
that time a foundry was added to the manufactory, and they have since 
done a very extensive business in casting and general machine business. 
Since Mr. Beard's introduction into the firm, they have enlarged the 
foundry two or three times, and have added much machinery. They 
are now manufacturing as a specialty rock and ore crushers, and ore 
granulators. 

They make a special grade of soft gray iron castings, especially use- 
ful in the manufacture of locks and light work. 

The machinery consists of four lathes, large planer, shaper, four drills, 
blacksmith forge, etc., driven by an engine of their own manufacture. 
They have also a patternshop attached, where patterns of wood and 
metal are made. The capacity of the foundry cupola is about six tons, 
and the balance in proportion The establishment employs thirty to 
forty- five hands. 

The Vanderbilt Sash Balance Company was organized in 1881, with 
a capital stock of $10,000, all of which is owned in Canandaigua. The 
company manufactures a sash balance, an ingenious and valuable pat- 
ented contrivance, designed to replace and supersede the old cord and 
weight appliance for raising and balancing window sash. The officers 
of the company are : Peter Lighton, president and treas. ; Wm. M. 
Crowly, secretary. The works are on Pleasant street. 



248 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

In the southeast part of the village, near the intersection of Salton- 
stall and Elmira streets, are the extensive brick and tile works of Willys 
& HoUis, which is worthy of at least a mention in this chapter. In the 
same connection we may also mention the spoke and hub factory of 
William Garratt, which is located at the foot of Main street, and the two 
tinware establishments which have been recently started in the village. 
These are the Lisk Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1889, 
formerly doing business in one of the outlying towns of the county, but 
which removed to the county seat and occupied extensive works in the 
eastern part of the village. This is recognized as one of the leading in- 
dustries of Canandaigua, and one that furnishes employment to many 
persons. 

The Canandaigua Tinware Company manufactures and sells the fam- 
ous " Queen Steamer and Cooker." The company was incorporated 
May 25, 1892, and is represented by the following officers : F. P. War- 
ner, president; H. C. Sutherland, vice-president; W. R. Marks, secre- 
tary and treasurer. 

Hotels. 

For many years Canandaigua has been noted for the general ex- 
cellence of its public houses, and it may truthfully be said that at 
the present time they are superior to any that have existed in the past. 
Joseph Smith was the pioneer landlord of the village, and closely fol- 
lowing him was Nathaniel Sanborn. Freeman Atwater built the On- 
tario House. Taylors Hotel cdLvne into existence about 1803, and the 
afterward famous Blossom s Hotel was built about 18 15, its first proprie- 
tor being Elisha Mills. Blossom's Hotel later on became the Canan- 
daigua Hotel, but had no relation to the present elegant hostelry which 
now bears that name. In this chapter previous mention has been made 
of the old Franklin House, which was at one time used in part for jail 
purposes. Its site is now occupied by the Webster House. 

The present Canandaigua Hotel, the largest and most commodious 
public house in the county, was built in 1852 on the site formerly oc- 
cupied by the still older hotel of the same name, the latter having been 
burned in 185 i. The next year a number of local capitalists and prom- 
inent men succeeded in having erected the large hotel, but during sub- 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 249 

sequent years the changes in ownership and proprietors have been so 
frequent that it becomes difficult to follow them. 

The Webster House was built in 1 860-61 on the site of the still older 
Franklin House, the latter having been burned in i860. 

The Masseth House wdiS built by and named for the brothers Masseth, 
and opened to the public in the spring of 1875. In addition to these 
principal hotels to which we have referred, there may also be mentioned 
other existing hotels of the village — the Lake Breeze House, located 
near the lake at the foot of Main street; the Washington Hotel, on On- 
tario street; the Tracy House, on Main street; and Ransom's Hotel, at 
the corner of Main street and the railroad avenue. 

The Canandaigua Press. 

The Ontario Gazette and Genesee Advertiser. — The first paper in the 
present county of Ontario, was started at Geneva in April, 1797, by 
Lucius Carey, and removed to Canandaigua in 1799. Mr. Carey con- 
tinued to publish it until 1802. John Keep Gould, who then became 
the publisher, changed its name to The Western Repository and Genesee 
Advertiser, and in 1803 it was again changed to The Western Repository. 
James D. Bemis became interested in its publication in 1804 ^"d in 
1808 he issued it as The Ontario Repository, and continued it until 1828. 
The paper was published by Morse & Ward, Morse & Wilson, and 
Morse & Harvey until 1835, ^'"^^ until 1840 by Chauncey Morse. The 
last named was succeeded by Geo. L. Whitney, who, in January, 1856, 
sold it to H. G. Moore. The following month the office was burned 
and the paper suspended. In May following it was revived as The 
National New Yorker and Ontario Repository by H. G. Moore and Dr. 
B. F. Tifft, and in May, 1857, it passed into the hands of Geo. L. Whit- 
ney & Son, who sold it to Geo. W. French, of Geneva, October 10, 1861. 

TJie Ontario Pha;nix was issued at Canandaigua by W. W. Phelps in 
1827, and was afterward published by R. Royce, who soon after changed 
its name to The Freeman. In 1836 it was united with the Repository. 

The Ontario Freeman was established at Canandaigua by Isaac Tif- 
fany in 1803. In 1806 it passed into the hands of John A. Stevens, 
who changed its name to The Ontario Messenger. 

32 



250 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

It was successively published by Day & Morse, L. L. Morse, B. W. 
Jones, and F. B. Hohn. The latter was succeeded in November, 1845, 
by Jacob J. Mattison. On February 10, 1862, Mr. Mattison bought 
The Repository of Mr. French and consolidated the two papers. Mr. 
Mattison continued The Repository and Messenger until his death in 
1879, a part of the time having been associated with his son Clarence. 
After Mr. Mattison's death, his estate sold the paper to Wm. H. Under- 
hill, of Bath. The latter conducted it about three years, when he died, 
and his father, A. L, Underhill, became the owner about March, 1883, 
and managed the paper till December 15, 1885, when Herbert Hunting- 
ton purchased it, and has since been sole owner. 

The Ontario County Times was established January i, 1852, in what 
was then known as the Southerland block, on Main street, directly 
opposite the present office of the Times, by N. J. Milliken, its present 
senior editor and proprietor. Here the establishment was wholly de- 
stroyed by fire in February, 1853. In 1855 Mr. Milliken sold the paper 
to Wilson Millor, by whom it was continued as the Ontario Times. In 
February, 1856, the establishment, then located in the Lyons block on 
the west side of Main street, was again burned, and in May of the same 
year Mr, Milliken, having renewed the publication of the paper and 
found temporary quarters in what was then known as the Bemis block, 
again set the wheels in motion. In 1858 the office was removed to the 
Phoenix block, on the east side of Main street Here it remained until 
January i, 1873, when it was removed to its present location on the 
west side of the street. 

Mr. Milliken continued the sold proprietor and editor-in-chief until 
January i, 1891, when he took his eldest son, Charles F. Milliken, into 
partnership, and the business has since been conducted under the firm 
name of N. J. Milliken & Son. 

Having been founded as the organ of the Free Soil wing of the old 
Whig party, the Times was an active participant in the events that led 
to the formation of the Republican party, and its editor took a promi- 
nent and honorable part in the early proceedings of that political or- 
ganization. For twenty years the Times wdiS the only Republican paper 
published at the county seat, and it continues to maintain the promi- 
nence in circulation and influence that it won almost at the outset. 




J^/^^^S^ oV^-^^^-^^t^^&^^I, ^ 



TOWN OF CANANDAIGUA. 25i 

The TtPies has given special attention to the compilation and publi- 
cation of the history of the county, and has called to its aid in this task 
the services of such able local historians as Hon. George S. Conover, 
Dr. N. T. Clarke, the late Hon. H. W. Taylor, the Thomas M. Howell, 
esq., the late William Hildreth, Mr. Irving W. Coates, and the Rev. 
Anson Titus. In its files are preserved a large amount of valuable his- 
torical material, as well as a complete record of current local events. 

The Times was the first among the county weeklies of the State to 
inaugurate the enterprise of gathering and publishing, the night after 
election, the complete returns of the vote, and it was the first, also, 
among this class of papers, to publish portraits and biographical sketches 
of men of home and national prominence. 

From the very limited and crude equipment within the reach of coun- 
try printing offices at the time of its establishment, the Times office has 
steadily progressed, until its plant now includes every facility requisite 
in a first class modern printing office and book bindery. 

The Ontario County Journal had its beginning with the year 1874. 
The first number was really printed two weeks before the opening of 
that year, but was dated ahead, as was the one of the following week, 
to offer time to the first editor and publisher in which to establish the 
infant newspaper upon a firmer basis before issuing the regular num- 
bers upon the dates announced in the title. 

The history of journalism in Ontario county was thought to have 
proved that but two contemporary newspapers could maintain an exist- 
ence. Several journals had had a painful birth, a troubled existence, 
and an early death. Notwithstanding this history of newspaper calami- 
ties, George D. A. Bridgman, in the year already named, came to Can- 
andaigua and fearlessly established the Ontario County Journal. Not 
one promise of help had been made the editor. The first edition was 
struck off without a single name upon the subscription list; yet at the 
end of the first year the paper had eight hundred bona fide paying sub- 
scribers, and the Ontario County Journal was upon a firm, paying basis. 

The first office of publication was in the second story of the Hubbell 
block, on the west side of Main street, at the point where the street is 
crossed by the Central- Hudson road. The rooms were those now 
occupied by Crandall Brothers, photographers. 



252 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

The Journal was originally an Independent Republican paper. A 
change occurred, however, within the year, when it took an advanced 
stand toward radical Republicanism. That position has ever since been 
zealously maintained. At no time in its history has the Journal stepped 
aside to espouse factionalism, or relaxed its vigorous fight for the tenets 
of its party. 

The Journal has twice changed its form. Started as a folio seven 
column paper, it changed June ii, 1875, to an eight column paper, 
and July 30, 1880, changed to its present form, with nine columns to 
the page. 

In the year 1879, when the McKechnie block, occupying the corner 
of Main and Niagara streets, was being erected, arrangements were 
entered into by which a special building should be made for the Jour- 
nal. The work of construction was adapted to the end in view, and, as 
a result, the Journal has occupied since the year 1880 the most con- 
veniently arranged and appointed office in Ontario county. 

In May, 1886, Mr. Bridgman sold the Journal \o William G. David, 
who had previously been connected with the Oneida Dispatch. Mr. 
David had desired to secure control of the Lyons Republican, a paper 
published at his home, and, accordingly, when in September, 1887, he 
was able to purchase that paper, he sold the Journal to its former editor, 
Mr. Bridgeman. 

The paper was thus again continued under its original proprietor un- 
til in July, 1 89 1, Mr. Bridgman desiring to lay aside the task which had 
absorbed the energy of his life, sold the paper again, this time to the 
present editors and proprietors, Edwin P. Gardner and William H. 
Hamlin, both of Canandaigua. 

The Journal, in their hands, has increased in circulation until there 
are now over two thousand names upon the mailing list. The adver- 
tising department, with increased tariff, has been extended almost to 
its limit. The job department of the paper has had an unusual advance, 
the books showing nearly twice as much business done during the year 
1892 as in any single year preceding. 

As has been said before, the Journal is always radically, a non- fac- 
tional Republican paper. It never pauses to consider the ultimate re- 
sults financially, but, believing in the eternal justness of Republican 
principles, it at all times advocates them with vigor. 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 25.3 

Published Friday morning of each week, the Journal has the oppor- 
tunity of carrying to its readers later news than is contained in any 
other local paper, and places that news before the eyes of its subscribers 
at a time when the agricultural classes, who form a large number of its 
readers, have most convenient leisure for its perusal. 

Referring briefly to other newspaper publications which have had an 
existence in the county seat, we may mention The Republican, a 
weekly paper started by T. M. Barnum in 1824. Its life, however, was 
quite brief. 

The Clay Club, a campaign paper, was printed at Canandaigua in 
1844, and continued a short time. 

TJie Seminarian was the name of a monthly journal started it 185 i, 
and, as indicated by its title, was devoted mainly to the interests of the 
seminary then in operation in the village. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN AND VILLAGE OF GENEVA. 

THE original town of Seneca was composed of township 9 and the 
south half of township 10, range i,of the Phelps and Gorham tract; 
also so much of the " Gore " as was east of the same and which lay be- 
tween the old and new pre-emption lines. From this the town of Ge- 
neva was set off October ii, 1 872, and embraced "All that part of the 
town of Seneca lying east of the west line of the first tier of township 
lots next west of the old pre-emption line," or, all that part of the old 
town of Seneca which was in the gore, and the eastern tier of lots in 
townships 9 and 10. 

The history of this town has a peculiar interest, and forms a record 
without parallel in any other of the civil divisions of Ontario county. 
However, it is difficult to separate the history of the town from that of 
the corporate village, yet we may mention the names of some of the 
early settlers of the town without reference to particular location, and 



254 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

later treat of the history of the village as a separate municipal organi- 
zation, devoting to it the greater attention, for here have taken place 
many of the most important events in connection with the history of the 
Genesee country. 

Gleaning information from all sources, we may mention among the 
pioneers of the town Jerome Loomis, whose settlement in the northwest 
portion was made in 1788. He was a survivor of the Revolution and 
a man of influence in the new country. About the same time came 
Major Sanford Williams, Phineas Stevens, William Ansley, a Pennsyl- 
vanian, made an improvement in the south part of the town. Other 
pioneers and early settlers whose names can be recalled, but the date of 
whose location in the town cannot be accurately determined, were John 
Scoon, Thomas Huie.the latter having been in service during the War of 
1812, thus gaining the title of "Major"; Thomas McKelvie, James 
Barnes, Cornelius Roberts, Benjamin Cromwell, the latter being a pioneer 
tanner at " Cromwell's Hollow " ; Aaron, Hugh and Archibald Black, 
James Armstrong, William Price, John Mclntyre, Adam Fisher, George 
Wilkie, Christopher Richardson, Mathew Bennett, and others whose 
names are now lost, and all of whom contributed with their families to 
increase the town's population, and who were also identified with the 
improvement and development of this fertile region. 

The reader will of course understand that the persons herein named 
were pioneers of Seneca, not Geneva, but in that portion of the old town 
which was set ofif and separately organized in 1872. This mention 
naturally leads us to make a record of the organization of the youngest 
town of Ontario county, though at the same time the most populous, 
the first town meeting of which was held at the Franklin House, March 
4. 1873, when these officers were elected : Supervisor, John J. Doolittle • 
town clerk, Charles Kipp; justices, George W. French and Martin H. 
Smith ; assessors, George R. Long and William H. Gambee ; overseer 
of poor, Wm. H. Dox ; commissioner of highways, Samuel S. Graves ; 
collector, Edmund S- Spendlow. 

In this connection, also, may properly be given the succession of in- 
cumbents of the chief office of the town, viz.: Supervisor, John J. Doo- 
little, 1873-75; Abraham Robinson, 1876-77; William Slosson, 1878- 
8b; Charles A. Steele, 1881 ; O, J. Cammann Rose, 1882-84; Charles 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 255 

A.Steele. 1885-86; E. Bayard Webster, 1887; Philip N.Nicholas, 
1888-91 ; Walter Clark, 1892-93. 

The present principal town officers of Geneva are : Walter A. Clark, 
supervisor; John W. Mellen, town clerk; Stephen Coursey, D. W. 
Colvin and Robert Bilsborrow, assessors ; George W. Nicholas, William 
P. O'Malley, Edward N, Squires and John G. Farwell, justices of the 
peace. 

Among the prominent settlers of rather an early day was Judge John 
Nicholas, who came to Geneva in 1801 and contracted for the purchase of 
a large farm at the White Springs, and with him was his brother-in-law, 
who contracted far a large farm in Seneca county at the northeast cor- 
ner of Seneca Lake. These two gentlemen with their families and slaves 
emigrated from Virginia in 1803 and settled down on their respective 
farms, both becoming actively engaged in agricultural pursuits and in 
raising and improving the breed of sheep. They were both very prom- 
inent and influential men in this community. Mr. Rose was three times 
elected to the Legislature, was a member of the constitutional conven- 
tion in 1 82 1 and for six years a member of Congress. He died No- 
vember 24, 1835. John Nicholas was appointed first judge of Ontario 
county March ii, 1805, and served as such until March, 18 19, and was 
a member of the State Senate 1806-9. He died December" 31, 1819. 

Cephas Hawkes, who with his brothers Eleazer and Joseph were early 
settlers in Phelps, previous to the War of 181 2 erected a large woolen 
factory at the White Springs on the farm of Judge Nicholas ; bought 
fine wool of the Wadsworths and others; sold cloth at from $5 to $12 
per yard, and made money rapidly, but after the war low prices pre- 
vailed and consequent failure succeeded. He removed to Michigan. For 
many years a grist mill was operated at this place, but some years ago 
it was destroyed by fire, and the enterprise was abandoned. 

The Village of Geneva. 

On the 4th of April, 1806, the Legislature of the State passed an act 
•' to vest certain powers and privileges in the freeholders and inhabi- 
tants of the ' village of Geneva,' in the county of Ontario," which act was 
the first authoritative recognition of the existence of a village of that 



256 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

name, and here, ordinarily, the history of the body corporate and pohtic 
would naturally begin. However, as early as the year 1788 the village 
of Geneva had a distinct and positive existence, and the name by which 
it is now known was then in use, first applied during that year, and, it 
is supposed, so given in allusion to Geneva, a municipality in Switzer- 
land. The tradition is that the name was given by a Swiss engineer in 
the employ of Charles Williamson, but inasmuch as Williamson had no 
interest in this region until the fall of 1791, and never saw the Genesee 
country until he made a flying visit to it in February, 1792, and there 
are a number of documents yet in existence bearing date October and 
November, 1788, in which the name of Geneva is used, the fallacy of 
the tradition is apparent. Two of these papers, a letter of Dr. Caleb 
Benton to William Walker, October 15, 1788, and a letter of Enos 
Boughton, November 7, 1788, can be found pasted in the back part of 
Vol. I, Village Records. In addition there are contracts of Wm. 
Walker with John Decker Robison ; Hickox, receipt for goods stored 
for the winter, and dated 1788 ; certificates of Benj. Allen and Eleazer 
Lindsley ; letter of Major Ab'm Hardenberg to Gov. Ch'nton, 1789; 
map of Genesee lands, 1790, and two journals, 1791, all using the name 
of Geneva for this place. 

In noting the history of this old village we may go back still further 
and to a time when the first inhabited village here was known as Kan- 
adesaga, the capital of the Senecas, the home of their famous king 
Say-en quer agh ta, and one of the most important Indian villages in 
the whole Iroquois country. This Indian village was located about two 
miles northwesterly from the foot of Seneca Lake, just outside the 
corporate limits of the village of Geneva, and is now in part occupied 
by the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. In 1756, as 
is fully narrated in a preceding chapter, General William Johnson 
caused to be built the first structure in this region in which civilized 
white man took a part, and this was the stockade or palisade fortifi- 
cation and block houses to be used by the Senecas and English in 
defending themselves against an attack by the French. However, there 
was no permanent occupancy of the fortress, or of Kanadesaga, by the 
whites during the period of the last French war, but its erection had 
the positive effect of cementing the friendship of the Senecas of this 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 257 

region to the English cause, which action was a highly important factor 
in the British interest in the success finally achieved by that power. 

At a still later day, during the early years of the Revolution, Colonel 
John Butler, in command of the English tories at Niagara, caused to 
be erected within the limits of the present village of Geneva a barracks 
and storehouse, which stood near the canal bridge and which were 
occupied as a place of rendezvous and military depot in the British 
interest. From this point there were sent out various marauding and 
destroying parties, until the depredations and merciless slaughters per- 
petrated by the bloodthirsty savages and their no less inhuman white 
companions could no longer be borne in silence. It was from here that 
the Indians marched to the bloody battle of Oriskany, and with their 
English allies to the bloody scenes of Wyoming, Cherry Valley, Fort 
Freeland and other places on the frontiers of New York and Penn- 
sylvania. To avenge the outrages and punish the Indians, General 
Sullivan invaded this country, burned every habitation and other 
building, and destroyed the growing crops and vast orchards which 
abounded in the region. The Seneca village of Kanadesaga with all its 
appurtenances was dcitroyed in September, 1779. Butler's buildings 
were also destroyed at the same time, and the same is noted in the 
journals of some of the officers, and recorded on the map of the surveyor 
who accompanied the army as " Tory Butler's Quarters." 

The name Kanadesaga was bestowed by the Indians not only upon 
their " new settlement village," but also upon the creek, the lake, the 
outlet, and at a subsequent day it was transferred to Geneva After 
the destruction of the village by General Sullivan in 1779, no permanent 
settlement was ever made at that place, although it was temporarily 
occupied at different times by small bands of Indians. After the close 
of the Revolutionary War, when traders and speculators began to pene- 
trate into the country, the focus of operations was " under the hill," on 
present Exchange street, at and south of the east end of Seneca street. 
Here a trading establishment sprang up, and it was here that the cabins 
of the Indians became located and all operations between them and the 
white people were carried on This place was the headquarters of the 
notorious " Leasee Company," and here they had their trading estab- 
lishment with Dr. Caleb Benton, at its head, and which was located 

33 



258 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

" under the hill where the bluff approaches the lake," or near the foot 
of " Colt's Hill" or present Washington street. It was at this point 
that the " Leasees " carried on their operations against the State and 
for a long time prevented any successful negotiations by the State with 
the Indians, freely supplying them with provisions and liquor, keeping 
the Indians in a continual state of intoxication, severely threatening 
and ordering off the ground Peter Ryckman and Colonel Seth Reed, 
who were using their influence in favor of the State, and using even an 
armed force to prevent the Indians from going to the treaty. Dr. Benton 
and Col. McKinstry having from twenty to thirty riflemen under arms 
for about twenty- four hours for that purpose. It was here that John 
Livingston, Dr. Benton and others held a treaty with the Indians, 
November 30, 1787, by which they obtained for themselves and associ- 
ates of the " Leasee Company " the lease for 999 years of all the lands 
of the Indians in the State. It was here that the first permanent occu- 
pation of the place was made, the early settler being Elark Jennings, 
whose unfinished log cabin, the first tavern in the place, was found by 
the committee of exploration of Jemima Wilkinson's followers in the 
early summer of 1788. This tavern was located on the west side of 
Exchange street, north of the foot of Washington street. This was the 
place where the traders, speculators, surveyors and others gathered and 
formed the nucleus for the settlement of the new country. This place 
became known as Kanadesaga, while the old locality was designated as 
the Old Castle. The distinctive difierence was well known and fully 
recognized by the early settlers, and is fully evidenced by many docu- 
ments yet in existence. The map of the traverse and survey of Seneca 
Lake, now in possession of Cayuga County Historical Society, Auburn, 
N. Y., made in August, 1789, by Captain John L. Hardenbergh, one 
of the surveyors of the Military Tract, places " Cannadasego " on the 
lake shore south of the mouth of Cemetery Creek, the very spot afore- 
mentioned, and thus fully corroborates and positively settles the place 
of the first settlement at Geneva. 

The Indian village of Kashong, situate on the lake shore on Kashong 
Creek, about seven miles south of Geneva, has been alluded to in an- 
other place, but as the locality was intimately connected with the early 
history of Geneva, it may be stated here that under date of August 15, 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 259 

1789, Capt. Hardenbergh notes on the above map the " Frenchman's 
house " as being " 18 chains south of Sawmill Creek." The Frenchman 
alluded to was Dominique De Bartzch, a French trader, who occupied 
the place with Joseph Poudre, the latter married to an Indian woman, 
and receiving a grant of land at that place from the State. Kashong 
Creek, in consequence of a saw-mill having been erected on it by Dr. 
Caleb Benton, was called Sawmill Creek. 

In 1788 the Widner family settled in the village, locating where 
afterwards stood Tillman's tannery, near the northeast corner of Ex- 
change and Castle streets. According to the reminiscences of John 
Widner the inhabitants then were Peter Bartle, Elark Jennings and 
Horatio Jones. The latter was living in a log house covered with bark. 
In 1 78 1 he was captured by the Indians, adopted by them, and having 
learned their language, was an interpreter in after years. In this settle- 
ment he was a trader, having a small stock of goods. His son, William 
W. Jones, born on this site in 1786, is said to have been the first white 
child born west of Utica. Elark Jennings kept tavern in a log house at 
the foot of the hill, as noted above. Peter Bartle was also a trader. 
Herman H. Bogert commenced the practice of law in 1797, was a large 
land operator and a prominent man. Ezra Patterson was an early set- 
tler in the village, a tavern keeper, whose house stood about where the 
Mansion House is on Seneca street, and in which the first court in On- 
tario county was held in 1793. He was an early supervisor of the 
town, and in 1806 a member of the Stkte Legislature. 

Among the other early inhabitants of the village were Major Ben- 
jamin Barton and Joseph Annin, a carpenter named Butler, Dr. Will- 
iam Adams, the first physician, Gilbert R. Berry and Asa Ransom, 
silversmiths. Mr. Widner also relates that the early settlers near the 
" Old Castle " were Jerome Loomis, Col. Seth Reed, Sanford Will- 
iams, Isaac MuUender, and families named Crittenden. Solomon War- 
ner, Ringer and others, while further south lived pioneer Phineas 
Stevens. Jonathan Whitney was also an early settler at the Old 
Castle. 

Although a subject which is fully treated in an earlier chapter, we 
may here briefly state that Geneva was supposed to be a part of the 
Phelps and Gorham purchase, and for the purpose of carrying out his 



260 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

plans Oliver Phelps arrived at the place on June 2, 1788, and here he 
proposed to treat with the Indians for the purchase of their title to the 
land. Here also he proposed founding a city, but the fact was soon 
made apparent that, according to the survey, Geneva or Kanadesaga 
was east of the pre-emption line, hence on the land claimed by the 
lessee company. Mr. Phelps thereupon moved to Canandaigua and 
established his land ofifice at that place. After the withdrawal of the 
proprietary in the fall of 1788,* Geneva became a village of some note 
and was the center of operations for land speculators, explorers, the 
lessee company and its agents, and the principal seat of the Indian 
trade. Horatio Jones lived in a log house on the lake shore and had a 
small stock of goods ; Asa Ransom occupied a log hut and made Indian 
trinkets ; Elark Jennings kept the log tavern, while the lessees had a 
larger framed hotel, yet roofed with bark, which stood near the lake 
shore about where the high land is nearest the water. Dr. Benton oc- 
cupied the tavern. There was also a cluster of log houses along the 
low ground near the lake. The geographical locations were designated 
" hill " and " bottom." Peter Ryckman and Peter Bartle ; Col Seth 
Reed was at the Old Castle site, and Dominique De Bartzch, whose 
chief seat was at Kashong, was a frequent visitor to the settlement. 

It may here be stated that most of the improvements and settlements 
made on the village tract previous to 1793 were accomplished under 
the direction of Reed and Ryckman and the lessee company. It was 
here also that the company conducted their negotiations with the In- 
dians which resulted in the historic "long lease;" and here, too, the 
lessees and others held their meeting on November 25, 1793, which 

* The following historical paper, yet in existence, is of much historical importance : 

Memorandum of Articles left at Geneva in care of Hickox, viz. : 

4 Tierces of Beef, 500 lbs. each ?,ooo 

15 Bbl. of do. 300 each 4i50o 

Package do. 150 

Total - 6,650 

4 Blankets, 7 Empty Barrills, 2 half Do., i cag, 4 Bags, 1 Horse Collar, i Saddle and 3 Bridle, 3 
Tin kettle with covers, i Do. Jack, i small rope, 2 pr. Horse Shoes, 2 axes, i Brass cock', 2 Candle- 
sticks, part of a cask of nails, g Tea cups and lO Saucers, 1 Tin pan, 6 Tea spoons, 6 Earthen 
plates, 8 Knives, 10 Forks, i Coffee Pot, i Iron Tea kettle, i pewter platter, i spider, i Iron Kettle. 
Rec'd the key of the Store containing the aforesaid Articles and provisions I promise to ren- 
der an acc't of to William Walker, as Agent for Messrs. Gorham, Phelps and Company on 
Demand. HiCCOCK. 

Geneva, Nov'r 24, 1788. 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 261 

they intended to result in the formation of a new state. This scheme 
failed, being defeated through the vigilant efforts of Ontario county 
citizens, and in the same year the first court in this county was held in 
the village. Reed and Ryckman were the owners of 16,000 acres of 
land in the gore, and the south part of the village has been built up on 
that tract. Seth Reed became the owner of 2,000 acres north of this 
tract, while to the east lay the Military tract on which the northeast 
part of Geneva has been built. However, Reed and Ryckman received 
but little benefit from their vast tract, the same passing to Leonard M. 
Cutting in 1791, thence to various owners, but the titles becoming 
valueless after the running of the new pre-emption line, the recognized 
owner, under whose administration the village was in fact founded was 
Charles Williamson, representative of the Pulteney Associates. 

As above indicated, the village of Geneva may be considered in three 
parts. The patent granted to Reed and Ryckman, commonly called 
their reservation, comprised all the land in theTvillage of Geneva south 
of what is known as the Reed and Ryckman line, which commenced at 
Seneca Lake, about two rods north of the mouth of Cemetery Creek, 
and ran due west on a line two chains north of Seneca street, as said 
street was originally laid out (it being then four rods wide and formerly 
called Genesee street), and continuing on in a due west course and 
along the north boundary of the Pulteney Street burial ground and 
through the center of High street to the old pre-emption line, and is 
the base line of all the original surveys of the village. The reservation 
was bounded on the east by Seneca Lake, on the west by the old pre- 
emption line, and extended south in Yates county, comprising 16,000 
acres of land. 

The patent of Colonel Seth Reed's location comprised all that part of 
the village lying north of the Reed and Ryckman line, between the old 
pre-emption line on the west and the Military line on the east, and em- 
braced that part of the town of Geneva almost to the present south line 
of the town of Piielps. It comprised 2,000 acres of land. 

All that part of the village lying east of Seth Reed's location, and 
bounded on the west by the Military line which started at Seneca Lake 
at the east end of the Reed and Ryckman line, and run north 3^ 45' 
east, crossing the west side of present Exchange street at Castle Creek 



262 HiSTORt OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

and continuing on to Lake Ontario. Thi.s comprised the northeast 
part of the village and town, and falling within the Military tract was 
granted by the State to different soldiers of the Revolution. 

As has been stated in another place these lands were finally found to 
be within the cession to Massachusetts, and the New York State grants 
were void, and so recognized by the State, who granted compensation 
lands in other parts of the State for the loss of title. "^ 

Geneva being located at the northwest corner of Seneca Lake, it may 
here be stated, that the only thorough survey of the lake was made by 
triangulation during the summers from 187S to '83, under the direction 
of Prof. E A. Fuertes, Dean of the department of Civil Engineering, 
Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. The following is a summary : 

Seneca Lake. 

Place. Width. Depth. 

Watkins 5.250 ft. variable 

8^ miles from 7-750 560 ft 

17 " " * . 12,000 580 ft 

25i " " 13.000 438 ft 

Geneva 10,000 variable 

Total length along axis 34 miles. Greatest depth — 618 feet, 12.1 
miles from Watkins or 1.5 miles north of North Hector Landing 

Greatest width — 3.12 miles opposite Dresden, which is 22.7 miles 
from Watkins. Here the deepest point is 500 feet below water. 

From the foregoing it will be seen that the length of Seneca lake is 
34 miles.. This, of course, is in a direct straight line. The route of 
Sullivan's army in 1779 along the east shore of Seneca Lake, as 
measured by the surveyor who accompanied the army, was about 35 
miles. At a very early day, and before there was any settlement 
of moment at present Watkins, the head of navigation was some three 
or four miles up the inlet at Catherinestown, so named in consequence 
of its being the residence of Catherine Montour, a prominent Indian 
character, sometimes called Queen Catherine, the site of which is now 
known as Havana. To this point the early sloop made regular trips, 
and it was commonly called the head of the lake, and from this fact the 
length of the lake came to be called (in round numbers) 40 miles. 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 263 

notwithstanding the measurement of 35 miles by the surveyor of Sulli- 
van's army was well known. 

In a preceding chapter will be found an account of the life and work 
of Captain Williamson, wherefore in the present connection little need 
be said further than to record the more important of his acts relating 
to the early history of Geneva. He first visited the village in February, 
1792, and found himself confronted with many obstacles, for everything 
which was British met with disfavor from the settlers, especially those 
who had served in the Revolutionary War. In 1793 Williamson was in" 
Geneva much of the time, looking up his interest in that quarter. He 
took possession of the Reed and Ryckman Reservation and caused the 
northern part of that tract to be surveyed into village and out lots, the 
work being done by Joseph Annin, whose map stands to this day as 
the original reference map of the titles to that part of the village. John 
Livingston, having become the owner of the title of Reed and Ryck- 
man, brought an ejectment suit against Williamson, but in 1794 or '5 
the court in the city of New York decided in favor of Williamson, John 
Cuyler, of Albany, being his attorney. 

Seth Reed's location was surveyed and plotted by Jacob Hart in 
May, 1790, and the map still stands as the reference for land titles in 
that tract. Williamson allowed the titles which had emanated from 
the original grantee to stand, but became the owner of many such by 
purchase. 

In 1794 Williamson began preparations for extensive improvements, 
but not until his titles were confirmed was anything substantial really 
done. By the village survey Main street became the principal thor- 
oughfare, while the laterals were South (St. Clair), Middle (Hamilton), 
and North (Washington) streets. Along Main street the first and most 
important improvements were made in 1796. At the south end of the 
street a fine country house was begun, and completed the next year; a 
large and convenient tavern was erected (now a part of the Hygienic 
Institute), and about the same time a sloop of forty tons burden was 
built and launched on Seneca Lake. This craft was intended to run 
as a packet boat between Geneva and Catherinestown (Havana), and 
was the first vessel of any size built on Seneca Lake. A copy of the 
first newspaper published in Geneva is in the Reynolds Library, 



264 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Rochester, N. Y. It was established by Williamson, published by 
Lucius Carey, dated November 24, 1796, and called the 0)itario County 
Gazette and Western Chronicle. 

Although plotted on the map of 1793, Main street, on the hill, was 
not laid out and regulated until 1796, and it was the intention of Will- 
iamson that no buildings should ever be erected on the east side of the 
street, thus perpetuating a free and unobstructed view of the lake, and 
it is a misfortune that this original intention was not strictly adhered to. 
Many other large and well finished houses were completed during the 
year 1796. The house at the south end of Main street, known as the 
Mile Point House, cost $4,228.84. James Barden, who had leased the 
Dr. Benton saw mill on Kashong Creek, supplied the lumber, his bill for 
the same being $425.45, and as early as December 13, 1794, David 
Bryant, of Geneva, received $500 in payment for 100,000 brick fur- 
nished by him for this house. The Mile Point house was a large and 
spacious mansion, standing on the triangular piece of ground at the 
south end of Main street, fronting to the north and commanding a fine 
view of the street. It was demolished more than sixty years ago, prev- 
ious to which it had the reputation of being " haunted," and was a 
terror to many of the people. 

The Geneva Hotel, above mentioned, was an institution of more than 
ordinary importance. Its construction began in the spring and was 
finished in the fall. It fronted on the large open park and was in all 
respects an imposing building, and one the reputation of which extended 
throughout the State, and was maintained for more than half a century. 
Its first landlord was Thomas Powell, whom Captain Williamson se- 
lected, and who contributed much to its early success. At this hotel 
was a general rendezvous for the stage lines and wagons carrying mer- 
chandise from the east to the west. It was also a famous resort for all 
travelers, and many public officers have found entertainment and rest 
within its comfortable walls. Wm. Powell succeeded Thomas Powell 
as landlord. The old house at last fulfilled its mission, but still main- 
tains a quasi existence as a hotel, being a part of the popular Sanita- 
rium now owned and managed by Dr. A. B. Smith. The cost of the 
building was $9,577-39, the bill of David Abbey for carpenter work 
being $4,538.47, of John Woods, mason, $77490, and of James Barden 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 



265 



for lumber, $1,411.40. Captain Williamson had two rooms in this 
hotel appropriated to himself, and he took care that Landlord Powell 
did justice to the establishnient and his guests, so that as regarded 
provisions, liquors, beds and stabling there were few inns in America 
equal to this hotel. 




THE GENEVA HOTEL IN 1835. 

The foregoing is a good representation of the old Geneva Hotel as it 
appeared in its glory many years ago. It shows the original wooden 
building in front, as erected by Captain Williamson in 1796, and the 
brick addition in the rear built in 1828 by William Tillman. It fronts 
on the public square or Pulteney Park, the addition in the rear on Wash- 
ington street, comprises about one half of the building as shown in the 
cut. The engraving, having been made many years ago, does not show 
the beautiful condition of the parkas it now is It has been owned and 
occupied a number of years by A. B. Smith, M. D., as a hygienic insti- 
tute, a large brick addition on the rear on Washington street having 
been erected by him in 1882. The older buildings have been altered, 
thoroughly renovated and greatly improved, and a fourth story added 
in 1886. In fact Dr. Smith is constantly making improvements. 

John Maude, an English gentleman, who made a hurried exploration 
of the new country in 1800, says : " Geneva is situate at the northwest 
extremity of Seneca Lake. It is divided into Upper and Lower Town. 
The first establishments were on the margin of the lake, as best adapted 
to business ; but Captain Williamson, struck with the peculiar beauty 
of the elevated plain which crowns the high bank of the lake, and the 
many advantages which it possessed as a site for a town, beg^n here 
34 



266 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

to lay out his building lots parallel with and facing the lake. These lots 
are three quarters of an acre deep, and half an acre in front, and valued 
at $375 per lot. One article in the agreement with Captain William- 
son is that no buildings shall be erected on the east side of the street, 
that a view of the lake may be kept open. Those who purchase a lot 
have also the option of purchasing such land as lays between their lot 
and the lake — a convenience and advantage which I suppose few will 
forego — the quantity not being very great, and consisting principally 
of the declivity of the bank, which, for the most part is not so steep as 
to unfit it for pasturage or gardens." 

The launching of the sloop, which took place the latter part of 1796, 
drew together an assemblage of several thousand people, and no cir- 
cumstance having before occurred to draw together the different settle- 
ments, the people composing them were not a little surprised to find 
themselves in a country containing so many inhabitants, and these so 
respectable. Natives of every State in the Union and of every nation 
of Europe, were to be found in the assemblage, all ambitious of the one 
object, the aggrandizement of the Genesee country. The sloop was 
named Alexander, built by Brown & Sheffield, and cost $2,304.28. 
About 1800 the name was changed to Seneca. The following interest- 
ing incident shows how important events sometimes flow from a rrifling 
circumstance. The launching of the sloop being an unusual event, the 
people came from far and near to witness it, and among them was 
Major James Cochran, then a young man. At night the young people 
wanted a dance, and having a fiddle young Cochran, who was an ama- 
teur performer, was pressed into service. In commendation of his 
achievement a gentleman remarked at the supper table, "He is fit for 
Congress," and the hint being favorably received by the company, he 
was nominated and elected to a seat in Congress from the district which 
then included the whole of New York west of Albany. So, says Major 
Cochran, "I fiddled my way into Congress." 

During the year 1796 the little village was provided with a water 
supply, by the formation of a company, followed by the laying of 
pipes from the White Springs, about one and one-half miles southwest 
of Pulteney Park The pipes were of logs, ten to twelve inches in diam- 
eter with a twoiinch bore through which water could be supplied to 



TOWIS OF GENEVA. 267 

each house in the village. The Geneva Water Works Company was 
incorporated in 1803, which will be more fully referred to later on in 
this chapter. Ten years of Captain Williamson's efforts increased Ge- 
neva to a population of 325 in 1806, there being then thirty five houses, 
besides stores and public buildings, while a mill was by this time in oper- 
aiion in the near vicinity and a steamboat was plying on Seneca Lake 
Also during the same year Colonel James Bogert first published the 
Expositor, from which it is learned that the merchants and business 
men who advertised their wares were A. Dox, Septimus Evans, Wil- 
liams, Samuel Warner, Reuben Bordwell, Foster Barnard, James Reese, 
Richard M. Stoddard and E. H. Gordon. About 1797 a person from 
Scotland, John Mofifat, established at Geneva a respectable brewery 
which Captain Williamson says " promises to destroy in the neighbor- 
hood the baneful use of spirituous liquors." This brewery was located 
on the lake shore at Mile Point. 

Incorporation of the Village. 

Another ten years witnessed still greater advance in municipal prog- 
ress, and within that time Geneva passed beyond the stage of hamlet 
and became an incorporated village. The first act of the Legislature of 
the State of New York in relation to the village of Geneva, is an act en- 
titled " An Act to vest certain powers and privileges in the freeholders 
and inhabitants in the Village of Geneva, in the County of Ontario," 
passed April 4, 1 806. 

This act was afterwards amended, but there is no record left of any 
proceedings under these acts, until after the passage of " An Act for 
the Incorporation of the Village of Geneva in the County of Ontario," 
passed June 8, 18 12, the record of the first action being as follows : 

"At a meeting of the Freeholders and itihabitants of the Village of 
Geneva, held at Powell's Hotel in said village, according to the form of 
the act in such case made and provided, on the third Monday in May, 
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen, Abra- 
ham Dox, Herman H. Bogert and John Hall (Trustees of said Village 
appointed pursuant to the act of the 4th of April, 1806, and the act 
amending the same,) being present did preside as inspectors, the follow- 
officers were elected, to wit : 



268 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

" Foster Barnard, Herman H. Bogert, Abraham Dox, Samuel Colt 
and David Cook, Trustees for 1813. James Rees, Treasurer. David 
■Hudson, Clerk. Jabez Pease, Collector. David Naglee, Jonathan 
Doane and Elnathan Noble, Fire Wardens." 

In the present connection the statement may be made that the orig- 
inal village of Geneva, incorporated as above noted, was much less in 
area than at the present time. The act of incorporation has been the 
subject of frequent amendment, but the most important action was that 
taken by the Legislature in granting a charter, which act was passed 
March 3, 1871, and by which Geneva was advanced another step in 
municipal progress and became a village of the first class. The bound- 
aries of the village were extended to their present limits by the act of 
the Board of Supervisors, passed May 27, 1890; and as the village 
within its present limits is the subject of this chapter a description of the 
same is appropriate : " Beginning at a point on the Waterloo road 
where the present north bounds of the Village intersect the new Pre- 
emption line, running thence north along the said new Pre-emption line 
1,008 feet to a point in the center of the highway ; thence in a straight 
line due west to a point in the center of the Carter road, so called ; 
thence southerly along the center line of the said Carter road to the cen- 
ter line of North street (being the present north bounds of the corpora- 
tion) ; thence westerly along the center line of North street, and the 
center line of the highway which is the continuation of North street, to 
the center of the Castle road at the northeast corner of the New York 
State Experimental Station ; thence south along the center line of said 
Castle road to the present west bounds of the corporation, at or near 
the residence of William Smith." 

The act to revise and consolidate the laws in relation to the village of 
Geneva passed March 3, 1871, and the several amendments thereto 
have been the most important events in its municipal history, as radical 
changes in former methods of local government were made. That act 
provided for the election of the president, six trustees (two for each 
ward), three assessors, clerk, collector, treasurer, and police justice, by 
the qualified electors of the village. The Board of Trustees was author- 
ized to appoint all minor civil officers of the village. Under the provis- 
ions of an act passed in 1882, there was constituted a Board of Police 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 



269 



Commissioners, in whom should be vested the necessary power and 
authority to regulate and control all affairs pertaining to the police of 
the village. Under this act Samuel H. Ver Planck, Francis O. Mason, 
and Philip N. Nicholas comprised the first board. The Geneva Ceme- 
tery Commissioners were constituted as such by the Legislature by an 
act passed in 1872, and clothed with greater powers than formerly pos- 
sessed by them. 

Such, in brief, is the character of the village government ag it now 
exists. However interesting for reference might be a complete succes- 
sion of village officers from the date of first incorporation/the same 
cannot be done for the reason that previous to the granting/of the vil- 
lage charter in 1825, the trustees acted in concert and without a presid- 
ing officer. However, following custom, we may furnish the succes- 
sion of presidents from 1825 to the present time, which is as follows. 

Presidents of the Board of Trustees, appointed each year by the 
board : 



1825—6, George Goundry. 
1827-8. Richard M. Bayly. 

1829, George Goundry. 

1830, William Tippetts. 

1831, No record of any meeting 

except Charter Election. 
1832-3-4, Lansing B. Misner. 
1835-6, David Hudson. 
1837, William W. Watson, from 

May 9. 
1837, John L. Dox, from June 5. 
1838-9, David Hudson. 

1840, William E. Sill. 

1 841, William W. Watson. 

1842, Sanford R. Hall. 

1843, Alfred A. Holly. 
1844-5-6-7-8, John M. Bradford. 

1849, Luther Kelly. 

1850, Joseph S. Lewis. 



1 85 1, David S. Hall. 

1852, Samuel M. Morrison. 
1853-4, Thomas Crawford. 

1855, George Barkley, resigns 

July 2. 
1855-6, George Merrill, from July 
2, 1855. 

Charles J. Folger. 

Thomas Hillhouse. 

John M. Page. 

George W. Nicholas. 
1 861-2, J. Clark Rogers. 
1863-4-5, WilHam P. Hay ward. 
1866, Sidney S. Mallory. 

George B. Dusinberre. 

Samuel H. Ver Planck. 

Sidney S. Mallory. 

James M. Soverhill. 



1857. 
1858, 

1859. 
i860. 



1867, 
1868, 
1869, 
1870, 



570 HISTORY 0'& ONTARIO COUNTS. 

Presidents of the Village, elected at annual charter election, for the 
term of two years : 

April 1 87 1 to April 1873. Samuel Southworth. 

April 1873 to April 1875 George S. Conover. 

April 1875 to April 1877. Matthew Wilson. 

April 1877 to April 1879. George S. Conover. 

April 1879 to April 1881. William B. Dunning. 

April 1 88 1 to April 1882. William B^ Dunning. 

April 1882 to April 1883. Matthew Wilson, appointed April 

18, 1882. 

April 1883 to April 1885. Matthew Wilson. 

April 1885 Stephen H. Parker, resigned June 

30, 1885. 

July 7, 1885 to Feb. i, Roscoe G. Chase, appointed to fill 

1886. vacancy. 

Feb. I, 1886 to April 1889. William B. Dunning. 

April 1889 to April 1891. William B. Dunning. 

April 1 891 to April 1893. Daniel F. Attwood. 

April 1893. Millard F. Blaine 

Ofificers for 1893 (elective). Millard F. Blaine, president; Thomas 
W. Hawkins, George F. Ditmars, trustees first ward ; James Hill, James 
R. Vance, trustees second ward ; Daniel E. Moore, James Taney, trus- 
tees third ward; Wm. A. Smith, clerk; M. S. Sanford, treasurer; 
Delos W. Colvin, Stephen Coursey, Thomas Henson, assessors ; John 
M. Smelzer, police justice. 

At the time of organization Geneva had, become a village of much 
importance among the municipalities of Western New York, and had, 
among other properties and institutions, a system of water works, a fire 
department, three churches (Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, and Epis- 
copal), four schools, a printing office, a good hotel, a large number of 
stores and shops, about one hundred and thirty houses, and a total 
population of about eight hundred persons. The center of trade and 
business at this time and for several years afterward was on the "hill," 
principally along Main street, the park being the central point, while all 
business and other enterprises extended in various directions therefrom. 
For many years this part of the village held supremacy, and it was only 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 271 

when the locaUty became crowded that the " bottom " vicinity assumed 
any local importance. In 1824 a large hotel was built at the foot of 
Seneca street (the present Franklin House), and business gradually 
moved in that direction ; and still later, with the construction of the 
Auburn and Rochester railroad, Seneca and Exchange streets gained a 
complete ascendency over the " hill " region, and rapidly drew trade 
from the latter to the former locality. However, the old landmarks of 
the hill have been preserved to a considerable extent, and in passing 
along Main street, south of Seneca, the observer is at once struck with 
the peculiar and generally old architectural appearance of the buildings, 
which were constructed in " rows," generally two stories in height, and 
according to a mixture of colonial and English styles, the former pre- 
dominating. 

In 18 13 the once famous Geneva Academy was incorporated, and in 
the following year a large schooner, the Robert Troop, was launched 
upon the lake In 18 13, also, the Seneca Lake Navigation Company 
was incorporated, the purpose being to improve and make navigable the 
outlet of Seneca and Cayuga Lakes ; the canal and locks contemplated 
by the act of April 6, 1813, were constructed, bwned, and used by the 
company until 1825, when, under the act of April 20, authorizing the 
Cayuga and Seneca Canal, this enterprise became State property. The 
work was finished in 1828, having eleven locks and eighty- three and 
one half feet lockage The construction of this canal was one of the 
factors in drawing trade from the " hill " to the " bottom." The estab- 
lishment of this and other public enterprises, coupled with the natural 
advantages offered by this locality as a desirable place of abode and 
business, had the effect of increasing population quite rapidly, and the 
year 1820 found Geneva with a population of 1,357; two years later it 
was 1,723. In the latter year the village contained 251 dwellings, 
twenty-six stores, two newspapers and printing offices, a bank, a land 
office, about fifty shops of various kind ; the Geneva Academy, the 
Presbyterian, Episcopal, Dutch Reformed, and M. E. Churches, and 
daily stages coming and leaving in all directions. The newspapers at 
this time were the Gazette and the Palladium, and from an old "file " 
of the latter we learn the names of some of the advertising business men 
of Geneva in 18 16 and 181 7, and also the kind of business conducted, 



272 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

as follows : William Tippetts was a general merchant, whose stock con- 
sisted of all kinds of dry goods, dress goods, " lion skins and coatings," 
brandy, spirits and wine, plug tobacco and snuff, glass, crockery and 
hardware, "approved family medicines," and numerous other wares. 
Field & Grannis were general dealers in dry goods, groceries, crockery, 
glass and hardware, boots and shoes, and other good?, all of which they 
" are determined to sell uncommonly low for ready pay," at their store 
two doors north of T. Lowthrop & Co. William Powell had a stock 
similar to those described, and which, ' having been purchased low, he 
has it in his power to sell as cheap as can be purchased in the county." 
In the same manner we may also mention the firm of H. Newton & Co., 
which comprised William, Daniel L and Henry Newton, which was dis- 
solved June 20, i8i6. Mountjoy Bayly advertised to collect claims for 
persons who suffered loss of property during the "late war, " i8i2, and 
made his office in the store of Colt & Bayly. Henry Newton succeeded 
H. Newton & Co , and in May, i8l6, occupied the building on Seneca 
street, formerly the store of Burns & Bros., two doors west of " Church's 
Inn." Norris & Chapman were boot and shoe dealers two doors west 
of the post-office in Seneca street. Smith & Noble kept a general store 
a few doors west of the post-office and opposite Church's Inn. Carter 
& Bannister were local druggists. Hart & Allen were general dealers. 
John Sweeney advertised to pay a premium for Spanish dollars and 
gold coin, also to cash prize tickets in the " Medical Science Lottery 
No. I." Abraham Dox " recommenced " busines in this year at " the 
most reduced prices." Philip Rupert dealt in boots and shoes. A 
" New Establishment " was the copper, tin, and sheet- iron manufactory 
of Lewis Miller & Co., on Seneca street George Hemiup likewise be- 
gan "chairmaking " in the shop " lately occupied by F. Backenstose." 
At the corner of Main street and Canandaigua turnpike (Hamilton 
street) Seth Chapin had a stonecutting and monument works. Wm. 
Hildreth, Root & Co. advertised a mail stage from Geneva to Pittsford. 
In addition we may mention the names of other early merchants of 
Geneva, among whom were Thomas Lowthrop & Co., Darius Bonnel, 
Herrick & Bliss, Carwell & Fitzhugh, Lucius Warner, Wm. Cary, James 
Gerry (brewer), David S. Skaats, J. Van Valkenburgh, Bank of Geneva, 
John Nicholas, J. B. & Robert Rumney, H. Hastings, Wm. S. De Zeng, 



' ^ TOWN OF GENEVA. 273 

David S. Hall, Phineas Prouty, James Carter & Co. The list might be 
continued indefinitely throughout a long period of years, but the fore- 
going mention is thought to be sufficient to bring to mind the names 
of some of the prominent business men of Geneva during the inter- 
esting years of early history. Many of the old names are still pre- 
served, but the pioneers are all gone and new generations have taken 
their places and enlarged upon the original beginnings. As a busi- 
ness locality " the hill " has lost all prominence, yet its substantial 
buildings, well preserved and maintained, are all occupied, many 
of them as dwellings, and others as offices of professional men. 
The old hotel has passed through some changes and enlargements, 
and is now a famous institution, of which futher mention is made in 
this chapter ; the old Bank of Geneva, after a life of many years, 
is now a thing of the past, yet its descent can be traced to the pres- 
ent Geneva National Bank. This is also true of many other of the 
village institutions, each of which had a small and humble beginning, 
and have been gradually improved and enlarged by later generations of 
actors in every field of life until the present satisfactory condition of 
things is attained ; and in noting the history of these institutions, and 
the persons connected with them, we have in the result the history of 
the village itself. To these, therefore, the reader's attention is next 
directed. 

The Geneva Water Works Company. — The present water supply com- 
pany traces its history back almost an hundred years, to the time when 
the energetic action of Captain Williamson and a few of his associates 
laid log pipes from the White Springs, and thus furnished the village 
with wholesome water for all domestic purposes. The organization of 
this primitive company was accomplished in August, 1796, and in the 
next year the water supply was furnished. On the 31st of March, 
1803, an incorporated campany was formed, among whom were 
Herman H. Bogert, Jacob Hallett, Jacob W. Hallett, Samuel Colt, 
Nathaniel Merrill, David Cook, David Naglee, Ezra Patterson, Charles 
Williamson, Thomas Powell, John Johnston, Polydore B. Wisner and 
Joseph Annin. This company for some time operated the old system 
provided originally, cast iron pipes with a bore of two and one-half 
inches being substituted in 1846, but the rapid growth and extension 
35 



274 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

of the village finally necessitated a more substantial equipment and a 
greater supply; consequently new pipes were laid and the storage 
reservoir increased in capacity. In 1875 the works of the company 
were a second time enlarged, and again in 1887 and *88, the latter 
increase in capacity being the cause of much discussion and some feel- 
ing throughout the village. At this time a pumping station was estab- 
lished on the lake to increase the natural reservoir supply, and this was 
the occasion of the criticisms upon the action of the company. There 
have been established at various convenient points throughout the 
village 125 fire hydrants, from which water is taken in case of fire, the 
same being paid for by the village. There are about fifteen miles of 
from four to twelve-inch main pipe. The capital stock of the company 
is $20,000, and the officers are Stephen H. Hammond, president ; A. 
L. Chew, treasurer; Edward Kingsland, secretary; Samuel S. Graves, 
superintendent. Cost of the works has been $150,000, and in the pres- 
ent year, 1893, the works are again being enlarged. 

The Fire Department. — In 18 16, at a time when Geneva had a popu- 
lation of about one thousand, the trustees decided to organize a fire com- 
pany, whose services, with " good leather buckets," hooks, axes, pikes, 
ladders and ropes, would be available in case of fire. The act of incor- 
poration authorized the purchase of an engine, but some time passed 
before one was secured. The first company comprised these village 
residents : William Giffing (captain), Silas Chapin, James Lawson, A. 
McNab, Phineas Prouty, P^rancis Day, Wm. Powell, Peter Thomas, 
Daniel Cook, David Field, jr., A. B. Hall, Hiram Walbridge, Castle 
Sutherland, Bostwick Noble, Nathaniel Noble, Gaines Clark, Roswell 
Baker and Eli Bannister. 

This company, among whom the reader will recognize many familiar 
names of old times, constituted the village fire department about two 
years, when the trustees determined to organize three companies, 
numbered in order, whose members should " man the brakes," handle 
the hose, and attend to the ladders. By this time it seems the depart- 
ment passed the condition of bucket brigade and partook of more for- 
mal organized character ; however, the buckets were retained and held 
in readiness for an emergency. Reference to the organization of the 
three companies also recalls the names of early inhabitants, hence we 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 275 

reproduce them as follows : No. i, Daniel L. Skaats, Jabez Pease, David 
Field, jr., James Black, Wm. Tippetts, Richard Hogarth, Comfort Haw- 
ley, D. L. Lum, Matthew Lum, A. P. Tillman, Joseph M. Davinny, Silas 
Chapin, Samuel Jacobs, Moses Hall, Francis Nares, Wm. Alcock, John 
Wilson, Samuel P. Hall, George Mumford and Wm, W. Watson. 

No. 2, Wm. Field, Jno. Singer, Truman Smith, Jno. Dox, Perez 
Hastings, Jno. Staunton, Stephen Brock, Jas. G. Dorchester, Orson 
Brice, Elias Beach, Peter R. Thomas, Hiram Walbridge, A. B. Hall, 
Jas. Radliff, David Fulford, Wm. Cortelyou, Fred Haas, Wm. Goff, 
Daniel Cook and Jonathan Keeney. 

No. 3, G. P. Griffith, Jas. R. Rees, Andrew McNab, Roswell Baker, 
G. Clark, Jno. Springstead, Eli Bannister, Wm. Sutton, Jas. Hayes, Seth 
Chapin, Anthony Hemings, E. Northam, Burton Monroe, Chris. Camp- 
bell, Wm. Nutting, Bowen Whiting, Chas. A. Cook, Castle Sutherland, 
Aaron Young, David Wilson. 

These companies were equipped with what was then modern appara- 
tus, comprising hand engines, and hose and hook and ladder companies, 
which rendered efficient service for many years. In fact this comprised 
the department equipment until i866, when a " Silsby " steamer was 
purchased, also a " Button " engine in i868, but in the meantime the 
personnel of the organizations had materially changed, new and younger 
members entering the department, thus adding to its activity and effi- 
ciency. However, in July, 1870, the entire department was reorganized, 
its number very much reduced, and those retained in the service were 
paid for duty performed. Instead of drawing the engines " by hand," 
horse were procured, and Geneva thus inaugurated the paid system, 
being one of the first villages in the State to do so. 

This system continued in operation about ten years, but the results 
accomplished by it were hardly satisfactory to the people, and especially 
the business community, and a demand was consequently made for a 
return to the old volunteer organizations of earlier years. In this, how- 
ever, the trustees were slow to act, but at last permission was granted 
to organize one company as an experiment. Hydrant Hose Company 
was the first to be organized, and its work proved so entirely satisfac- 
tory that the old paid department was compelled to yield. In the mean 
time the water works system had been enlarged and increased in effi- 



27G HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ciency as a fire fighting factor, the pressure on the mains being sufficient 
for ordinary use in the case of conflagration, but the steamers have ever 
been retained and held ready for an emergency. Thus in 1 880 the pres- 
ent department was virtually organized, though some important changes 
have been made during the fourteen years of its existence. 
^ According to the present arrangement and disposition of this branch 
of local government, the Geneva Fire Department comprises Hydrant 
Hose Company, whose building is on Linden street. The company 
equipment consists of a "jumper," a combination parade and duty car- 
riage, and a protective carriage. The office of the latter is to protect 
and preserve property rescued from burning buildings. This company 
receives from the village $500 annually. 

The C. J. Folger Hook and Ladder Company is located on the north 
side of Seneca street, and has a well equipped " truck " and other 
auxiliary apparatus. The village pays this company $300 per annum, 
as its owns the building in which the apparatus is. 

Nestor Hose Company occupies comfortable quarters on Exchange 
street, and owns a handsome parade carriage, also a " duty cart " or 
jumper. It was named in honor of S. K. Nestor, who has every duly 
appreciated the compliment thus shown him. The sum of $500 is paid 
this company by the village. 

Ogoyago Hose Company was independently organized, but is recog- 
nized by the village as a part of the fire department proper. Its rooms 
are at the corner of Pulteney and Hamilton streets, the company having 
been formed to protect property in the south part of the village. This 
company receives $350 annually from the village. 

The Holtz Protectives were formed in 1892, and have rooms on 
Castle street. The organization is similar, in purpose, to the protective 
department of Hydrant Hose. To this company the village annually 
pays $300. 

From the old steamer companies selections of men were made to 
form Kanadesaga Steamer Company, whose duty it is to operate 
the steamers in case of fire. The " Button " engine is ever ready for 
service and attends all fires, while the " Silsby " is held in reserve for 
an emergency. The principal department officers are chief engineer 
(W. P. O'Malley), first assistant (Chas. Hennessy), and second assistant 



tOWK OF GENEVA. ^7? 

(James Tracey), who are elected annually by the trustees on the recom- 
mendation of delegates from each company. 

Cemeteries. — The lot whereon now stands Trinity chapel was the 
original place of burial for the first white inhabitants of Geneva, but 
when and by whom founded there appears no record. The first burial 
in the village, of which there is a record, was that of the child of 
pioneer Polydore B. Wisner, the death and burial taking place in the 
latter part of 1797, and the body being laid at rest in the Pulteney 
street burial ground. During the preceding years deaths were infre- 
quent, and the lands in the south part of the village were then un- 
occupied by habitations, hence were put to use for burial purposes. 

The Pulteney street burial ground is the oldest of the recognized 
burial gounds of the village, and is believed to have been laid out and 
donated for the purpose by Charles Williamson soon after he became 
settled in the matter of the title to the lands in the gore. The oldest 
tombstone in this cemetery was erected "in memory" of Martha, wife 
of Sanford Williams, who died May 9, 1794, but the first burial was 
that noted above. 

Referring briefly to some of the earlier interments in this cemetery, 
mention may be made of the death and burial of " An Infant, died 31 
July, 1798, aged 5 weeks," and of two other infants who died in 1801 
and 1803, and were the children of Frederick and Eliza Backenstose, 
In the same manner may be noted the fact that James Green, born 
in New Jersey, 1774, settled at Canandarqua, 1795, and died in Geneva 
in 1 801 ; Betsey, wife of Joseph Cole, died November, 1801 ; Amelia, 
daughter of Dr. Cyrenius Chapin, died August 15, 1818; Rev. Jedediah 
Chapman died May 22, 1813; Margaret, wife of Jedediah Chapman, 
died September 9, 1812 ; Lucius Crittenden, died October i, 1807; 
Rev. Orin Clark, D. D , rector of Trinity Church, died February 24, 
1828, his first wife, EHza Ann, having died May 4, 1821, and Susan 
R., his second wife, in 1826. James Rees, March 17, 1837, private 
secretary to Robert Morris during the Revolution, moved here in 1798. 
These are but a few of the hundreds of burials in the old Pulteney 
street cemetery made during the first thirty years of its existence. 

However, during this same period nearly all the lots in this cemetery 
were taken by purchasers, and the village authorities were soon com- 



278 aiSTORY OF OI^TAtllO COUNTY. 

pelled to secure another tract of land for burial purposes. By a deed 
dated September 13, 1832, the village acquired title to a four acre lot 
en the south side of Washington street and west of Monroe street, 
which was laid out in 162 lots, and which has always been known as 
the Washington Street Cemetery. The first interment here was that 
of Augusta Matilda, wife of H. H. Merrell, whose death took place 
September 28, 1832. The lots in this cemetery were subdivided, but 
at last the grounds became so crowded that still another place of burial 
must be provided by the authorities. In 1 871, at the request of many 
prominent citizens, the trustees appointed commissioners to investigate 
and report upon a desirable tract of land to be used for cemetery pur- 
poses, and upon the report made by these men the taxpayers voted to 
issue bonds to the extent of $21,000 to pay for the lands selected, being 
fifty-four acres situated in the south part of the village, and in part in- 
cluding the old Walnut Hill Seminary property. The transaction was 
completed early in 1872, and the name " Glenwood Cemetery " was 
given to this beautiful "city of the dead." 

On the 20th of January, 1872, the trustees appointed "Cemetery 
Commissioners," in whom should be vested the care and management 
of village cemetery property ; and on April 6, following, the Legislature 
confirmed the appointments and constituted the board of " Geneva 
Cemetery Commissioners," composed of Phineas Prouty, Wm. E. Sill, 
Corydon Wheat, George W. Nicholas, Samuel S. Graves, George B. 
Dusinberre, Thompson C. Maxwell, Stephen H. Parker and Angus Mc- 
Donald. The present commissioners are Thompson C. Maxwell, presi- 
dent ; Stephen H. Parker, secretary ; Samuel Southworth, treasurer ; 
and Solomon E. Smith, Wm. B. Dunning, Joseph S. Lewis, O. J. C. 
Rose, P. N. Nicholas and Thomas Mc Blain. 

Banks of Geneva. — On March 28, 18 17, the Legislature chartered the 
Bank of Geneva, the legal title of which was "The President, Directors 
and Company of the Bank of Geneva." The capital of this bank was 
$400,000,20,000 shares of $20 each, and upon its organization meeting 
(held at Griffith's Hotel) the directors were Robert Troup, Septimus 
Evans, Wilhelmus Mynderse, Charles Thompson, George McClure, 
Herman H. Bogert, Truman Hart, Jacob Dox, Elnathan Noble, 
Thomas Lee and Leman Hotchkiss. Mr. Troup was elected the first 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 279 

president, but very soon resigned in order that Rev. Henry Dwight 
might succeed to the office, the latter having then become the owner of 
14,100 shares of the bank's stock. This measure was adopted in order 
to give the bank a standing among similar institutions in the East, and 
the name of Mr. Dwight in connection with the local concern was itself 
a guarantee of stability and soundness. 

The first place of business occupied by the Bank of Geneva was in 
the house, now the rectory of Trinity church, from which it was soon 
moved to the south side of the park, two doors from Main street. 
About 1837 another removal took place, this time to the large and 
commodious building now standing at the head of Seneca street (now 
occupied by R. G. Chase & Co.), which was built for its own use. The 
charter of the bank expired January i, 1832, but being a successful 
institution, its officers in 1829 had secured an extension to January i, 
1853. At the latter date, having had a prosperous life of thirty-six 
years, it closed its business and went into liquidation. During its his- 
tory, the most serious loss suffered was in the failure of the Canal Bank 
of Albany, 1848, with which the Geneva bank had a deposit of $93,- 
000. only fifteen per cent, of which was recovered. This great loss, 
however, did not injure the local bank or impair its standing. 

The presidents of the Bank of Geneva were Robert Troup, Henry 
Dwight (twenty-two years), and Charles A. Cook (thirteen years). 
The cashiers were James Rees, Benjamin Day, Charles A. Cook, 
Edmund Dwight and William E. Sill, each serving in the order named. 

Immediately following the dissolution of the old Bank of Geneva, 
another bank of the same name was established, being what was known 
as a banking association, having a capital stock at the beginning of its 
business (Januar}'- I, 1 853) of $200,000. In 1855 the capital was in- 
creased to $205,000; in 1864 reduced to $200,000, and in 1885 still 
further reduced to $150,000. 

This banking association was in fact organized in November, 1852, 
although its business began on January i following. The first directors 
were Charles A. Cook (president), John L. Eastman, John S. Prouty, 
George C. Seelye, Horace Devereux, Jedediah Smith and Robert C. 
Nicholas. In 1854 Mr. Cook died, and was succeeded as president by 
Wm. E. Sill, who served until January, 1856, when his resignation was 



280 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

followed by the election of Wm. T. Scott to the vacancy. The latter 
resigned in January, i 860, and was succeeded by Samuel H. Ver Planck, 
who has filled the responsible office of president for a period of more 
than thirty- three years. 

The Bank of Geneva began business in the building on Main street, 
at the head of Seneca, formerly occupied by the old banking institution, 
and in 1862 Mr. Ver Planck erected the elegantly appointed building 
at the corner of Exchange and Seneca streets, which was at once occu- 
pied. In 1865, without material reorganization or change in the per- 
sonnel of the corporation, this bank, under the laws of Congress, became 
known as " The Geneva National Bank," having a capital of $200,000, 
which was reduced to $150,000 in 1885. The first cashier of the 
National Bank was Samuel Southworth, succeeded in 1868 by Mont- 
gomery S. Sandford, who still continues in that capacity. 

This bank has now an accumulated surplus of $75,000, with $20,000 
of undivided profits ; and another fact worthy of note in connection 
with its history is that from its direction there has been furnished one 
secretary of the treasury of the United States (Charles J. Folger), who 
also served as assistant treasurer, and chief judge of the New York 
State Court of Appeals. Likewise, Thomas Hillhouse, a former director, 
has been assistant United States treasurer, and is now president of the 
Metropolitan Trust Company of New York city. The present directors 
of the Geneva National Bank are Samuel H. Ver Planck, president ; 
Montgomery S. Sandford, cashier ; and Joseph Lewis, Samuel K. Nestor, 
Francis O. Mason, Solomon E. Smith and Thos. McBlain. 

The First National Bank of Geneva was organized November 20, 
1863, with a capital of $50,000, its originators and active officers being 
Wm. Richardson, president ; Thomas Raines, cashier; and Henry J. 
Messenger, Benj. H. Woodworth and J. H. Tripp. On the 29th of 
March, 1866, a large proportion of the stock of this bank was purchased 
by Alexander L. Chew, Phineas Prouty, Corydon Wheat and Thomas 
Raines, which was followed by a partial reorganization and the election 
of new directors, as follows: A. L. Chew, Phineas Prouty, Corydon 
Wheat, Thomas Raines, Thomas Hillhouse, Joshua L Maxwell, John 
W. Smith, W. P^oster and Thos. Smith. Mr. Chew was at once elected 
president of the bank, an office he has continued to hold to the present 
time. Thomas Raines was the first cashier, succeeded by J. B. Hart, 



TOWN OF GKNEVA. 281 

and the latter in turn by Wm. T. Scott. The present cashier, Thomas 
H. Chew, was appointed May i, 1887. 

On January 17, 1888, the capital of the bank was increased to $100,- 
000. It has a surplus of $40,000, and the undivided profits amount to 
nearly $15,000. The present directors are A. L. Chew, president; 
Thos. H. Chew, cashier ; and Joshua I. Maxwell, Wm. Smith, Thomas 
Smith, Roscoe G. Chase and O. J. C. Rose, directors. 

Samuel Southworth, banker, was clerk in the Bank of Geneva in 
1855, and afterward cashier of the Geneva National Bank. In 1868 he 
purchased a real estate and insurance business and in connection there- 
with established a private bank, his partner for a time being Major 
John S. Plattner. ' In December following,. Mr, Southworth became 
sole proprietor, and has ever since conducted a conservative, safe and 
successful banking business. 

Prominent among the banking institutions of Geneva, was the as- 
sociate corporation known as " The Farmers' Bank of Geneva," which 
began business July 18, 1839, with a capital of $100,000. Its first and 
only president was William K. Strong, while the cashiership was filled 
by William N. Clark. Both of these officers were men of integrity and 
worth, and the affairs of the bank were almost wholly entrusted to their 
management. However, the institution was never abundantly success- 
ful, hence its career was comparatively brief. It did not fail, but not 
meeting with expected success, it went into liquidation. The Farmers' 
Bank occupied the building then recently vacated by the Bank of 
Geneva, standing on the south side of the Park, near Main street. 

Nathan B. Kidder will be remembered by the older residents of 
Geneva as the one time head of a private bank. He began business 
about 185 1 and continued till 1854, then making a disastrous failure. 

Schell & Hemiup were private bankers in the Kidder building on 
Seneca street, following in business the banker last mentioned, and, 
like him, also failed, in 1862. 

Educational Institutions.^ 

It is quite impossible to give the history of all the schools that have 
existed in Geneva from the time of settlement over a hundred years 

1 Compiled from materials furnished principally by Professor Charles D. Vail, Hobart College, 
by whom all rights are reserved, also revised and corrected by him. 
36 



282 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ago to date, for while documentary materials are not wanting for the 
incorporated schools, such materials are almost entirely wanting for the 
unincorporated or private schools. Indeed, it is doubtful whether even 
an accurate list can now be given of the schools of the latter class that 
have existed within the village limits. In this review of the educational 
institutions of Geneva, attention will be directed more particularly to 
those which have a living interest either as being now in existence or 
as having played a prominent part in the earlier days of the town. 

THE GENEVA ACADEMY. 

It is reasonably certain that the first school estabhshed in Geneva 
was that afterward known as the Geneva Academy, and that the 
first school-house was the one which stood on the lot now occupied by 
the session room of the First Presbyterian Church. When the school 
was established, and when the school- house was built are questions that 
cannot now be answered definitely. That the school was in operation 
as early as 1796 may be inferred from the fact that from 1796 to 1800 
inclusive school commissioners were elected annually at town meeting 
to receive the money granted by the State for the use of schools, under 
the act of 1795, which provided an appropriation annually to schools 
for the five years following. That the school -house was in existence 
and was^'regarded as in a manner a public or well-known building as 
early as 1801, appears from the further fact that the annual meeting ot 
the freeholders of the town held that year was adjourned to meet the 
following year at the " school- house." That there was more than one 
regular school or one school house at this early date is extremely im- 
probable, as there were in Geneva in 1800 but sixty families, and as 
late as 1806 only three hundred and twenty-five inhabitants. 

January 30, 1807, twenty- three freeholders of Geneva joined in a 
petition to the Honorable the Regents of the University of the State of 
New York for the incorporation of Geneva Academy. This document ^ 
is interesting as being the oldest extant document in which the acad- 
emy is mentioned by name. It contains the following statement which 
is historically of much value : 

lit is given entire in the " Historical and Statistical Record of the University of the State of 
New York," issued 1885. 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 283 

" Your petitioners beg leave further to represent that the real estate 
belonging to their Academy consists of a lot of land fronting the public 
square in the said village of Geneva, on which they have erected a 
building twenty- five feet by thirty-eight feet, and one and a half stories 
high, and that they have for upwards of two years past employed a 
gentleman of abilities, regularly graduated at Princeton College, who, 
together with an assistant, has the superintendence of upwards of sixty 
students." 

This petition was not granted, and the academy remained without a 
charter till 1 8 13, when another and successful application was made. 
It is a matter of regret that diligent inquiry has thus far failed to ascer- 
tain the name of the graduate of Princeton referred to in the petition. 

August 7, 1809, the trustees of the academy announced by adver- 
tisement in the Geneva Gazette the engagement of the Rev. Andrew 
Wilson to take charge of the academy. This announcement is of suffi- 
cient interest to justify its reproduction here, especially as it has not 
appeared in any history of the academy. 

The Rev. Andrew Wilson, formerly of the University of Glasgow, at 
the request of the trustees, has undertaken the superintendence of the 
Geneva Academy, and engaged to teach the respective branches of 
literature on the following terms, viz. : 

First Class — Reading, writing and arithmetic, 2 dollars 25 cents per 
quarter. 

Second Class — English grammar, book-keeping, geography and 
mathematics, including geometry, mensuration, algebra, surveying, 
navigation and astronomy, 4 dollars per quarter. 

Third Class — The Latin, Greek and Hebrew languages, 5 dollars per 
quarter. 

The tuition fees payable in advance. 

From the respectable recommendations produced by Mr. Wilson, the 
trustees have every reason to believe that he will do ample justice to 
the pupils committed to his charge. 

POLYDORE B. WiSNER, ^ 

John Heslop. > Trustees. 

H. H. BOGERT, ) 

N. B. — Boarding can be had on reasonable terms. 



284 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

In i8i2 Mr. Ransom Hubbell, a graduate of Union College, and 
highly recommended by the Rev. Eliphalet Nott, president of that col- 
lege, was made principal of the academy and remained such till 1817. 

On the 29th of March, 18 13, an act of incorporation was obtained 
from the Regents of the University, for which was subscribed the sum 
of $1,600 by the following persons, not less than $50 being subscribed 
by any individual: Polydore B. Wisner, H. H. Bogert, Robt. W. Stod- 
dard, Samuel Colt, William Hartsen, Jonathan Doane, Thos Lowthrop, 
James Rees, James Carter, John Nicholas, David Cook, John Woods, 
Thos. D. Burrall, Joseph Stow, Walter Grieve, Robt. Scott, Fred A. 
De Zeng, Wm. Tippets, Abner Cole and Abraham Dox. The first 
Board of Trustees named in the charter was as follows : Rev. Jedediah 
Chapman, Polydore B. Wisner, Jas. Rees. Samuel Colt, John Nicholas, 
H. H. Bogert, Robert Scott, David Cook, Thos. Lowthrop, Jonathan 
Doane, Walter Grieve, Wm. Tippetts and Fred. A. DeZeng. 

In 18 1 7 Mr. Hubbell was succeeded as principal by the Rev. John S. 
Cook. December 8, 18 17, " in consequence of some differences of feel- 
ing," at a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the academy it was re- 
solved, " that the academy operations be suspended." However, to 
obviate any public disadvantage, a committee was appointed, consisting 
of Rev. Henry Axtell, Dr. James Carter and David Cook, to take charge 
of the school building and give the use of it to any respectable teacher 
till the trustees should again resume their duties. 

On the 6th of March, 1821, a meeting was called by senior trustee 
James Rees, and at this meeting, the first meeting held since December 
8, 1817, the following action was taken: " Whereas, Trinity Church, 
New York (city), in consequence of an application from the trustees of 
Trinity Church, Geneva, have transferred to Geneva Academy an en- 
dowment of $750 per annum, granted by them for the support of an 
academy at Fairfield, N. Y.. Therefore, Resolved, That the endowment 
thus transferred with the conditions stipulated, be and they are hereby 
accepted, and that we will take immediate measures for raising the 
necessary funds for carrying the endowment into effect " 

One of the conditions of the proposed grant from Trinity Church, 
New York, being that the inhabitants of Geneva should erect a suitable 
building for the accommodation of the "Branch Theological School," 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 285 

and funds for this purpose having been already secured by citizens of 
Geneva by a subscription paper circulated under date of February 
15, i82i,it was further resolved at this meeting, in order that the site 
for the Geneva Academy might be selected without regard to indi- 
vidual or sectional interest, that the location be made by the Rt. Rev. 
Bishop Hobart, and that on the site selected by him the necessary 
buildings be erected. Agreeable to the resolution the bishop viewed 
several sites in Geneva, and on March 17, 182 1, he communicated to 
the trustees his selection of the site now occupied by the college build- 
ings. In the same year the erection of " Geneva Hall " was begun, and 
the work completed in the spring of 1822. 

At this same meeting (March 6, 182 1) the Rev. Daniel McDonald, 
D. D., formerly principal of the Fairfield Academy, was appointed prin- 
cipal of the Geneva Academy, and on the 25th of April Geneva Acad- 
emy started anew, its home till the completion of Geneva Hall being in 
the frame school- house erected in 1817 in the rear of Trinity Church 
in Geneva. Under the Rev. Dr. McDonald (1821—25) Geneva Acad- 
emy prospered greatly. 

On the 2 1st of January, 1822, the trustees of the academy made 
application to the Board of Regents to grant the academy the powers 
and privileges of a college. April 10, 1822, a provisional charter as 
such was obtained and the conditions imposed by it having been com- 
plied with, on February 8, 1825, the Regents granted a charter by 
which Geneva Academy became Geneva College. 

With this consummation attained naturally ends the history of the 
old and noted Geneva Academy, but certain prior conditions and stip- 
ulations governing the subscription funds continued it in existence for 
seven more years, and even beyond this time the college trustees found 
themselves occasionally confronted with an ancient scholarship certifi- 
cate which entitled the holder to academic instruction in the college or 
its auxiliary institution, which was for some time maintained in connec- 
tion with the higher institution. To meet this exigency the college 
trustees established the Academic School, so called, which went into 
operation January 3, 1827, and was abolished July 31, 1832. 

The circumstances under which the Academic School was estab- 
lished were briefly these: A very considerable portion of the original 



% 



286 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

endowment of the college — the fund required by the provisional char- 
ter for the securing of the permanent charter — was raised by the sale 
of certificates, each of which, in consideration of the sum of one hun- 
dred dollars subscribed and paid, entitled the holder, his heirs and 
assigns, to the privilege of sending one student to the Geneva Academy 
or to Geneva College, free of tuition fees, for the term of twenty years, 
commencing from the date thereof, or whenever he might choose. No 
sooner was the permanent charter obtained, February 8, 1825, than 
claims were put forward by the certificate holders, or in their behalf, 
that the Geneva Academy could not justly be discontinued. Accord- 
ingly, at the first sitting of the Board of Trustees of Geneva [Hobart] 
College, in May, 1825, Doctor McDonald, Mr. R. S. Rose and T. D. 
Burrall were appointed a committee to consider and report upon the 
propriety of continuing the Academy School under the care of the trus- 
tees of the college. Subsequently, August 24, the committee reported 
against the continuance of the Academy School and their report was 
adopted. 

In September Geneva College began. The certificate holders who 
claimed that academic instruction should be continued were defeated, 
but only for the time being, for, on December 9, 1826, the executive 
committee of the Board of Trustees established a school (opened the 
following month), employing as principal U. M. Wheeler, the commit- 
tee being satisfied that it was expedient to establish a permanent 
academic school to which the holders of certificates might send on the 
terms of their subscriptions. The Academic School originated, then, 
as a concession to a demand — a demand which appears to have had 
no real foundation. 

The Academic School went into operation June 3, 1827. It was 
abolished July 31, 1832. During the first two years of its existence it 
was kept on the ground floor of the Masonic Hall, a building erected in 
1825 on the site of the original Geneva Academy, the lot being that 
on which now stands the session room of the First Presbyterian Church. 
From January 2, 1829, to the date of its discontinuance it was con- 
ducted in the building best known to the present generation as the 
Old Chapel, a wooden structure that stood ten or fifteen feet north of 
Geneva Hall. 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 287 

While under Masonic Hall the Academic School received as pupils 
both boys and girls, and was, in point of grade, essentially a primary 
school. During this period the number of pupils in attendance at any 
one time did not, probably, exceed fifty. A new era begins with the 
term which opened November 26, 1828. The roll ceases to show the 
names of girls, and the students are divided into two groups, the class- 
ical and the English, there being ten of the former and sixteen of the 
latter. The most noted names on the roll are the following : James R. 
Doolittle, Archibald C. Campbell, Butler G. Noble. The next term 
opened February 19, 1829, with more flattering prospects, thirty-two 
students being in attendance. In the following term, which began May 
14, the names of fifty-eight students appear on the roll, and noticeable 
among them are those of Walter Ayrault and Anthony Schuyler. 
Henceforth the fortunes of the Academic School declined, and Novem- 
ber 10, 1830, the following resolution was adopted by the Board of 
Trustees : 

Resolved, That all resolutions of this Board authorizing the payment 
of any salary or other compensation to the teachers of a preparatory 
school in Geneva be rescinded from and after the 17th instant. 

The school was continued, however, by Mr. Walter T. Taylor, under 
permission from the Board of Trustees, as a private school, and so re- 
mained till January, 1832. The Board of Trustees then assumed con- 
trol again, employing a teacher, but in July of that year by resolution 
permanently discontinued the Academic School. 

The teachers {i. e. those employed by the college) and their respect- 
ive terms of office were as follows : [The Rev.] U. M. Wheeler, class of 
1826, from January, 1827, to November of the same year; [the Hon.] 
George Woodruff, class of 1829, from November, 1827, to January 30, 
1828 ; Mr. R. D. H. Yeckley, class of 1834, from January, 1828, to 
February, 1829; [the Rev.] Seth Davis, class of 1827, from February, 
1829, to November of the same year; from November, 1829, to 
May, 1830, Mr. Alfred Hall, tutor in the college, 1828-30, with Mr. 
Walter T. Taylor as assistant; from May to November of 1830, 
Mr. Taylor remaining as assistant, the Rev. Levi H. Corson ; from 
January, 1832, to July of the same year, Mr. Festus Fowler, class of 
1830. 



288 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

. HOBART COLLEGE.l 

The movement for the establishment in the State of New York, at 
some point west of Albany, of a college of liberal culture under Episco- 
pal auspices first found expression in a resolution adopted, upon the 
suggestion of the originator of the movement, the Rev. Amos G. Bald- 
win, by the trustees of Fairfield Academy, April lO, 1812, petitioning 
Trinity church, New York, for a grant of funds to that end. This peti- 
tion was not favorably received, but in the following year, acting upon 
another petition suggested by the Rev. Mr. Baldwin, the corporation of 
Trinity church founded in connection with the Fairfield Academy a 
Theological School. In 181 8, however. Bishop Hobart, recognizing 
the importance, if not necessity, of having in the western portion of his 
great diocese a school of liberal culture, as well as a theological school, 
communicated to friends in Geneva his plan to transfer the Theological 
School from Fairfield to Geneva in connection with a " college and 
printing press," to be established there. In 1821 the transfer was made, 
the principal of the Theological School then being the Rev. Daniel 
McDonald, D.D , the steadfast coadjutor of Bishop Hobart in this edu- 
cational movement. In 1822, April 10, just ten years after the incep- 
tion of the movement, a plan for the foundation of a college of general 
culture having been formed and submitted, it was approved by the Re- 
gents of the University of the State of New York, and a provisional 
charter granted. In 1825 new and more satisfactory provisions for 
theological instruction having been devised, the Branch Theological 
School, as it was then styled, was abolished, and its endowment trans- 
ferred to the proposed college. In 1825, February 8, the conditions 
of the provi.<iional charter having been complied with, a full charter was 
granted under the title " Geneva College," and in 1826 the first class 
was graduated. 

By the terms of the original charter the corporation consisted of a 
Board of Trustees, empowered to perpetuate itself by its own action In 
1874, by amendment of the charter, the constitution of the Board of 
Trustees was entirely changed and all members, except members ex 
officio} made elective. Under the new arrangement the alumni of the 

• From the College Catalogue by permission. 

2 There are two members ex officio ; the president of the College and the bishop of that diocese of 
the Protestant Episcopal Church which includes the college site. 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 289 

college are secured a constant representation of at least five members 
(one fourth of the whole number excluding members ex officio) in the 
board. A further amendment of the charter, made in 1891, enables the 
alumni to vote at the annual election by letter as well as in person. 
The whole number of alumni in the board for the current year is nine. 

In the original endowment of the college, the principal item was a 
sum of money raised by subscription mainly in Geneva and adjacant 
villages and cities; the other chief item being an annual allowance from 
the Society for Promoting Religion and Learning. Of the earlier ad- 
ditions to the permanent resources of the college, a noteworthy one was 
the benefaction, in 185 i, of Trinity church, of New York, amounting to 
$3,000 annually. One of the results of this benefaction was the change 
in the following year of the corporate title of the college to Hobart Free 
College, which was further modified in i860 to Hobart College. Since 
1851 the endowment fund has steadily grown through the thoughtful 
generosity of friends of the college and of liberal education, and for 
years, though the endowment has been by no means adequate for the 
constantly increasing wants of the college, it has, nevertheless, proved 
sufficient for the maintenance, without the incurring of debt, of a high 
standard in all the essential departments of college instruction. Of 
recent bequests the most considerable are those of Mrs. Elizabeth S. 
Seymour, of Buffalo, Alanson Sutherland, of Dunkirk, Peter Richards, 
of Geneva, the Rev. J. F. Potter, of Pompton, N. J., and the late James 
Simons, of Geneva, the latter bequest amounting to between thirty and 
forty thousand dollars. 

The following professorships represent special endowments: The 
Charles Startin Professorship, founded in 1825 by Bishop Hobart out of 
a legacy left by Mrs. Sarah Startin, of New York ; the Hobart Professor- 
ship, founded in 1852 by gifts from friends of the college on the promise 
of a gift of equal amount from the Society for the Promotion of Religion 
and Learning ; the Horace White Professorship, founded in 1861 by the 
legacy of Horace White of Syracuse; the Prendergast Professorship, 
founded in 1862 by Mrs. Deborah Prendergast of Mayville ; the Chap- 
laincy, founded in 1862 by the late John H. Swift of New York. 

In recent years the college plant has been greatly enlarged and im- 
proved. In particular, during the last decade, there have been added 
37 



290 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

the south building for laboratories and recitation rooms, the Chaplain's 
House, the Gallagher or Ayrault grounds and buildings, the Rose house 
and lot, the Gymnasium and Alumni Hall, and the fire-proof Library 
building ; while the library itself, by increase in the number of its vol- 
umes and in its endowment, has been made a more important factor 
than ever in college life. The general improvement in the college 
campus and the condition of the college buildings is also noticeable, 
while three of the college fraternities, Sigma Phi, Kappa Alpha, Sigma 
Chi, have recently acquired handsome chapter houses on Main street. 

At its first meeting after its organization in 1825, the Board of Trus- 
tees pledged itself to maintain perpetually in the college in addition to 
the usual course of classical studies pursued in simular institutions, an 
English or Scientific Course in direct reference to the practical business 
of life This was the first instance of action by a college of liberal cul- 
ture to diversify its curriculum by the offer of a course other than, and 
additional to, the customary classical course. 

Equipment. — The grounds on which are grouped all the college build- 
ings are a little over fifteen acres in extent. They are situated on Main 
street in the most beautiful portion of the village, three quarters of a 
mile from the business center. To the east the prospect opens upon 
Seneca Lake, at this point two miles or more in width, while to the 
west it includes the ridge, so called, with its lawns and villas. The col- 
lege land extends down to the lake, which is here ninety feet below the 
level of the street. The original college grounds embraced only village 
lot No. 35, three-quarters of an acre in area, on which stands Geneva 
Hall. 

Geneva Hall, the oldest of the college buildings, was begun in 1821 
and finished in the spring of 1822. The funds for its erection were 
raised by subscription among the inhabitants of Geneva and its vicinity. 
The building is seventy-four feet by forty-one, and three stories in height. 
The stone used in its construction was brought from the south end of 
Seneca Lake. In the history of the college Geneva Hall has served 
various purposes. At present it is fitted for dormitories, The rooms 
are arranged in suites consisting of a sitting-room and two bed-rooms, 
each suite being designed for two students. The building is provided 
with gas, water and steam heat. 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 291 

Trinity Hall, a gift to the college from the Protestant Episcopal So 
ciety for the Promotion of Religion and Learning, was erected in 1837-8. 
Architecturally it matches Geneva Hall and is arranged in the same 
manner and used for the same purpose. The stone employed in the 
construction of this building is the Waterloo limestone. 

St. John's Chapel, which attests the memorable interest taken in the 
college by William B. Douglas, esq., of Rochester, is a Gothic struct- 
ure in the Second Pointed Style, erected in 1862-3. It is built of Wa- 
terloo limestone and is twenty- six feet by seventy- nine internal meas- 
urement. It has a massive porch on the south side, and on the north 
side, at the east end, a robing room of octagonal form, connected with 
the chancel. From the top of the walls rises a steep and ornamental 
roof of slate surmounted with a ridge crest. Within the roof is open 
and richly moulded. The seats are parallel with the side walls and rise 
from the aisle. All the furniture is of black walnut. The windows 
throughout are glazed with stained glass, the work of Henry Sharp of 
New York. The chancel window — a window much admired — memo- 
rializes the founder of the college. The font, a beautiful piece of carv- 
ing in Caen stone, the communion vessels of richly chased silver, the serv- 
ice books and book-marks and other chancel furnishings are severally 
the gifts of friends. The large brass cross and vases are memorials of 
the Rev. Dr. Metcalf, presented by alumni of the college. Over the 
entrance to the chapel is a sun dial with the legend : " Pereunt et im- 
putantur y 

The Astronomical Observatory stands in the southwestern portion of 
the campus. The building, which was erected in 1870, is an octagon 
tower seventeen feet in diameter, with two wings at right angles. The 
octagon is furnished with a moving dome, and has as a support for the 
telescope a brick and stone pedestal six feet in diameter. One of the 
wings is designed for transit observation ; the other for a computing 
room and library. 

The boat house is at the water line of the college grounds, and is but 
a minute's walk from the college buildings It is a frame structure, 
fifty feet by thirty- one, in two stories, protected on the south by a sub- 
stantial stone pier, and was erected in 1877. The cost of construction 
was largely defrayed by funds raised by ladies of Geneva. 



292 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTt. 

The South Building, designed especially for the chemical and physical 
departments, was erected in 1879-80 from funds contributed by friends 
of the college, the principal sum coming from Mrs. Julia Douglas Mer- 
ritt through Mr. William B. Douglas. The building is constructed of 
Waterloo stone, point dressed, and is thirty-five feet by seventy, two 
stories in height, with a gable roof It contains in the basement a work- 
ing laboratory for metallurgy and general chemistry, and on the first 
floor a large octagonal lecture room for the chemical department, and 
side rooms for offices, balance and apparatus ; and on the second floor 
for the use of the department of physics, a lecture room similar to that 
on the first floor, with working rooms adjoining. The building also 
contains two lecture rooms for other departments of college instruction. 
In the gable on the north side of the building are mounted the college 
clock and chimes, the gift of the Misses Cammann of Geneva. 

The Library Building is a substantial fire proof edifice in the early 
English style of architecture, with basement and sub-basement. It 
stands forty-eight feet west of the chapel, and architecturally harmon- 
izes with that building. It is constructed of Waterloo stone with On- 
ondaga limestone trimmings, and is sixty-four feet by thirty six, and 
was erected in 1885-6. It is furnished with galleries and is arranged in 
alcoves, each alcove being suitably equipped for reading and study. 
The furniture and the woodwork throughout, except the floors, are of 
polished ash. The building is well lighted and is heated with steam. 
The basement is fitted as a lecture room For this long needed acces- 
sion to the college plant, the college is indebted to many friends, and 
especially to Mrs. Julia Douglas Merritt through Mr. William B. Doug- 
las, the senior trustee. Conspicuous in the building are the many tab- 
lets of engraved brass which have been erected to perpetuate the names 
of benefactors or of their kindred, and the memory of benefactions to the 
library and the college. The building is constructed with reference to 
extension to the north at a future date, when the present porch will be- 
come the center of the completed work. 

Alumni Hall, erected in 1886-7, principally from funds contributed 
by the alumni, is a substantial brick building, eighty eight feet by 
twenty- seven, with an extension on the north side twenty-one and one- 
half feet by fourteen for hall and stairway. It stands on the south line 



I'OWN of geneva. 293 

of the college quadrangle, halfway between the south building and the 
astroaomical observatory. It is four stories in height. The first two 
stories are occupied by the gymnasium. The third story is fitted for 
lecture rooms with special adaptation to the wants of the departments of 
mathematics and drawing. The rooms on this floor when thrown open 
form a hall for the use of the alumni at their meetings. The fourth 
story is devoted to the geological and mineralogical cabinet and the 
museum. 

College Residences. — There are six buildings for members of the Fac- 
ulty on the college grounds. Additional residences are also owned by 
the college. The practice has been introduced of leasing lots to officers 
of the college with permission to build thereon. In 1885 the college 
purchased the Gallagher mansion and grounds. This purchase was pe- 
culiarly important as completing the college site. The house has un- 
dergone extensive alterations and enlargement, and is at present occu- 
pied by the president of the college. In 1883-4, a chaplain's house, a 
brick building with stone trimmings, was erected on the lot adjoining 
the chapel on the north. The college is indebted for this beautiful resi- 
dence to Mrs. Merritt through Mr. W. B. Douglas. The Hale house, 
first acquired in 1 840, the hospitable home of Presidents Hale, Jackson, 
Stone, Rankine and Hinsdale, and for a time the office of President Pot- 
ter, is now the residence of a member of the Faculty. The college resi- 
dence erected under lease by Professor McDaniels, stands on the lake 
side south of the Hale house. The house occupied by Professor Rose 
passed into possession of the college November 7, 1891, by purchase. 
The senior professor occupies the dwelling which adjoins Professor 
Rose's residence on the north. It was the second building erected on 
the college grounds, and has within a few years been enlarged and im- 
proved. 

The Physical Laboratory is in the second story of the south building, 
which was erected for the special accommodation of the scientific de- 
partments of the college. In addition to the general apparatus belong- 
ing to the physical department, and especially designed for lecture 
illustration, there is another collection in the physical labaratory for de- 
termination of physical units and constants, comprising in part delicate 
balances, apparatus for laws of flexure, strength of materials, modulus 



294 tllSTORV OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

of elasticity, fluid pressure, specific gravity, and for determinations of 
density, mass and volume, and for standardizing thermometers ; also for 
measurement of electrical and magnetical currents by various forms of 
dynamometers, ammeters, volt meters, tangent galvanometers, etc. The 
various forms of batteries are also well represented, and also motors 
and dynamos, with armatures of the ring and drum type. The re- 
sources and equipment of the laboratory are quite adequate to pre- 
pare the students for the more advanced work of the special scientific 
schools. 

The Chemical Laboratory, which is in the basement of the building 
that contains the physical laboratory, is fitted up with tables for indi- 
vidual work. Each table is provided with gas and water and all the 
ordinary reagents. There is also provided for general use all the ap- 
paratus necessary for quantitative as well as qualitative work In con- 
nection with the laboratory is a large dark room admirably adapted to 
photography, for which study special facilities are offered. 

The chemical and the physical laboratory are largely indebted for 
their efficient equipment to the liberality of the late William Constable 
Pierrepont, of Pierrepont Manor. 

The large observatory is furnished with the following instruments: 

An equatorial telescope, ten feet focal length and nearly nine inches 
aperture. It is driven by clockwork, and furnished with spectroscopic 
attachment. 

A transit instrument, with electro- chronographic register. 

A sidereal clock ; a mean-time chronometer and a repeating circle, 
several sextants, and artificial horizon. 

The equatorial telescope was procured from funds contributed for the 
purpose mainly by Mrs. Dean Richmond and the late Samuel G. Cor- 
nell, of Buffalo. The sidereal clock was the gift of the late Albert Gal- 
latin Heminway, of Palmyra, a graduate of the college in the class of 

1843. 

Students in practical astronomy receive instruction in the use of the 
instruments and in actual observation, and to facilitate this a small ob- 
servatory has been erected near the college buildings. It contains an 
equatorial telescope of five inches aperture, furnished with three microm- 
eters ; one spider line and double-image (rock crystal), and a solar 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 295 

prism; and spectroscope, all driven by clock work, as is also the A. R. 
circle. 

The Geological and Mineralogical Cabinet embraces an extens've and 
valuable collection of minerals, including duplicates of the New York 
State Geological Survey, also a paleontological collection amply suf- 
ficient for the purpose of instruction, with a set of the well known Ward 
casts of celebrated fossils. These collections in general geology, miner- 
alogy, paleontology and conchology are displayed in the fourth story 
of the Museum Hall, an open room eighty-eight feet by twenty-seven, 
with a side extension twenty- two feet by fourteen, and are sufficiently 
extensive to fill the entire room. A beginning has also been made 
towards a museum of natural history and antiquities. Gifts to the mu- 
seum or any of the cabinets will be welcome and will be suitably 
acknowledged and cared for. For the Ward casts and valuable addi- 
tions to the geological and mineralogical cabinet, the college is indebted 
to Mr. William B. Douglas, who added to these gifts a sum of money to 
be expended in the purchase of illustrative scientific works. The college 
is further indebted to Mr. Douglas for providing during the past year 
the much needed addition of cases for the museum. 

The Botanical Cabinet is also in Alumni Hall. It consists chiefly of 
an herbarium of about five thou,sand species, late the property of the 
Rev. H. M. Denslow, of Seneca Falls. The herbarium contains many 
species collected by the late owner in Connecticut, Vermont and Michi- 
gan, also many from the collections of Curtis, Canby, Jones and Rusby 
in the South and West, besides many from the West Indies, England, 
Germany and France. It is particularly rich in certain orders, as the 
Filices, Orchidacese, Boraginacea; and Rosacea;, which have been made 
the subject of special study. The specimens are all mounted on good 
white paper, and arranged in genus covers, with full labels within and 
without. The whole collection is arranged systematically in special 
cases, according to the " Genera Plantarum " of Hooker and Bentham. 
The provision for illustration and demonstration in the department of 
botanical instruction includes also a full series of the admirable botanical 
charts of Professor Denslow. 

The Library contains over twenty-nine thousand volumes and three 
thousand pamphlets, including one thousand three hundred and fifty-four 



296 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

volumes on deposit. Its characteristic excellence is the extent to which 
in the various departments of instruction in the college it is supplied 
with the standard works and those which represent the latest and best 
thought in the several departments, in recent years the library has 
grown steadily and with relative rapidity. Since November 19, 1885 
— the date of the fire which destroyed the building in which the library 
was then quartered, and from which it was soon to be removed to the 
present fire-proof building — there have been added by gift and by pur- 
chase over fifteen thousand volumes, a large portion of the increase 
being by purchase. 

The scholarships and prizes offered to the students of the college 
represent a capital sum of $80,000. Three prize scholarships, given 
by the college itself, are assigned yearly by competition and are of the 
annual value of two hundred and eighty, one hundred and seventy-five 
and one hundred and fifty dollars respectively. Besides these, there 
are the Ayrault scholarships, representing $54,000, the Henry Laight 
and John Watts scholarships, representing $2,000, the Pierrepont 
scholarships, representing $6,000, and the Alanson Sutherland prize 
scholarships, representing $2,000. The latest addition to the number 
of scholarships is one of $5,000, established by Mrs. Demorest, of 
Buffalo. The prizes are those established respectively by the late 
Horace White, of Syracuse, by the children of the late Augusta H. 
Cobb, and by the Rev. Walter Thompson, of Garrison's. 

Succession of Presidents — Jasper Adams, 1826-28; Benjamin Sharp 
Mason, S.T.D., 1830-35; Benjamin Hale, S.T.D., 1836-58; Abner 
Jackson, S.T.D , LL.D., 1858-67 ; Jacob Kent Stone, S.T.D., 1868-69; 
James Rankine, S.T.D. , 1869-71 ; Maunsell Van Rensselaer, S.T.D. , 
LL.D., 1871-76; William Stevens Perry, S.T.D., 1876; Robert Gra- 
ham Hinsdale, S.T.D., 1876-83; Eliphalet Nott Potter, S.T.D., LL.D., 
1884. 

Presidents Pro Tempore — Daniel McDonald, S.T.D., 1825-26; William 
Dexter Wilson, S.T.D., LL.D., L.H.D., 1867-68; Hamilton Lanphere 
Smith, M.A., LL.D., 1883-84. 

Trustees, classified with the dates of their election : 

The Rt. Rev. The Bishop of Western New York, ex officio. 

The Rev. The President of the college, ex officio. 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 



297 



1893 The Hon. James C. Smith, LL D., Canandaigua, 1855 
The Rev. W. W. Battershall, D.D., Albany, 1879 

" The Hon. SterHng G. Hadley, Waterloo, 1883 

" WilHam J. Ashley, A.M., Rochester, 1883 

1894 The Rev. John Brainard, D.D., Auburn, 1888 
" The Rev. H. R. Lockvvood, S.T.D., Syracuse, 1876 

The Hon. James M. Smith, LL.D., Buffalo, 1884 

*' The Hon. S. H. Hammond, D.C.L., Geneva, 1874 

1895 P- N. Nicholas, A.M., Geneva, 1884 
" William B. Douglas, esq., Rochester, 1856 

William H. Walker, esq., Buffalo, 1890 

William H. DeLancey, A.M., New York, 1880 

1896 The Rev. Morgan Dix, S.T.D., D.C.L., New York, 1863 
" Thomas McBlain, esq., Geneva, 1891 

Arthur P. Rose, A.M., Geneva, 1871 

*' The Rev. Lewis Halsey, D.D., Oswego, 1891 

1897 Douglas Merritt, esq., Rhinebeck, 1885 
" Alexander L. Chew, esq., Geneva, 1868 
" Arthur G. Yates, esq., Rochester, 1892 

John McDonald, A.M., New York, 1881 

Douglas Merritt, esq., Rhinebeck, chairman ; P. N. Nicholas, A. M., 
Geneva, secretary, bursar and treasurer. 

Geneva Medical College. — In 1834 an act of the Legislature author- 
ized a medical department in the college, and in 1836 the middle col- 
lege building was erected for the use of the medical faculty. In 1841 a 
new medical building was erected on the east side of Main street, and 
the middle building was thereupon devoted to the use of the literary 
department. The State contributed $15,000 towards the fund for the 
erection of the new medical building. The medical department of Ho- 
bart College was discontinued in 1872, and the building itself destroyed 
by fire in 1877. Its period of greatest prosperity was from 1840 to 
1850; its total number of graduates, six hundred and thirty-two. 

The De Laneey Divinity School. — In the year 1861 Bishop De 
Lancey called James Rankine to Geneva to assume charge and direction 
of a theological and training school which the bishop was then about to 

38 



298 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

establish, and which was then to be known as the " Diocesan Training 
School of Western New York." However, in 1865 Bishop De Lancey 
died, and in honor of his splendid life and services, the name of this 
institution was changed to "The De Lancey Divinity School." 

The confidence in Dr. Rarikine which was shown by the bishop in 
calling him to the charge of this school was most worthily bestowed, 
for since its inception in 1861, there has been no change nor desire for 
change in its principalship. This silent though thorough institution 
attracts but little attention in the village, and only for the grand results 
here achieved, we would hardly know of its existence. Briefly stated, 
the object of the De Lancey Divinity School is to prepare for the 
sacred ministry and church work such persons as from age and pecu- 
liar circumstances cannot attend the general theological seminaries. 

In 1806 relations were established with Hobart College by which 
the use of the facilities of the college, including the chapel and the 
library, and instruction from members of the College Faculty were se- 
cured to students connected with the Divinity School. 

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF GENEVA BEFORE 1839. 

The first public school law enacted by the Legislature of the State of 
New York was that of 1795, which simply provided for an annual ap- 
propriation of $50,000 for five years, apportioned at first to the several 
counties according to their representation in the Legislature, and later 
according to the number of assemblymen ; to the towns according to 
taxable population, and to the school districts according to the number 
of days' instruction. ^ It has already been pointed out that for the five 
years during which this act was operative, the freeholders of the town 
of Seneca annually elected commissioners of schools to receive the 
money apportioned under it The names of the first commissioners 
chosen by the town were James Rice, Oliver Whitmore and Phinehas 
Pierce, selected May 3, 1796. There are no records to show what 
action, if any, was taken by these commissioners or their successors in 
office under the act, or how much money was received by them. An 
inquiry addressed to the Department of Public Instruction at Albany 
has elicited the information that in the report of school returns to the 

1 See N. Y. vS. Educational Exhibit pamphlet, "The Schools of New York" (p. 30), Albany, 1893. 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 299 

Legislature of 1798, no returns whatever were received from Ontario 
county, and that the appropriation for that year averaged one cent per 
day to a scholar. The ofificial report of 1798, the only one made during 
the five years of the life of the act, was, however, confessedly incom- 
plete ; but even if it had contained a report from the town of Seneca, 
it could have shown little more than the number of schools in the town, 
and the number of children in school attendance, though official in- 
formation on these points would have been interesting and valuable, 
particularly in settlement of the question whether there was more than 
one school in Geneva at that early date. 

In 1805 the common school fund was created by a legislative act, but 
no distribution of the annual revenues arising from that fund was made 
till 1815. Meanwhile, June 19, 1812, an act was passed by the Legis- 
lature which became the basis of the present common school system of 
the State of New York. Acting under this law, the freeholders of the 
town of Seneca at a special town meeting held September 29, 18 13, at 
Powell's Hotel (the present Water Cure building), elected three com- 
missioners of common schools, viz. : Valentine Brother, Nathan Whit- 
ney, David Cook ; and six inspectors of common schools, viz. : Seth 
Whitmore, Joseph Hart, Foster Sinclair, Caleb Rice, Polydore B. Wis- 
ner, John Collins. Unfortunately there are no records either in Geneva 
or in Albany to show when the original division of the town of Seneca 
into school districts was made, or what the boundaries of the school dis- 
tricts as first organized were. The first report of the first superinten- 
dent of common schools, the Hon. Gideon Havvley, merely shows that 
out of thirty towns in Ontario county, twenty-four, representing one 
hundred and eighty seven school districts, reported, no town being 
especially mentioned. The report further shows that the school districts 
reporting received for the year from the State $3,873.92, and that the 
attendance of pupils was ten thousand six hundred and ninety- eight. 
Whether the town of Seneca reported, and what its report was, must 
remain matters of conjecture. 

In 1839, when the Union School of Geneva was formed, the corporate 
limits of the village comprised two school districts, Nos. I and 19. The 
difTerence in the district numbers seems to indicate that in the original 
division of the town of Seneca into school districts, the village of Ge- 



300 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

neva was made district No. i, and that at a later date a second school 
district, No. 19, was set off within the village limits. This view is 
strongly supported, if not confirmed, by the language of a document 
hesLVing dsite Januajy 15, 1822, in which the trustees of the Geneva 
Academy present the old academy building to " The Trustees of the 
District School in the village of Geneva " — language incompatible with 
the theory that there were then two district schools in the village. 
School district No. 19 must have been created, however, only a few 
months later, for the census of Geneva the same year enumerates two 
district schools 

No records exist to show that teachers taught in these district schools 
or what buildings the schools were kept in ; but tradition and inci- 
dental references to the schools in old newspapers and documents have 
preserved to us not a little information on these points A petition ad- 
dressed to the trustees of Geneva Academy under date of September 
27, 1 82 I, speaks of " the District School " as being then kept in their 
building. Later, as is well known, district school No. i was kept on 
Geneva street, and district school No. 19 on Pulteney street. Of the 
earlier district school teachers, the names most frequently mentioned by 
the older inhabitants, are those of Peter B. Hard, J. Brown, and D W. 
Keeler. 

T/ie Unioii School of Geneva was the pioneer institution of the kind 
in the State, and its plan was first suggested by Francis Dwight, who 
submitted the proposition to Charles A. Cook, Perez Hastings and 
Aaron Young. The proposed system being at length submitted to the 
taxpayers, met with much opposition, but the advocates of the measure 
finally overcame all obstacles and established for Geneva a grand union 
school which afterward served as a foundation for many other similar 
institutions throughout the State On the 24th of April, 1839, School 
District No. i of the town of Seneca was formed from the older Districts 
Nos. I and 19, which comprised the village corporation. The sum of 
$3,600 was voted by the district with which a site on Milton street was 
purchased and a suitable school building erected. It was completed in 
1839, had four rooms and accommodations for 300 pupils. At first 
five teachers were employed, Isaac Swift being the first principal. 

In 1842 an addition to the building was erected, being the east wing, 
and in 1853 a further addition was made to the building, the west wing; 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 301 

also in the last mentioned year three branch schools were established 
in the village, known as the North and South branches and the Colored 
School. The Middle Branch, on Lewis street, was erected in 1854. 
In 1 89 1 the Prospect avenue branch school building was erected at an 
expense of $9,000. The instruction of colored students in a separate 
building was abolished in 1863. 

In 1853, by an act of the Legislature passed April 15, the Geneva 
Union School was incorporated and authorized to establish and main- 
tain a classical department, and also to instruct a normal class under 
the supervision and control of the State Board of Regents. On March 
16, 1869, its corporate title was changed to "The Geneva Classical 
and Union School." Of its history Mrs. Bradford says: "It has 
fitted many young men for college, many for teachers, and has sent 
abroad many more to occupy places of trust and honor. As it was the 
first institution of its kind in its organization, so now it is one of the 
first in moral and intellectual improvements." 

On the 17th of December, 1868, the academy building on Milton 
street was destroj ed by fire, and with it was also burned a large quan- 
tity of valuable school apparatus, books, pictures and other desirable 
property. Immediately following the fire, measures for rebuilding were 
adopted, and the work was done during the years 1869 and '70, the 
building being ready for occupancy in October of the year last men- 
tioned. The new building was erected on the site of its predecessor, 
and cost, with furnishings, about $42,000. Extensive repairs and im- 
provements have recently been made, and in particular in the summer 
of 1892 an extension to the south two stories in height was erected at 
an expense of $10,000, with ample accommodations for a chapel on the 
first floor and a laboratory and additional lecture rooms on the second. 

The trustees of Districts i and 19, at the time of consolidation in 
1839, were as follows: No. i, Aaron Young, Wm. W. Green and S. S, 
Green ; of No. 2, Clark Morrison and Wm. Barker. The first tru.stees 
of Consolidated District No. i were Bowen Whiting, Richard Hogarth 
and Francis Dwight. 

The public schools of Geneva at the present time comprise the High 
School and Senior, also the East and West Junior Departments on 
Milton street; and the Primary schools on Lewis, Cortland and High 



302 tllSTORY 01^ ONTARIO COUNTV. 

streets and Prospect avenue. The present Board of Education 'is as 
follows: M. S. Sandford, Philip N. Nicholas, Samuel D. Willard, 
Arthur P. Rose and Chas. R. Mellen. 

The first principal was Isaac Swift, 1839 to 1852 ; J. E. Dexter, 1852 
to 1855; E. M. Hutchins. 1855 to 1857; B I. Bristol, 1857 to 1859; 
Wm. H. Vrooman (principal and superintendent) 1859 to 1879; Henry 
K. Clapp, 1879 to 1889; Geo. W. Pye, 1889 to 1890; W. H. Trues- 
dale, principal from August, 1890, to August, 1891, since which time 
he has filled the offices of principal and superintendent. 

SL Francis De Sales, Catholic.^ — In connection with this church is a 
parochial free school, erected 1874, and opened for school purposes 
September, 1875; taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph; cost $17,000, 
furniture included. The Catholic children of the village are gathered 
in this school and there are 543 scholars enrolled, the average attendance 
being 470. The St. Francis De Sales Convent and school are in charge 
of the Sisters of St. Joseph. The property on which the church, con- 
vent and school is situated comprises the entire block fronting on Ex- 
change street, between State and Toledo, and in the rear by Center 
street. The St. Francis De Sales Society is incorporated under the 
laws of the State of New York. The pupils of this school pursue a 
thorough graded course of studies and take the Regents' examinations, 
in which, as the records show, the most of them receive the honor 
mark for high standing. All expenses of the school are met by the 
voluntary contributions of the parishioners, who at the same time are 
taxed to educate the children of their wealthier neighbors. 

The De Lancey School for Girls. — Thirty- seven years ago the Misses 
Bridge opened a select school in Geneva, in the house on Main street 
now occupied as a residence by George W. Nicholas, and at a later 
date removed to the dwelling on the same street now occupied by Mrs. 
E. H. Hurd About the year 1868 the Misses Bridge left Geneva for 
a time, but returned about 1878 and in 1880 established the present 
De Lancey School, using for a time the George W. Nicholas house, 
then buying the Admiral Craven property, also on Main street. Here 
the school was continued until 1890 under the care of the Misses 
Bridge. At this time the present principal. Miss M. S. Smart, suc- 

' Furnished by the Rt. Rev. Father McDonald. 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 303 

ceeded to the school, and in 1891 secured for its use the "Foot Place." 
The school was incorporated in 1888. It has six instructors, an aver- 
age of forty pupils, and is under the religious instruction of the Protes- 
tant Episcopal church 

In addition to the educational institutions already described as at 
present existing in Geneva, there are two excellent schools of primary 
grade, the one kept by Miss Gray, successor to the Ouincy School ; the 
other by Miss Smith. 

TJie Geneva Lyceum. — This once notable institution was founded in 
1 83 1 by Rev. Miles P. Squier, D. D., its purpose being "to prepare 
young men to enter higher literary institutions, and especially to fur- 
nish facilities for pious young men who are contemplating the gospel 
ministry to lay a broad and solid foundation in the various fundamental 
branches of learning, for subsequent higher attainments." 

The Lyceum buildings were erected in the west part of the village, 
the funds therefor being raised among the generous people of the region, 
upon the personal application of Dr. Squier. Although not intended 
to be specially denominational, the Lyceum was generally recognized 
as having Presbyterian leanings, a statement which finds confirmation 
in the fact that Mr. Squier offered the buildings and grounds to the 
Synod of Geneva (" on terms every way advantageous ") for the pur- 
pose of founding a college. The ofifer was seriously discussed for a 
time, but at length was abandoned, after which the Lyceum passed out 
of existence about the year 1842. 

The Walnut 'Hill School, an institution designed for the especial 
work of educating boys, was established in 1 85 2 and was located at the 
south end of Main street, on the site now in part occupied by the resi- 
dence of Wm. J. King. Of the history of this once popular school, but 
little reliable data is obtainable, though it is known that the course of 
study was thorough and the discipline excellent. During most of its 
career its principal was Rev. Dr. T. C. Reed, who was assisted by three 
competent teachers. The school was discontinued in 1875. 

Other schools famous in their day were Mr. Eddy's, the opposition 
school when the Geneva Academy was reorganized in 1821 ; William 
Kirkland's, 1828-1835I; Walter T. Taylor's, 1835I-1852; Professor 



304 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

David Prentice's, 1850-1855 ; Geneva Grammar school, 1866-1870; 
Geneva Academy, 1869-1873; Ouincy school, 1879-1891; and for 
girls, Mrs. Plum's, 1822I-1825I; Mrs. Aikin's, 1823-1827I; Geneva 
Female Seminary, Mrs. Ricord, principal, 1829-1842; Geneva Female 
Institute, Mr. Chapin, principal, 1846-1849; Mrs. Titus's, 1849^- 
1855I; The Misses Field's, 1856-1873; Mrs. Bradford's, 1862-1868; 
Mrs, Hopkins's, 1 868-1 872; The Misses Black's, 1 873-1 880. 

In the earlier time notable primary schools were kept by Mrs. 
Young, Miss Lowthrop, Miss Lewis and Miss Martha Tillinghast. 

Churches of Geneva. 

The First Presbyterian Church. — On the i6th of July, 1798, a meet- 
ing of citizens was held at the Geneva Hotel for the purpose of organ- 
izing a church or religious society in the village of Geneva. By a 
pluraHty of votes the following persons were elected trustees by the 
name and style of "The Trustees of the Presbyterian Church of 
Geneva," to wit: Oliver Whitmore, Elijah Wilder, Septimus Evans, 
Ezra Patterson, Samuel Latta, William Smith, jr., and Polydore B. 
Wisner. The first elders were Oliver Whitmore and Elijah Wilder. 
The organization was accomplished largely through the efforts and 
under the direction of Rev. Jedediah Chapman, who was the first pas- 
tor of the society. 

The first church edifice was erected in 1809, and was succeeded by 
another of larger proportions and more imposing appearance, built in 
1839. I" ^'^n the present large and attractive edifice was built. The 
church property consists of the main edifice at the corner of the Park 
and Washington street, a large session-room building standing just 
north of the church, and a pastor's residence on Washington street 
in rear of the church. 

The First Church now has 420 enrolled communicants and a Sun- 
day school of about 325 pupils. The present church and society 
officers are Arthur Hammond, Frank O. Kent, William H. Smith, 
William H. Dobbin, David H. Henry, Edw. B. Richardson, Solomon 
E. Smith, Eli A. Bronson, Isaac L. Seely and Lucius Van Slycke, 

* This date is perhaps not absolutely accui-ate. 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 305 

elders; John L. Bennett, M S Sandford, George Travis, F. S. Bron- 
son, James N. Kipp, David H. Patty, Charles H. Darrow, Henry W. 
Foster and Thomas E. Rippey, deacons; D. H. Fatty, T. J. Skelton, 
William H. Vrooman, Joseph S. Lewis, David H. Henry, Eli A. Bron- 
son, and Solomon E. Smith, trustees. 

The succession of pastors has been as follows : Jedediah Chapman, 
1 800-1812 ; Henry Axtell, 1812-29; Eliakim. Phelps, 1830-35 ; Philip 
C. Hay, 1836-46; William Hogarth, 1847-56; Hubbard Winslow, D.D., 
1857-59; A. Augustus.Wood,D.D., 1860-73 ; Henry A. Nelson, D.D., 
1874-85; Halsey B. Stevenson, 1887-89; William W. Weller, 1890. 

The North Presbyterian CJmrcJi of Geneva was formed by a union 
of the members of the United Presbyterian Church with the Bethel 
Society of Geneva. The latter was an organization of faithful mis- 
sionary workers whose field of labor lay especially among the boat- 
men of the lake and canal and with others who had no fixed church 
house. By this society a chapel was erected on Exchange street, 
north of the railroad, and here the meetings were held until the union 
mentioned was formed. The Bethel Society was organized in 1839, 
and in 1866 began to maintain preaching in their chapel. Soon after 
the year last mentioned the members of the United or Scotch Presby- 
terian Society proposed a union with the Bethel members, which, being 
accepted, the former secured a dismissal from its connection and asked 
for admission to the Presbytery of Geneva, which was granted Novem- 
ber I. 1870. The result was the organization of the "Second Pres- 
byterian Church of Geneva," and which afterward became known as the 
North Presbyterian Church. 

The early meetings were held in the Scotch Church edifice, and in 
1876 the large and elegant stone edifice was erected at the corner of 
Genesee and Lewis streets. Its cost was nearly $40,000, about one- 
half of which was contributed by Thompson C, Henry E., and Joshua 
I. Maxwell. 

The North Church numbers 430 members, with 500 pupils in the 
Sunday school. The elders of the society are John Mackay, James 
S. Sears, Thompson C Maxwell, Stephen W. Hopkins, Theo. S. Hub- 
bard, Charles K. Scoon, John H. Daniels. E. M. Maynard, and George 
X. Smith. The deacons are John P. Vail, E. B. Van Houghton, Will- 

39 



306 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

iam M. Gates, C. W. Haviland, Charles H. Webster, Harry J. Loy, 
Watson E. Stubbs, Frank P. Skuse, and E M. Maynard. 

The first pastoral supply was Henry P. Collin, 1870-71, succeeded 
by stated supply Alfred C. Roe, the latter remaining two years. Dr. 
William Hogarth was called to the pastorate in July, 1873, and installed 
in November. He remained thirteen years and was followed in 1886 
by Paul Van Dyke, who retired in 1888, and was succeeded by the 
present pastor, Rev. Dr. Ninian B. Remick, the pastorate of the latter 
beginning in 1890. 

Trinity Church. — The parish and society of Trinity Church were 
organized on the i8th of August, 1806, by former members of the 
Protestant Episcopal Church of older places. The incorporators were 
John Nicholas, Daniel W. Lewis, James Rees, James Reynolds, David 
Nagle, Robert W. Stoddard, John Collins, Robert S. Rose, Samuel 
Colt, Ralph T. Wood, Richard Hughes, William Hortsen, Thomas 
Wilbur, Richard M. Bailey, William Tappan, Levi Stephen, Thomas 
Wood, Richard Lazelere and Thomas Smith. The first wardens were 
John Nicholas and Daniel W. Lewis, and the vestrymen Samuel Sheckel, 
John Collins, Robert S. Rose, Richard Hughes, Ralph T. Wood, David 
Nagle, James Rees and Thomas Powell. 

Although the parish and church were not organized until 1806, still 
earlier services were held, beginning in 1803, under the missionary 
labors of Rev. Benjamin Phelps, who afterward became the first rector, 
and who baptized seven children in 1805. The early services were 
held in the district school-house, and in 1809 the Trinity parish was 
provided with a church -house. This edifice served the purpose of the 
society for a period of thirty- six years, and in 1842 the erection of the 
present splendid edifice was begun, the work being finished in 1844. 
It was consecrated by Bishop De Lancey August 15, 1844. The edi- 
fice has been occasionally repaired, and some improvements have also 
been made to it, and it stands to day, notwithstanding its age, one of the 
finest of the many beautiful church edifices of Geneva. 

Trinity has 560 communicants, and its Sunday school has 227 pupils. 
The present wardens are Alexander L. Chew and James P. Mellen ; 
vestrymen, O. J. C. Rose, Henry Slosson, S. H. Hammond, Samuel 
Southworth, H. Dennison, P. N. Nicholas, Thomas Smith. 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 307 

The succession of rectors has been as follows: Davenport Phelps, 
missionary and rector from 1803 to June 27, 1813; Orrin Clark, Au- 
gust 17, 1814, to 1828; Richard S. Mason, D.D., July 6, 1828, to 
April 26, 1830; Nathaniel F. Bruce, August 4, 1831, to July, 1835; 
Pierre P Irving, October 26, 1836, as deacon, and as rector May 27, 
1837, to 1843 ; Samuel Cook, D. D., 1843 to 1845 5 Jolm Henry 
Hobart, D. D., 1845 to 1847. William Henry Augustus Bissell, D.D., 
next succeeded to the rectorate as the successor of Dr. Hobart, and 
was himself succeeded by William Stevens Perry, D.D., LL.D. The 
next rector of Trinity was Rev. Dr. Henry W. Nelson, whose first ser- 
vice in the church began on Thanksgiving Day, 1876. 

St. Peter's Church. — The Rt. Rev. William Heathcoate De Lancey 
was elected bishop of the Diocese of Western New York in 1838, and 
in the next year moved to Geneva. He retained a residence in the 
village until the time of his death, April 5, 1865, and in honor of his 
life and good works in the mission field and church, St. Peter's was 
founded and organized as his memorial. As early as 1850 Bishop De 
Lancey began missionary work in Geneva and soon established a pros- 
perous mission in the north part of the village. In 1852 he began 
holding services in a small chapel on Genesee street, and becoming 
owner of the building, he named it St. Peter's in honor of his old par- 
ish church at Philadelphia, in which he was advanced to the Episco- 
pate. In 1 861 the bishop called Dr. James Rankine to Geneva to 
assume charge of the Theological Training School, and the latter soon 
found himself also engaged in the mission work, holding full Sunday 
service in the chapel. However, it was not until 1867, two years after 
the death of Bishop De Lancey, that St. Peter's parish and church were 
organized. The chapel was replaced with a large and elegant stone 
edifice, the funds therefor being raised by voluntary contribution, and 
the chief actor in accomplishing all that was done was Dr. Rankine. 
The church was begun in 1868, and was consecrated May 10, 1870. 
The tower was built in 1878. The first rector was Dr. James Rankine, 
who has filled that office until the present time, with the exception of 
about one year, during which he was president of Hobart College. In 
this interval Dr. Maunsell Van Rensselaer was rector of St. Peter's. 



308 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

The church now has 250 communicants and a Sunday-school with 
about 200 members. The wardens of St. Peter's are Samuel S. Graves 
and Davis L. Stacy ; vestrymen, S. H. Parker, Charles A. Steele, A. 
A. Halsey, Julius R. Roenke, James E. Brown, H. B. Graves, Benja- 
min Harvey, Peter R. Cole. 

The Methodist Episcopal Chtnxh of Geneva was not in fact organized 
until the year 18 18, although as early as 1793 Methodist preaching 
services were held in the region, and in 181 1 a class of eight members 
was formed in the village, Mr Loomis being the first leader. In 181 8 
the present society was organized by Rev. Ralph Lanning, the mem- 
bers numbering thirteen persons, who held their meetings in the Me- 
chanic's Society School house on Castle street, on the site where the 
society afterward built a church edifice. Prior to 1821 Geneva was a 
jnission, and the first house of worship, built on the site mentioned, 
was dedicated on Christmas Day, 1821. 

In 1828 this church was constituted a separate pastoral charge, then 
having seventy- two white and three colored members. The church on 
the corner of Maine and Seneca streets was begun in 1839 and finished 
in 1840, the dedicatory services being held August 15. The original 
cost of the building was $20,000, and it was substantially rebuilt in 
1885 at a considerable expense. The present trustees of the church 
are Dr. A. B. Smith, George Taylor, A. G. Frisbie, D. P. Nelson and 
W. I. Bonnett. The present pastor is Rev. R. D. Munger, and the 
superannuated ministers, D. D. Buck, D.D., and H. T. Giles. 

The pastors in succession have been as follows: Mauley Tooker, 
Seth Mattison, John B. Alverson, John W. Nevens, Calvin S. Coats, 
Elijah Hibbard, Seth Mattison, VVm. P. Davis, E. G. Hibbard, Moses 
Crane, F. G. Hibbard, O. R. Howard, John Dennis, John G. Gulick, 
John Raines, Wm. H. Goodwin, T. H. Kellogg, D. D Buck, Thos. 
Tousey, John W. Wilson, Wm. H. Goodwin, D D., John Raines, A. 
F. Morey, George Van Alstyne, A. W. Green, A. J. Kenyon, Robert 
C. Brownlee (3 terms), T. M. House, Charles H. Wright, John C. 
Nichols and R. D. Munger, the latter being the present pastor, whose 
connection with the local church began in 1891. The Geneva M. E. 
church has 340 members, and a Sunday school with 250 members. 



tOWN OF GENEVA. ^09 

TJie United Presbyterian CJitirch, by many known as the Scotch 
church, dated its history in Geneva back as far as 1826, when Rev. D. 
C. McLaren ordained elders in the old M. E. church on Castle street. 
In 1830 the society had gained sufficient strength to erect a church 
house on Castle street, which it continued to occupy until the dissolu- 
tion of the society and the organization of what is now the North Pres- 
byterian church, with which nearly all the other members (in 1870) 
united. The supplies, pastors and others connected with the United 
Presbyterian church, during the period of its existence, were D. C. Mc- 
Laren, David Currie, J. F. McLaren, T. S. Farrington, VV. S. McLaren, 
J. L. Robertson, D. A. Duff, A. C. Roe. 

In connection with the history of this church the statement may be 
made that the original name of the society was " Associate Reformed 
Congregation of Geneva," and that in the spring of 1858, by a union 
of the Associate Presbyterian and Reformed Presbyterian churches at 
large, the local society became thenceforth known as the United Pres- 
byterian Church of Geneva. 

The Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Geneva was organized on 
the 24th of August, 183 1, at a meeting held in the Associated Reformed 
Presbyterian church on Castle street. The original members numbered 
nine persons, from whom Peter Dox and John Veader were chosen 
elders, and John N. Bogert and George Giffing deacons. For about 
six months worship was held in the red brick building on William 
street, and afterwards in Masonic Hall, on the site of the present* First 
Presbyterian church chapel, and in 1832 the large and commodious 
edifice was completed, the edifice being dedicated January 17, 1833. 
The society continued in existence for a period of nearly sixty years, 
during that time enjoying successes and meeting with reverses. Its 
membership began to decline about 1865, and the society was financially 
weak. The church was indebted to the Collegiate church in New 
York, which debt fell due when the local society ceased to be a Dutch 
church. The remedy was pursued, the edifice sold in 1887, and the 
village became its owner in a year or two afterwards. However, dur- 
ing the year 1890 the property was bought by the Catholic church for 
the purpose of establishing a branch of that church in the village. The 
pastors of the Dutch church, from the time of its organization to the 



3l0 tJlSTORY Oi" ONTARIO COUNTY. 

final dissolution, were as follows: Revs. Henry Mandeville, Gustavus 
Abeel, D.D., Rev. C. C. Van Arsddale, D.D., pastoral supply, James 
Romeyn, D.D., Henry V. Vorhees, Joseph A. Collier, Charles Wiley, 
D.D., Samuel J. Rogers, William W. Brush, John O. Oppie, Rev. D. 
D. Buck, D.D., pastoral supply, Wm. H. Nasholds and Dr. Thomas 
G. Strong, the latter acting as stated supply at the time of the ending 
of the church's career. 

T/ie Universalist Church and Society of Geneva were organized No- 
vember 8, 1834, and in the next year the church edifice was erected at 
a cost of about $6,500. The society has never been large, and now 
has about one hundred and twenty- five members. The pastors have 
been Revs. Jacob Chase, jr., George Sanderson, Stephen Miles, Oliver 
Ackley, Z. Cook, Hiram Torrey, L. L. Sadler, E. Case, jr., S. W. Rem- 
ington, J, Bartlett, John M. Austin, J. F. Countryman, C. C. Richard- 
son, E. S. Corbin, E. E Bartlett, H. B. Howell, C. E. Perkins, O. M. 
Hilton and J. H. Ballou, the latter being the present pastor. The trus- 
tees of the society are W. E. Hayes, M. W. Hemiup, J. A. Barcklay, 
A. J. Rutheford, H. W. Harris and C. N. Hemiup. 

The First Baptist Chnrch of Geneva was organized on the 26th of 
February, 1826, and on the 5th of March following held its first cove- 
nant meeting. On April i thereafter Elder E. W. Martin was 
chosen as the first pastor. There were twenty- five original mem- 
bers. The first meeting-house was erected in 1829, and to it substantial 
repairs were made in 1849. I" ^^^7 the comfortable frame edifice on 
Milton street was built, but during recent years- the growth of the 
society has been such as to require the erection of a large house of 
worship; consequently a lot at the corner of North Main and Lewis 
streets was secured, upon which there is in course of erection an elegant 
brick and stone edifice, which from an architectural standpoint is not 
surpassed by any similar structure in the village. 

The church now has about 350 members, and in the Sunday school 
are 200 pupils. The succession of pastors of the Geneva Baptist church 
has been as follows : Elders E. W. Martin, Norman Bentley, S. Davi- 
son, J. Sears, W. B. Miller, Wm. W. Smith, John Middleton, Edward 
Tozer, W. T. Purrington, Elder Lawton, W. T. Parish, Elder Carpenter 
(supply), B. B. Gibbs, T. S. Hill, M. S. Goodno, J. Byington Smith, 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 311 

Dr. David D. Moore, Donald Grant, Walter Barse and Brewer G. 
Boardman, the latter being the present pastor of the church. 

St. Francis De Sales CJuirch (Roman Catholic). — The parish and 
church was organized in 1832 under the direction of Bishop Du Bois, 
and in the same year a church edifice was built. In 1858 Rev. James 
McManus became pastor, and under his ministry the attendance was so 
greatly increased that a new edifice became necessary. Accordingly, 
in 1864 the present large structure was built at a cost of about $30,- 
000. Father McManus continued pastor of this church until the time of 
his death, June 28, 1890, and on July 26 of the same year, was suc- 
ceeded by Father Wm. A. McDonald. 

In 1875 Father McManus established St. Francis De Sales Parochial 
school, a very worthy and thorough institution, now numbering 500 
pupils in attendance. This school is admirably conducted by the Sisters 
of St, Joseph. 

The Evangelical Association of Geneva was organized in 1873, the 
first pastor being John Reuber. No church house was provided until 
1885, when the neat brick edifice on Main slrect was erected. The 
Association has eighty- six members, and a Sabbath school with 
seventy-five attendants. The pastors, in succession, have been John 
Reuber, Charles Weisman, Jacob Burghart, A. Schlenk, Bavid Fischer, 
Jacob Vosseller, Louis Heinmiller, Frederick Lohmeyer and Andrew 
Holzwarth. 

A Free Church for the colored worshipers of all denominations was 
erected on High street as early as 1825 or '26. This building was 
burned, and a new church was built in 1892. It has no present resi- 
dent pastor. 

THE GENEVA PRESS. 

In November, 1796, Lucius Carey published at Geneva the first 
number of the Ontario Gazette and Western Chronicle. Although 
this paper was founded under the immediate direction and pat- 
ronage of Charles Williamson, it continued publication in Geneva 
only about a year and a half, when it was removed to Canandaigua, 
from which village its worthy descendant, the Repository and MesseJiger, 



312 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTy. 

is still issued. A copy of the first number of the paper printed at Ge- 
neva, is now in the Reynolds Library, Rochester, N. Y. 

In the early part of i8o6 James Bogert became a resident of Geneva, 
and in November of the same year he established the Expositor, the 
second paper of the village, the publication of which was continued by 
him for a period of more than twenty seven years, or until December 4 
1833. However, in 1809, Mr. Bogert changed the name of his paper 
from Expositor to the Geneva Gazette, by which it has ever since been 
known. Grieve & Merrell (John Grieve and J. C. Merrell) succeeded 
next to the ownership of the Gazette, and in 1836 Mr Merrell became 
its sole proprietor, continuing only one year, and then selling to J. J. 
Mattison. During the later years of his proprietorship John H. Dey 
was a partner of Mr. Merrell. J. Taylor Bradt next owned the paper, 
and in 1839 ^^ ^o^*^ ^^ Stowe & Frazee. From some unknown cause 
the Gazette was declared to be an unprofitable business enterprise, and 
for a time its publication was suspended. However, in January, 1845, 
the office and plant was purchased by Ira and Stephen H. Parker, who 
not only revived the paper under its old name, but who gave such ener- 
gy and force to its publication that it at once became a leading paper in 
the county, and one not only satisfactory to the reading public, but a 
source of profit to its owners. In 1852 Stephen H. Parker became sole 
proprietor of the Gazette, and has continued in that relation to the pres- 
ent time, the year 1893 being the forty-second of his sole ownership 
and the forty-ninth of his connection with the paper. 

During the publication of the Expositor, James Bogert was a Feder- 
alist, but while publishing the Gazette and on the approach of the War 
of 181 2, he became a Democrat, and although he was associated with 
influence which might have allied him to federalism, he was patriotically 
democratic during the War of 1812-15. He was upon the frontier in 
18 1 2 bearing a captain's commission, and was afterwards commissioned 
colonel. 

Mr. Parker has maintained the political standard established by 
Colonel Bogert in 18 12, and has been consistently democratic in his 
conduct of the Gazette ; perhaps we might truthfully say his course has 
been at times enthusiastically with his party platform. But regardless 
of the political tendencies of the Gazette, it is one of the leading papers 



314 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Mr. William O. Bunn became sole proprietor of the paper and Mr. Elon 
G. Salisbury continued in the office in the capacity of editor. 

In January, 1876, when the Geneva 6<?«rzVr establishment came un- 
der the control of Mr. Malette, then began a period of rapid growth. 
There was at that date in the office the usual force, in such towns as 
Geneva was then, of five printers, including the "devil." The business 
was carried on in one good sized room, in which were all the printing 
materials, including the press, engine and boiler. Subsequently this 
same establishment comprised four newspapers, a large jobbing depart- 
ment, and from thirty to forty persons, occupying four floors, including 
a building planned and erected for its use. Two printing plants had 
grown up within its walls ; one of them newspapers, as stated else- 
where ; and in July, 1891, Mr. Malette disposed of the Courier, as has 
been narrated. 

During the period mentioned, the Courier found itself two or three 
times out of line with the Republican party, especially in its support of 
bi metalism, and also its advocacy of the policy of withdrawing the 
Federal military arm from the administration of civil government in the 
Southern States, and it met a storm of opposition particularly in regard 
to the latter ; but both policies were subsequently incorporated into the 
Republican national platforms. On every important question from the 
inception of the party the paper was either with or in advance of the 
party itself, it was as a rule radical and not conservative, while on every 
moral question it uniformly favored the very best attainable standard, 
regardless of party exigency or private interest. 

The Saturday Review, (Geneva) ; The News- Letter, (Ontario County), 
and The Seneca Connty Neius- Letter, published at Geneva, James Malette, 
editor and proprietor ; F. A. Malette, managing editor. These news- 
papers, constituting a series, issued on a plan essentialljMiew in the field 
of journalism, with their field of circulation chiefly in Ontario and Sen- 
eca counties, and representing no one place in preference to any other, 
were designed to bring into more intimate relation the people of the 
various towns and villages in the section of the country in which they 
are circulated. 

The initial publications were The Miscellany and The Asteroid, begun 
in 1878. At first the sheets comprised four pages, twenty columns in 




^atMm»4 



ULa£as::: 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 315 

all. Successive enlargements were made from this point, and the plan 
of publication was developed so that the three issues assumed their 
present form, size and character (1893), each paper twelve pages, seven- 
ty-two columns, and together including news departments and offices 
in from thirty to forty towns ; in each of which towns the news of the 
other towns is served as far as practicable to all the readers every Sat- 
urday. Sensationalism is avoided. The three papers are alike, bright, 
newsy, entertaining, of high character, useful to all communities within 
the radius of their influence. 

The Miscellaneous Register, edited by William Ray and published by 
Leavenworth & Ray, was published from July 20, 1822. 

The Christia7i Magazine, a monthly publication, Rev. John F. Mc- 
Laren, editor, under the supervision of the Associate Reformed Synod 
of New York, was first published January, 1832, and was continued for 
about twelve years, being discontinued in 1854. The Young Ladies' 
Mirror, published from August i, 1834, to August i, 1835, by Imley 
Prescott. First editor, E. D. Kennicott, subsequent editor, Jacob Chase, 
jr. Literaty Museum. ■^\y}o\\'i\\^di {xoxx\ March 13, 1834, to March 30, 
1835, by Snow & Williams. Herald of Truth, publication begun by 
Imley Prescott on June 21, 1834, with E. D. Kennicott as first editor, 
who was followed by Jacob Chase, jr., and G. N. Montgomery. Publi- 
cation continued in Geneva until December 23, 1836, when it was re- 
moved to Rochester by George Sanderson, its subsequent proprietor. 

The Geneva Democrat was published during the campaign of 1840, 
by Stone & Frazer. The District School Journal (monthly) was started 
in Geneva in 1840 by Francis Dwight, and removed to Albany in 1841. 
The Geneva Advertiser and Mechanics Advocate, a semi-weekly, was 
started in 1841 by S. Merrill & Co, and continued one year. The 
Geneva Budget first appeared in 1852, published by Sproul & Tanner, 
and suspended in 1854. The New York State Intelligencer lived only 
through the year 1848. The Ontario Whig, semi weekly was started in 
Geneva in 1850 by Wm. C. Busted and discontinued in 1852. The 
Geneva Independent and Freeman's Gazette was established in 1851 by 
W. K. Fowle and by him published until 1855, followed by H. G. Moore 
until 1857, when it became known as the Geneva Ledger and again 
passed into the hands of its founder. Mr. Fowle also started the Gen- 



310 filSTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

eva Daily Union in 1858, but the venture was unprofitable, and the 
paper, therefore, discontinued. The Ledger- zXso ceased in 1859. 

The Geneva Ad%>ertiser first made its appearance December 31, 1880, 
under the editorship of Edgar Parker, and, although it ventured into a 
well filled field, the paper has maintained an exceedingly healthy exist- 
ence even from its first number. Mr. Parker entered the journalistic 
arena with a rich experience, gathered during long years of service on 
the Gazette, but he had become thoroughly disgusted with advocating 
radical party platform declarations when the controlling elements of the 
party itself failed to maintain its rights. The Tilden campaign failure 
of 1876, followed by the split of 1879 and the defeat of 1880, led to the 
founding of the Advertiser as an independent paper, bound to no party 
and tied to no candidate, and on this principle the publication has been 
founded and maintained ; and with more than fair success to the owner. 
The Advertiser has a good circulation and a satisfactory advertising 
support. In fact it is a bright, newsy and desirable family paper. 

The Geneva Democrat is the latest venture into the local field of jour- 
nalism and, although young in years, having been published for two 
years, it has shown a remarkable growth. It is well dressed in appear- 
ance, vigorous in tone and strong in support of the party whose cause 
it advocates. It is edited and published by William P. O'Malley. 

BUSINESS INTERESTS AND MANUFACTURES. 

The mention of this subject naturall}/ takes us back again to the early 
history of the village to a time when the principal business interests were 
centered at the square. From Mrs. Bradford's valuable history we learn 
that " the early merchants of Geneva were Grieve & Moffat, Samuel Colt, 
Richard M.Williams, Elijah Gordon, Richard M.Bailey. Abraham Dox." 
Septimus Evans was an early settler and "respectable" merchant. Daniel 
W. Lewis was an early resident and lawyer. Polydore B. Wisner prac- 
ticed law here in 1805. Moses Hall had a shop where Edward Kingsland 
lives now. Samuel Colt has already been mentioned among the busi- 
ness men. Dr. William Adams was the first physician ; other early med- 
ical men were Drs. John Henry and Daniel Goodwin. "Among the 
earliest mechanics were William Tappan, John and Abraham Hall, 
Moses Hall, William W. Watson, John Woods, Foster Barnard, Richard 
Lazalere and Jacob and Joseph Backenstose." 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 317 

From Colonel James Bogert's reminiscences of Geneva, published by- 
Mrs. Bradford, it is learned that in 1805 there were thirty-five houses 
on Main street, seven on Seneca street, five on Castle street, two on 
Genesee street, and one on Pulteney street, and that many of the now 
important streets were not then laid. From the same authority we also 
learn " that the north side of Seneca street on which there is now (1833) 
a compact mass of beautiful and substantial buildings, was long after we 
commenced the publication of our paper (1806) improved as a mowing 
field." 

However, it is not our purpose at this time to dwell at length on the 
old business interests of Geneva. There are now living in the village 
many persons whose recollection carries them back from fifty to sixty- 
five years ; persons who have observed the growth of the place from 
the small hamlet to the metropolitan village, now having a volume of 
business equal to some of the cities of the State. In a preceding portion 
of this chapter we have traced the development of business and noted 
the gradual decline of the park vicinity and the corresponding use of 
Seneca, Exchange (formerly Water), and Castle streets as business 
thoroughfares. But in manufactures Geneva did not gain any great 
prominence until after the building of the railroads, and the greatest 
strides in this direction have been made during the last quarter of a cen- 
tury. Glancing over the village directory for 1867, the names of man- 
ufacturers appearing are as follows : James Alexander, brewer, David 
W. Baird, carriage manufacturer; Henry D. Beach, bedstead maker 
and " leader of the band ; " Charles Bennett, brickyard ; Wm. H. Brund- 
age, carriage factory; Bullard & Co., manufacturers of dial attachment 
dampers for stove pipes ; Alfred Catchpole, foundry and machine shop ; 
Conger & McKa)^ saw and planing mill and spoke factory; Patrick 
Coursey, wool puller and tanner; John B. Dixon, tile manufacturer; 
Wm. B. Dunning, proprietor iron works; P. H. & G.W. Field, maltsters ; 
Samuel L. Jones, planing-mill ; Benjamin W. Keyes, carriage manufact- 
urer ; Rubert & Co , yeast factory; Richard Snyder, brickyard. A 
few of these industries are still in existence, and may be mentioned 
among those of the present day. Especially are the names of Wm. B. 
Dunning, Benj. W. Keyes and .David W. Baird familiar to quite recent 
business interests. 



3l8 HISTORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

The New York Central Iron Works Company, that great Geneva in- 
dustry, was incorporated in 1890, and is the outgrowth of an original 
business established by Wm. B. Dunning in 185 i. In 1853 Mr. Dun- 
ning began making boilers, mill irons and other articles on a larger 
scale, and with each passing year found a largely increasing business. 
The old works were burned in 1870, and at once replaced with the present 
buildings. Here are made the Dunning steam and hot water heaters, 
steam engines, boilers and general machinery. Tlie company was incor- 
porated July I, 1890, having $100,000 capital. Its ofificers are Wm. B. 
Dunning, president; O. J. C. Rose, vice-president and treasurer ; E. N. 
Squires, secretary and manager. 

In 1868 Edward W. Herendeen established the Thomas Harrow 
Company for the manufacture of harrows, also various kinds of other 
agricultural implements This branch of business has not been wholly 
discarded, although the chief products of the present large plant are the 
Furman heaters, and steam and hot water boilers. The Herendeen 
Manufacturing Company was incorporated in February, 1888, with 
$100,000 capital. The officers are: Edward W. Herendeen, president ; 
Francis A. Herendeen, secretary ; Wm. L. Herendeen, treasurer ; Fred- 
erick J. Furman, superintendent. 

The firm of T. Smith & Co. is the outgrowth of a business established 
on the Waterloo turnpike in 1859 by Ezra Havens, who had a spoke 
and bendings works in that location. At a later date the firm of Kipp, 
McDougall & Co. succeeded Havens, and the business was moved to 
Exchange street, occupying the old Burrall foundry building. Thomas 
Smith afterward became owner of the works, but the buildings were 
burned in 1873. Being at once rebuilt, the firm of T. Smith & Co. was 
formed, Daniel Catchpole and Thomas McBlain becoming partners with 
Mr. Smith. The present firm comprises Mr. Smith, Daniel, Edward A.' 
and Lewellen G. Catchpole, and was formed in November, 1891. 

In 1 87 1 the Geneva Malt House was established by Samuel K. Nes- 
ter, and the industry thus founded by him more than twenty years ago 
has grown to mammoth proportion, being recognized as one of the most 
extensive of its kind in the country. 

The Geneva Optical Company, whose extensive works until recently 
were on Linden street, but in 1893 moved to an elegant large building 





<'^-::^ 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 319 

at the corner of Lyceum and Nursery avenue, was formed in January, 
1875, for the purpose of manufacturing optical goods. The active orig- 
inators of the industry were Corydon Wheat, Andrew L. Smith, and 
William Hall. The officers of the company are : Thomas Smith, presi- 
dent ; Wm. Smith, vice-president ; Thomas J. Smith, treasurer ; Wm. 
Bowker, secretary and superintendent. The company is capitalized at 
$100,000, and employs about 200 persons. 

The Standard Optical Company was organized in 1883, to operate in 
connection with the Geneva Optical Company. Its capital is $300,000. 

The large Steam Roller Flour Mill at the south end of Exchange 
street, was built in 1877 by Patrick and Stephen Coursey. In 1880 
Stephen Coursey became sole proprietor. This is one of the best mills 
in the county, and has a full equipment of roller machinery, with a ca- 
pacity of 125 barrels of flour daily. 

The Geneva Preserving Company was incorporated in March, 1889, 
with $40,000 capital. The buildings are located in the north part of 
the village, and here during the year 1892 were canned 1,250,000 pack- 
ages of fruits and vegetables. The officers are : Irving Rouse, presi- 
dent ; S. D. Willard, vice-president; B. E. Rouse, secretary; E. H. 
Palmer, treasurer. 

The Phillips and Clark Stove Company. In 1885 the firm of G. H. 
Phillips & Co. moved from Troy to Geneva, and soon thereafter a prop- 
osition was made to organize a company for the manufacture of stoves 
on an extensive scale. Local capitalists hesitated about entering into 
the enterprise, but after a short time a stock company with $100,000 
capital was incorporated. The Phillips interests expressed a willingness 
to take a $75,000 of the stock, a fact considered quite surprising at the 
time, but Mr. Phillips was experienced in business and saw grand pos- 
sibilities to be attained with works at Geneva. The necessary buildings 
were at once erected and the company began business ; and it is a fact 
that this is by far the largest and best paying industry now operating in 
Geneva. The works employ about 250 men, while the output of stoves 
is about 100 per day. The officers of the company are: George H. 
Phillips, president and manager; F. O. Mason, vice president ; E. B. 
Webster, secretary ; W. A. Clark, treasurer ; L. S. Phillips, superin- 
tendent. 



320 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

The Patent Cereals Company of Geneva was incorporated in 1888 
with a capital of $350,000, for the manufacture of goods from wheat 
and corn, producing food and brewery products. The officers of the com- 
pany are : George W. Pier, president ; Fred. Licht, vice-president ; 
J no. T. Munn, secretary and treasurer. 

The Geneva Carriage Company was incorporated on April 7, 1891, as 
a local manufacturing concern, though its principal practical men were 
formerly in business at Seneca Falls, from whence the works moved to 
Geneva and became known as above noted. In this village the com- 
pany first occupied a building near the railroad on Exchange street, 
but in March, 1893, moved to the large and more suitable building on 
Middle street, fojjnerly occupied by Pierce, Butler & Pierce. The Ge- 
neva Carriage Company manufactures a large variety of vehicles, chief 
among which is that known as Morrell & Eddy's patent cut-under 
wagon, which is fast gaining popularity throughout the country. In 
fact Morrell and Eddy, jointly and severally, are the inventors of many 
valuable appliances relating to wagons and carriages, and are now justly 
reaping the deserved harvest of the fruits of their genius. The capital 
of the company is $50,000, and the officers are : O. J. C. Rose, presi- 
dent ; Millard F. Blaine, secretary, treasurer, and general manager ; 
directors, O. J. C. Rose, E. N. Squires, M. F. Blaine, Wm. N. Morrell, 
Chas. A. Eddy. 

In the same manner there may be briefly mentioned the other busi- 
ness and manufacturing interests of the village and vicinity, among 
which are the Border City Manufacturing Company and the Superior 
Land Roller Company, both of which are in the suburb known as 
" Border City " and " East Geneva." In the village also we may make 
mention of the brewery and malt-house of James Thwates on the Pre- 
emption road; the church organ factory of John J. Pole, at 52 Castle 
street ; the extensive cooper shops of J. H, Fellows, on Exchange street; 
the sash, door and blind factories of Wm. K. Butler and Daniel E. 
Moore; the machine shop of W. K. Bennett, and the metallic packing 
works of F. B. Smith & Co. 

The Nurseries. — Incidental to the business and producing interests 
of Geneva and locality we may with propriety refer to the great and 
leading industry of the region, that which in importance and volume 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 321 

has far outstripped all others, and that for which the village and town 
of Geneva have gained a wide reputation. The Seneca Indians knew 
of the fruit producing tendencies of the climate and soil of this region, 
for they had extensive orchards of various fruits, which were in full 
growth when Sullivan's avenging army came and destroyed villages, 
trees and all crops. However, it remained for a later generation of 
occupants to develop the valuable resources of the soil and produce 
nursery stock, and as each generation has observed the success achieved 
by its predecessor, we find the entire outlying region, extending 
throughout the town of Geneva, and into the towns of Seneca and 
Phelps, and elsewhere, almost one vast nursery, while general agri- 
cultural pursuits have been discarded as comparatively unprofitable, 
and now the vineyard, the orchard and the nursery command the chief 
attention of the pioneer husbandman. As to who was the pioneer of 
the nursery business in this region would indeed be difficult to deter- 
mine, and while nearly all the pioneer farmers grew their own orchard 
stock, there were nurserymen within the proper meaning of the term, 
and although the growing of young trees has been a feature of trade in 
this locality for more than half a century, the business did not reach its 
maximum in volume until a much more recent date. 

The first nursery that the editor has any knowledge of was located 
on the Waterloo road, a little east of the limits of Geneva. The fol- 
lowing advertisement copied from the Geneva Palladhnn of December 
31, 18 17, is an account of the same: 

Grafted Fruit Trees. — The subscribers having on hand and will 
constantly keep for sale, a large assortment of Grafted Fruit Trees, at their 
nursery, two miles east of Geneva, on the Turnpike to Albany, among 
which are — Newtown Pippins, Yellow Sweetins, Fall Pippins, Hog Island 
Sweetins, Long Harvest Apple, black and yellow Gilliflower, Jersey 
Sweetins, Newark Crabs, for Cider, Pound Sweetins, Golden Pippins, 
White Cider Apples, Queen Apple, Royal Crown, Spitzenburgs, Seek- 
nofurthers, Vandeveer, black, Ox, Swaar and Bough Apples, Pearmains, 
King Apple, Tallman Sweetins, English Russetins, Farmer's Profit, 
Queen Ann Apple, Bellflour. Together with a variety of other kinds ; 
all of which they will warrent to be of the genuine kinds, and Grafted 

41 



322 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

under the ground. They flatter themselves that, as they have taken 
unwearied pains to select their Fruit from the best Orchards in several 
of the states, and as there is no establishment of the kind equal to it in 
the country, it will meet the patronage of the public. 

BoARDMAN & Wheeler. 
Junius [Waterloo] Seneca C. Oct i, 1817. 

In 1846 Thomas, William and Edward Smith established a nursery 
west of the village, occupying at first not more than a few acres, but 
gradually enlarging to meet a rapidly increasing demand for stock. In 
1863 Edward Smith retired from the firm and made a beginning on 
what is now a vast fruit growing business. Thomas and William there- 
after continued the nursery business, and now, under the name of the 
" W. and T. Smith Co." (incorporated March i, 1892), are the owners 
of 900 acres of land, of which 400 acres are in fruit and ornamental 
nursery trees and stock. 

In 1848 Thompson C. Maxwell purchased the ten acre nursery 
formerly owned by Isaac Hildreth, and soon afterward associated in the 
business with his brothers Henry E. and Joshua I. Maxwell, thus form- 
ing the well-known firm of T. C. Maxwell & Bros., a name known to 
the trade for more than forty years. Henry E. Maxwell died January 
24, 1889, but the firm name remains unchanged. During the last five 
years the firm have practically withdrawn from the nursery business, 
and become fruit growers. They have about 900 acres, 300 acres of 
which are in orchard. 

E. A. Bronson began business in 1867, and the late firm of Bronson 
& Hopkins was the outgrowth of it. The firm of Hammond & Willard 
originated in the older concern known as Graves, Selover, Willard & 
Co., the latter being formed about 1867. Selover & Attwood are the 
actual successors to the old firm and still known to the business, and 
are extensive growers and dealers. Attwood, Root & Co. began in 
1870, while Richardson & Nicholas were older in business; and were 
also large growers. R. G. Chase & Co., and Hammond & Willard are 
also old firms in the nursery business. Referring to a directory of the 
nurserymen in business in Geneva town and village in 1867 these 
names are found quite prominent, viz : Anderson, Sears & Henry, 
Jacob W. Baker, Bronson, Graves & Selover, Cyrus Churchill, George 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 323 

W. D. Churchill, C. S. De Witt, John B. Dixon, Seabury S. Graves, 
Herendeen & Jones, T. C. Maxwell & Bros., Nicholas & Newson, A. D. 
Pratt, W. & T. Smith, Abram Y. and Franklin E. Van Epps. 

Comparing the foregoing list of proprietors with that now represent- 
ing the nursery trade in Geneva town and village, it will be noticed 
that the above numbers but few whose names are now familiar in 
nursery circles. An examination also shows that the number then in 
the trade was very small when placed beside those now representing the 
great industry. A directory of the nursery stock growers and dealers 
at the present time shows these firms and proprietors to be engaged in 
the business having nurseries or places of business in Geneva village. 
Attwood & Co., F. S. Bronson & Co., Bronson & Hopkins, H. W. 
Foster & Co , W. & T. Cass, R. G. Chase & Co., John Hammond, The 
Guarantee Nursery Co., W. D. Chase & Co., James Hallahan, Ham- 
mond & Williard, H. E. Merrell & Co., John Jordon, James W. Love, 
A. McGraw & Co., Wm. L. McKay, Victor Pavalock, John D. Scott, 
E. B. Richardson & Co., D. H. Patty, William Sessen, Sears, Henry & 
Co., S. C. Selover & Co., Selover & Attwood, Chauncey Sheffield, W. 
& T. Smith Co., E. Smith & Sons, T. C. Maxwell & Bros., C. L. Van 
Dusen Nursery Co., George W. Trautman, John N. Twomey, William 
Wilson & Co , Wyatt Bros. 

The Geneva Permanent Loan and Savings Association was incorpor- 
ated and organized in 1885, according to the provisions of the act of 
April 10, 185 I, authorizing the formation of building, mutual, loan and 
accumulating fund associations. The business done by this associa- 
tion has been in every way legitimate and successful, and justly it en- 
joys a full share of public confidence. The officers are ; M. F. Blaine, 
president; M. S. Sandford, vice-president; W. G. Hemiup, secretary; 
W. O'Hanlon, treasurer ; Meyer Jacobs, F. C. Hofmann, James R. 
Vance, W. L. Young and W. G. Dennison, trustees. 

The Peoples' Building, Loan and Savings Association was incorpor- 
ated and organized December 22, 1887, through the efforts of D. F. 
Attwood, E. A. Walton, S. F. Gascoigne, M. S. Sandford, Dr. N. B. 
Covert and D. W. Hallenbeck. The association began business in 
1888, and has grown to proportions which are enviable indeed. The 
present officers are as follows: Dr. N. B. Covert, president; D. W. 



324 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Hallenbeck, vice-president ; D. F. Attwood, secretary ; E. A. Walton, 
treasurer; S. F. Gascoigne, manager; T. F, Costello, N. B. Covert, S. 
F. Gascoigne, D. W. Hallenbeck, £. J. Rogers, D. F. Attwood, P. N. 
Nicholas, E. A. Walton, and O. N. Whitney, directors. 

The Universal Savings and Loan {7<9w//>rt«j^ was incorporated in March, 
1891, having authority for a capital of $5,000,000. Its object is to 
encourage industry and frugality, and to promote thrift and economy 
among its members by providing a medium through which their sav- 
ings may be invested. The present officers are as follows : M. C. Haight, 
president ; Grove R. Watson, vice-president ; D W. Hallenbeck, treas- 
urer ; Wm. Wilson, secretary ; E, H. Fleming, general manager ; Fred. 
A. Malette and Thos. H. Sweeney, trustees. 

The Manufactjirers' Accident Indemnity Company was incorporated 
December 10, 1886, chiefly through the efforts of Wm. D. Chase and 
D. J. Van Auken. Its business increased rapidly until a total of 18,000 
members were obtained. In April, 1893, the company left Geneva and 
located in New York city. The officers, while Geneva was the seat of 
operations, were : Thos. Smith, president ; Wm. D. Chase, secretary 
and general manager; D. J. Van Auken, vice-president; R. G. Chase 
treasurer. 

Folger Corps, Thirty -fourth Separate Company, N. G. S. N. Y., was 
organized in February, 1880, and has, therefore, been one of the recog 
nized organizations of Geneva for more than thirteen years. As is well 
known, the company was named in honor of that distinguished states- 
man, legist and jurist, Charles J. Folger. In 1891, through the efforts 
of Captain Wilson, Lieuts. Schell and Malette, the State gave Geneva a 
fine armory building, in every way an ornament to the village, the cost 
of the same being about $45,000. The first captain of the corps was 
Charles W. Folger, who was succeeded by Geo. S. Prince. The com- 
mission of Capt. Wm. Wilson bears the date of October 4, 1884. C. C. 
Schell is first lieutenant, Fred. A. Malette, second lieutenant 

The Young Mens CJiristian Association oi Geneva was organized in 
1886, and incorporated in 1888. In 1891 a lot of land on Castle street 
was acquired through the generosity of the Maxwell family, and other 
splendid gifts have enabled the association to erect on this lot a beauti- 
ful building. The entire property is valued at $50,000. The officers 



'tOWN OF GENEVA. 32o 

of the association are: H. A. Wheat, president; W. I. Bonnett, vice- 
president ; Geo. F. Ditmars, recording secretary ; A.E. Robinson, treas- 
urer ; A. P. Gillett, general secretary. 

The C/inrch Home of Geneva on the Foster Swift Foundation, incor- 
porated April 27, 1878. By two splendid gifts from James T. Swift, in 
honor of the memory of his brother Foster Swift, added to which were 
other donations, the Church Home was founded. Upon the organiza- 
tion the corporation purchased the property at the corner of Pulteney 
and High streets, which was remodeled and arranged for the purposes 
of the Home. It is supported mainly as one of the dependencies of the 
Episcopal churches of Geneva. The hospital department was added in 
1886, the fund therefor being given by Admiral Craven in memory of 
his wife. The interior management of the Home is in charge of a board 
of lady managers. The officers of the corporation are: Rev. Dr. Henry 
W. Nelson, president; James P. Mellen, treasurer; A. P. Rose, secre- 
tary ; and F. W. Wilson, James Rankine, A. L. Chew, James P. Mellen 
Henry L. Slosson, trustees. 

The Geneva Civil Service Association was organized in 1883, and has 
about forty members. The officers are F". O. Mason, president; A. P. 
Rose, secretary ; A. L, Sweet, treasurer. 

The Medical and Surgical Hospital of Geneva was incorporated 
March 27, 1892, its purpose being to erect and maintain a general hos- 
pital in the village. The plan had its origin in a munificent gift by 
the late John V. Ditmars of $12,000. The association has a lot on 
North street, on which the hospital building is to be erected. The 
officers are as follows: F. O. Mason, president; Geo. F. Ditmars, vice- 
president ; M. S. Sandford, treasurer ; A. L Sweet, secretary. 

The Kanadesaga Club, the most prominent social club organization 
in Geneva, was incorporated in August, 1892, and has seventy- five 
members. The club-house is on Main street in the new Music Hall 
building, the latter one of the most artistic in design of the many at- 
tractive structures of the village. The club officers are : Walter A. 
Clark, president ; Louis D. Collins, secretary ; Jno. W. Mellen, treas- 
urer. 

Ark Lodge, No. 33, F. and A. M., was chartered by the Grand Lodge, 
September 2, 1807, s"<^ was, therefore, one of the oldest Masonic or- 



32d tilSfORV OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ganizations of Western New York The present lodge membership 
numbers about one lumdred persons 

Geneva Chapter, No. 36, R. A. M., was organized November i, 1813, 
the original members being Jacob Dox, Garrit L. Dox, Ellis Doty, 
Walter Dean, Philetus Swift, Arthur Lewis, William Burnett, Nathaniel 
Allen, Orson Bartlett, and Samuel Lawrence. Present membership, 
about sixty. 

Ontario Couficil, No. 23, R. afid S. M., was chartered February 5, 
i860, and Corydon Wheat was chosen first master. 

Geneva Commandery, No 29, Knights Templar, was instituted Sep- 
tember 13, i860, and has at present about one hundred members. 

Old Castle Lodge, No. 299, I O O. F., was instituted December 20, 
1 87 1, with eight charter members. 

Having referred to a number of the charitable, benevolent, social and 
secret societies and organizations of Geneva, that are of more than pass- 
ing importance, we may with propriety mention the names of others 
which also have a seat of operations in this village, though histories of 
secret societies, regardless of their general usefulness, are not fairly 
within the scope of this work. The Algonquin Club was organized in 
1889. The Independent Battery was organized in 1879 Amongother 
societies, clubs and orders we may mention the existence of the Ladies 
Auxiliary Y. M. C. A. ; the Delphian Historical Society ; the Delta 
Sigma Club ; the Equitable Aid Union ; the Geneva Club, organized 
1875 ; Geneva Lodge 231, K. of P. ; Geneva Lodge, No. 40, E. O. M. A.; 
Hastings Commandery, No. 174; the Swift Relief Corps, organized 
May 14, 1891 ; Swift Post, No. 94, G A. R. ; the Royal Templars of 
Temperance; the Seneca Club, incorporated 1886; White Springs 
Lodge, A. O. U. W. ; the Woman's Employment Society; and the Ge- 
neva Republican Club. All of these have a certain usefulness in local 
history, but a history of each is not deemed advisable. 

The Seneca Lake Navigation Company was incorporated in June, 
1893, to succeed and enlarge upon the business conducted by the Seneca 
Lake Steam Navigation Company. The latter was incorporated in 
November, 1882, and succeeded a still older company of the same 
name, the latter having its origin about 1853, and a capital stock of 
$200,000. 




't-ejLi^. 



TOWN OF GENEVA. 327 

To Captain Charles Williamson attaches the distinction of having 
built and put on Seneca Lake the first vessel of any considerable size, 
being the famous sloop, vi^hich was built at Geneva and launched 
with great ceremony during the year 1796. In 18 14 the schooner 
Robert Ti'oop was built, and navigated the waters of the lake. The first 
steam craft was the Seneca Chief, built by the Rumney Brothers. In 
1832 she was bought by John R. Johnston and Richard Stevens, and 
the next year was lengthened and improved at Big Stream and named 
Geneva. Capt. "Joe" Lewis "run" the Geneva in 1835 ^"^i '^6, 
at which time the name had been changed to the Geneva. In 1835 
the Richard Stevens was built, followed later on by the Chemung, 
Canadesaga, Chemung, Seneca, and BeJt Loder, the last mentioned boat 
being built in 1848 or '49. 

The Seneca Lake Steam Navigation Company (limited) was incorp- 
orated in November, 1882, as the successor to the older company of 
the same name. The company is the owner of the four boats called re- 
spectively Onondaga, ScJinyler, W. B. Dnnnitig, and Otetiani. The 
principal officers are : Samuel K Ncster, president ; and Wm. B. Dun- 
ning, general manager, secretary and treasurer. The Seneca Lake Nav- 
igation Company, recently incorporated (but not yet organized), suc- 
ceeds the company above mentioned, and is brought inlo existence for 
the purpose of increased local traffic. 

77^1? New York Agricultural Experiment Station. — This almost won- 
derful institution (though never fully appreciated by those most active 
in bringing it into existence), was established under authority of the 
State in the year 1882, in pursuance of an act passed by the Legislature 
in 1880. The leading farmers of the State, the State Grange, and the 
State Agricultural Society, for many years urged upon the executive 
and legislative branches of State government the desirability of estab- 
lishing a station to promote agricultural interests through scientific in- 
vestigations and experiments, and in response to this demand the Board 
of Control was appointed by the governor. In February, 1882, the 
State purchased the Denton farm (west of Geneva) of 125 acres, to 
which four and one- half acres were subsequently added, and here the 
station with all its useful appliances and appurtenances was established. 



328 



HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 



Its first director was Dr. E. Lewis Stu 
1887, by Dr. Peter Collier. The full " 

Dr. Peter Collier, 
Wm. P. Wheeler, 
L. L. Van Slyke, Ph. D., 
S. A. Beach, M. S., 
C. G. Jenter, Ph. C, 
A. L. Knisely, B. S., 
W. B. Cady, Ph. C, 
B: L. Murray, Ph. C} 
A. D. Cook, Ph. C.,1 
J. T. Sheedy, Ph. C.,i 
C. E- Hunn, 
Geo. W. Churchill, 
Frank E. Newton, 



rtevant, succeeded December i, 
Station Staff" is as follows: 

Director. 
First Assistant. 
Chemist. 
Horticulturist. 
Assistant Chemist. 
Assistant Chemist. 
Assistant Chemist. 
Assistant Chemist. 
Assistant Chemist. 
Assistant Chemist. 
Assistant Horticulturist. 
Agriculturist. 
Clerk and Stenographer. 



CHAPTER XVH. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MANCHESTER. 

THE township of Manchester, Number 1 1 in the second range, al- 
though one of the most important interior towns of the county, 
and one across which many pioneers were impelled to pass to reach 
their western lands, was not settled until the year 1793, and was not 
organized as one of the civil divisions of the county until 1821. In this 
township, also, was laid out, and at least partially worked, the second 
principal highway across the county. But, notwithstanding the fact that 
Manchester was not settled comparatively early, its subsequent growth 
and development was very rapid, and at the first enumeration of its in- 
habitants after organization (1830) it contained 2,811 population, stand- 
ing sixth in this respect among the towns of the county. From that 
until the present time the population has constantly increased, and now 



1 Connected with Fertilizer Control. 



TOWN OF MANCHESTER. 329 

its population (census 1890) 4,439, the towns of Canandaigua, Geneva 
and Piielps only having a greater number of inhabitants. 

Under its original civil organization this town formed a part of Farm- 
ington (created 1789) and in connection therewith its early settlement 
was made, and when organized separately this town was called " Burt," 
the name being changed to Manchester April 16, 1822. The pioneers of 
Number 1 1, range 2, were Stephen Jared, Joel Phelps andjoab Gillett, 
all Yankees, who located about on the site of the village of Clifton 
Springs in 1793, and here made the first improvement. In 1795 Nathan 
Pierce and John McLouth came from Berkshire, IVfass., and also settled 
in the town, the former building a strong log house. The other pio- 
neers were John Van Fleet, Sharon .Booth, Jedediah Dewey, Benjamin 
Barney, William Mitchell, Israel Thomas and Nathaniel Harrington, all 
of whom were in the town as early as 1798. Mr. Booth located in the 
town in 1794, and soon afterward married Ruth, daughter of pioneer 
Joab (or Joel as some authorities state) Gillett, which was the first event 
of its kind in the town. The child of these parents, Dorris Booth, born 
1795, also connected the family with another first event. John McLouth 
built a cider mill, so it is said, in the town. Later on, 1804, Theophilus 
Short built the first mill on the outlet where Shortsville now stands. 
From him this thriving little village took its name. About a mile above 
Shortsville, and on the outlet at a place called Littleville, Oliver Phelps 
built one of the first mills in the county. This mill stood not far from 
the present Shortsville Wheel Company's works, and was built in 1791. 
Further mention of this mill will be found in the chapter on Kopewell. 
The first school in the town was opened in 1800, and was taught by 
Elam Crane. On March 12, 1796, Thomas Sawyer died, the first death 
in the town, and his remains were buried in the cemetery in Hopewell. 
Thomas Sawyer was a settler in 1795, and his brother,. Hooker Saw- 
yer, and Jacob Rice came about the same time. Luke Phelps and 
Bezaleel Gleason were pioneers of 1796. 

Benjamin Barney and family came from New Jersey and settled in 
the town in 1797. Jedediah Dewey and Isaac Lapham came in 1798. 
Sylvester Davis located and built a blacksaiith shop on the site now of 
Manchester village in 1798, the first shop of the kind in the town. In the 
same year Abram Spoor located on the site of Gypsum village and waA 
42 



330 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

soon afterward followed by Jacob and John, sons of Garret Van Derhoof . 
The year 1799 was notable for the number and prominence of its pio- 
neer settlers in the town, there then coming Peleg Redfield, Nathan 
Jones, Joseph Hart, Jacob White, Asa Reed, Daniel Macomber and 
others whose names have perhaps been forgotten. In the same con- 
nection we may further mention pioneer heads of families, among whom 
were Gilbert Rowland and his large family, John Shekell, Samuel Rush, 
Zuriel Fish, Philip LaMueuix, Benjamin Throop, Abram Spoor, Gehazi 
Granger, Hezekiah Baggerly and Timothy Bigelow. 

However, it is not deemed necessary to here refer at length to the 
lives and history of the pioneers of Manchester, for, in a subsequent de- 
partment of this work will be found full and complete family and per- 
sonal sketches, collected with much care by personal application to 
present representatives of early and pioneer settlers. Joe Smith, the 
Mormon prophet, resided in this town with his father; and Mormon 
Hill, the place where the gold bible was found, is situated a little north- 
west of the center of the town 

In 1797 the two townships which then formed Farmington (Man- 
chester being one of them) were found to contain a population sufficient 
to warrant an organization and the election of officers. The first meet- 
ing was therefore held on April 4, and among the ofificers chosen were 
several from the Manchester side of the town. Nathan Pierce was 
elected road commissioner; John McLouth, assessor; Sharon Booth, 
collector; Joshua Van Fleet, school commissioner; and Joel Gillett, 
pound master. 

In 1799 the town (Farmington) was divided into road districts, three 
of which were in what is now Manchester. In 1804 the town meeting 
was held in Manchester for the first time, the session being at Ebenezer 
Pratt's house. Later town gatherings in the town prior to its separate 
organization were those held in 181 5 and 1818. About this time (181 8 
and 1 8 19) the people became anxious for a division of Farmington and 
the organization of a separate town, but it was not until March 31, 
1 82 1, that the Legislature passed the enabling act, and authorized the 
organization of the town of " Burt." However, this name seemed to 
be unsatisfactory to the townspeople, consequently on April 16, 1822, 
the name was changed to Manchester. 



TOWN OF MANCHESTER. 331 

The first town meeting of the new town was held in 1821, at which 
time the following officers were elected : Supervisor. John Van Fleet ; 
town clerk, Gehazi Granger ; assessors, Thomas Kingsley, David How- 
land, Peter Mitchell; collector, William Popple; commissioners of 
highways, Jacob Cost, Carlos Harmon, Nicholas Howland ; overseers 
of the poor, Titus Bement, James Harland ; commissioners of schools, 
Addison N. Buck, Azel Throop, George Redfield ; constables, Wm. 
Popple, Robert Spear, John Schutt; inspectors of common schools, C. 
Harmon, P. Mitchell, Leonard Short. 

The supervisors of Manchester have been as follows : ^ Peter Mitchell, 
1827; Nathan Pierce, 1828-9; Nicholas Howland, 1830-31; Peter 
Mitchell, 1832; David Howland, 1833; Nicholas Howland, 1834-35; 
David Howland, 1836; Peter Mitchell, 1837; Ezra Pierce, 1838-42; 
Peter Mitchell, 1843; Alfred Dewey, 1844; Peter Mitchell, 1845; 
Mead AUerton, 1846-48; Proctor Newton, 1849; Joseph H.Dewey, 
1850; Peter Mitchell, 1851; Jedediah Dewey, jr., 1852; Ezra Pierce, 
1853 ; Nathaniel K. Cole, 1854-55 ; Ezra Pierce, 1856-57 ; N. K. Cole, 
1858; Andrew J. Hanna, 1859-60; Wm. H. C. Redfield, 1861-64; 
Abial Allen, 1865-69; Wm. H. C. Redfield, 1870-71; Sidney D. 
Jackson, 1872-74; Sherman Mosher, 1875-77; J. Addison Howland, 
1878 ; D. C. Mattison, 1879; J. A. Howland, 1880-82; Jeremiah Lyke,. 
1883; Edward J. Sheldon, 1884; Jeremiah Lyke, 1885-86; J. A. 
Howland, 1887-89; Jeremiah Lyke, 1890-91; John C. Parker, 
1892-93. 

Present town officers: Supervisor, John C. Parker; town clerk, 
Grover Partridge; assessors, David H. Townsend, John McClellan, 
Sharon Booth ; justices of the peace, John W. Parker, James W. Rafter, 
Almeron Dunham, Charles L Brant ; overseer of the poor, Charles A. 
Moore; commissioner of highways, Theron Y. Allerton ; collector, 
William Potter; constables, John Rodney, Harry S. Forshay, John 
Lannon, George W Rockwell, John W. Wood; commissioners of ex- 
cise, Richmond P. Pratt, Harvey K Carpenter, Isaac Benson. 

Schools of Manchester. — In all matters pertaining to education and 
the welfare of the youth in general, the town of Manchester has main- 
tained a position ever in the front rank. Even during the pioneer days 

iThe record of town meetings from 1821 to 1827 is missing. 



332 tllSTORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

of the town, schools were estabHshed at convenient places, and the 
system thus inaugurated has always been maintained on the same gen- 
erous plan. At this time the town has sixteen school districts, three 
of which — Nos. 3, 9 and 12 — have not school houses. In 1892 the 
number of children of school age was 868, to instruct whom nineteen 
teachers were employed, at an expense of $5,501.77. The amount 
realized by the town for school purposes, from all sources, was $8,049.73. 
The total value of school property in the town is $24,000 ; the value of 
the school building in District 7 is $13,500. Of the thirteen school 
buildings in the town, eight are of frame, two of brick, and three of 
stone. 

It is a well known and conceded fact that civil, political and military 
history of Manchester bears favorable comparison with any other of the 
towns of the county. In this respect the people of the town have ever 
felt a just pride. Among the pioneers and early settlers of the town 
were a number of men who served with credit during the Revolutionary 
War, and among whom may be recalled the names of Nathan Pierce, 
Peleg Redfield, Joshua Van Fleet, Jacob Gillett, Samuel Rush, Thomas 
Sawyer, Israel Harrington, Nicholas Chrysler and Ebenezer Pratt. 

In the second war with England the town also furnished a number of 
men for the service, ainong them being Nathan Pierce, jr., son of the 
pioneer Nathan Pierce ; Nicholas Reuland, who held a captain's com- 
mission ; Lieut. Peter Mitchell, who commanded a company, and also 
Heman J. Redfield and his brothers Manning and Harley ; Joshua Ste- 
vens, John Wyatt, Moses Eddy, Jacob Eddy, John Robinson, Timothy 
Bigelow, Asel Throop, Achilles Botsford, Russell M. Rush, Hooker 
Sawyer, and others whose names are not remembered. 

However, it was during the War of 1861-65 that the town of Man- 
chester made its most glorious record and displayed it most genuine 
martial spirit. In a preceding chapter of this volume will be found a 
record of the Ontario county volunteers in the war, and there also will 
be found a list of the battles in which the commands participated; and 
a glance at the record will disclose the fact that Manchester was repre- 
sented by volunteers in nearly every principal command to the strength 
of which the county furnished troops, and there was hardly a branch of 
che service not represented by men from Manchester. In i860 the town 



tOWN Of MANCltES'fEft. 333 

had a population of 3,280 inhabitants, and in the war which followed 
during the succeeding four years the town is credited with having fur- 
nished a total of about four hundred men, or more than twelve 
percent, of its population. Nearly all of the regiments having Manches- 
ter men now have elaborate histories prepared, in which are furnished 
complete rosters of the troops by companies, wherefore in the present 
connection we need only refer generally to the town's record during the 
war. 

In Ontario county Manchester has been called the town of many vil- 
lages ; and whether said in honor or derision matters not, as the assertion 
is true, and is reasserted with emphasis by every loyal resident of the 
town. These villages, three of which are incorporated, are Clifton 
Springs, Shortsville and Manchester, Port Gibson, Manchester Center, 
Plainsville (Gypsum) and Littleville, a total of seven and a showing 
which cannot be equaled elsewhere in the county. 

The Village of Clifton Springs. — The pioneer on the site of the pres- 
ent village of Clifton Springs was John Shekell, a Marylander, and a 
man of much worth and influence in the new community. The build- 
ing more recently occupied as a boarding-house, standing on an eleva- 
tion in the east part of the village, was the Shekell mansion, built in 
1800. and opened in 1801 as a public house. Mr. Shekell was specially 
noted in the settlement from the fact that he possessed three slaves, but 
these were set free and well provided with dwelling places. 

The second settler in the village locality was William Hanna, and the 
third Arnold Warfield, both bringing families from Maryland, following 
the example of the pioneer, John Shekell. About the year 181 1 Wm. 
Entricken, also from Maryland, settled here and opened a blacksmith 
shop, but before this time, in 1806, Landlord Powell of the famous Ge- 
neva Hotel laid the foundation for later growth by building a public 
house where the village has since been built up. In 1808 St. John's 
church was built, but the building was sold in 18 1 2 to the Methodist 
Society. About the same time a district school was built and opened, 
while to John Bradt attaches the honor of having been the first store- 
keeper. Rose & Spangler were later merchants. 

The Snlphnr Springs of this village have made the locality famous 
throughout the United States. Elsewhere will be found a detailed his- 



334 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

tory of this celebrated resort and its cliief promoter and founder, but at 
this time we may briefly state that the valuable medicinal properties of 
the water here found were known to the first residents, for as early as 
the year 1806 a hotel was erected here as a dispensary. However, it 
was not until later years that the village assumed a position of munici- 
pal importance in the town, and this result was achieved almost wholly 
through the efforts of Dr. Foster, aided and assisted by a few liberal 
and progressive people of the locality The Foster House was erected 
in 1869, by William Foster; the Clifton House in 1870, by Thos W. 
Warfield,and the name changed to Warfield House in 1871, but again 
became Clifton House in 1875. In 1850 Clifton Springs was made a 
post-office, and in 1859 the population was so increased, and the in- 
terests of the persons engaged in developing and improving the locality 
were such as to require the incorporation of the village, which was ac- 
cordingly done. 

At the present time the village of Clifton Springs presents an appear- 
ance fully as attractive as any municipality of the county. It is in no 
sense a busy manufacturing place; such has not been the aim of its 
founders and promoters, but as a quiet resorting place for persons seek- 
ing rest and recuperation, Clifton Springs has become famous thiough- 
out the land. The public buildings include five churches, two good 
schools (one public and one select), a water supply system, and a fire 
department. The village population numbers about 1500, and its mer- 
cantile representatives about equal the demand, but there does not ap- 
pear to be an excess in this direction. 

The water supply of the village is owned by the Sanitarium Com- 
pany and is a private institution, although the main pipes extend 
through some of the principal streets and furnish water to private fami- 
lies. A hose company is organized in connection with the water 
supply department, and is also a part of the Sanitarium equipment; 
still in case of fire in any part of the village, the company promptly 
responds. The Citizens' Hook and Ladder Company is an institution 
of the village corporation. 

As has been stated, the village was incorporated in 1859, and its 
boundaries extend beyond the limits of the town of Manchester on the 
east, hence include a small part of the town of Phelps. In fact the 



TOWN OF MANCHESTER. 335 

public school is located on the Phelps side of the line. The present 
trustees of the village are D. C. Mattison, Albert Everts and James 
Brady. The president of the village is William Llewellyn. 

The Clifton Springs Seminary, a large, comfortable and in every way 
praiseworthy educational institution, occupies a commanding site in the 
west part of the village. It is well patronized, and its graduates rank 
well with those of some of the famed preparatory schools of the State. 
This institution was founded many years ago under the name of " Clif- 
ton Springs Female Seminary," and was a school exclusively for girls. 
However, under its present management and name it is open to both 
sexes. The present principal is Prof. Wm. A. Deering. 

The Union School of the village and district is also an attractive ap- 
pearing and substantiall}' constructed building, standing on an elevation 
in the eastern part of the village. Its affairs are managed by a Board 
of Education, of which Dr. Henry Foster is president. 

The principal manufacturing industry of Clifton Springs is that car- 
ried on by the Clifton Springs Manufacturing Company, a body cor- 
porate, organized May 2, 1885, with a capital of $30,000, afterward 
increased to $40,000. The product of this large concern consists of 
nearly one hundred and fifty varieties of tinware articles, each of which 
is manufactured with a patented " anti-rust" attachment. The present 
factory building was erected in 1 890, and in it are employed about 
forty men. The officers of the company are Rush Spalsbury, presi- 
dent; H. C. Evard, treasurer; J. A. Brook, superintendent. 

W. A. Judd, successor to the firm of Bostwick & Judd, is an exten- 
sive manufacturer of tinware articles, and employs ten men. Bostwick 
& Judd began business in 1892, succeeding a still older business estab- 
lished by Mr. Bostwick. 

T/ie Clifton Springs Press, under the efficient management and 
ownership of H. L. Wright, was established in 1871, and then known as 
the Clifton Spring News. The last mentioned paper was the outcome 
of a discussion among interested residents of the village, and by them 
an arrangement was made with J. W. Neighbor, of the Phelps Citizen, 
whereby the News should be printed at Phelps, the local editor being 
Charles G. Gustin, succeeded in 1873 by W. S. Drysdale. John M. 
Waterbury was local editor in 1874; George H. Woodruff in 1878, and 



336 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Harry C. Burdick in 1880. W. W. Gillis came next in 1882, and was 
followed in 1884 by F. L. Brown, the latter changing the name of the 
paper lo the Netv Era (indeed it was a " new era " in the history of 
the paper), and subsequently to the Clifton Springs Press, which last 
mentioned name has ever since been retained. In 1885 W, H. Neigh- 
bor became editor, and was succeeded in 1886 by H. L. Wright, the 
present proprietor, who edits and prints the Press at Clifton Springs, 
in a comfortable and well equipped office. The persons who were active 
in establishing the first paper were J. W. Neighbor, A. J. Hanna, Byron 
Harmon, C. W. La Du, E. J. Warfield, Dr. Henry Foster and J. J. 
Dewey. 

St. John's Church at Clifton Springs dates back in time to an organi- 
zation effected as early as 1806-7, with which event were prominently 
connected the Shekells, John and Samuel, Darwin Seager, William 
Warner, George Wilson, Archibald Beale, Davis Williams, Thomas 
Edmonston, Alexander Howard and William Powell. A church edi- 
fice was begun at once, but before completion was sold to the Meth- 
odists. F'ollowing this the parish of St. John's became extinct, and was 
not revived until 1866, followed in 1871 by the consecration of a new 
edifice by Rt. Rev. Bishop Coxe. The parish and congregation of St. 
John's are small, the communicants few, and at present the church is 
without a rector. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church at Clifton Springs was organized in 
1808, under the missionary labors of Rev. John Baggerly, and soon 
afterward the society purchased the edifice built by the society of St. 
John's, which they occupied from 18 10 to 1841, when the building was 
burned. Another church house was built in 1843-44. In 1846 the 
society was reorganized and called the " Third Methodist Society in 
Manchester." In 1867 the large brick church edifice superseded the 
old home of the society. The congregation and membership of this 
church are large. The present pastor is Rev. J. V. Benham. 

The First Universalist Church of Clifton Springs was organized 
April I, 1852, with twenty original members, and under the pastoral 
care of I. I. Brayton. The full church organization was completed in 
1858. The first house of worship was erected in 1852 and '53. The 
membership and congregation of this society are not large. The last 



^ 





U^^yl/i 




Ly 



^. 




TOWN OF MANCHESTER. 337 

pastor was Rev. G. B. Russell. For many years the pastorate of this 
church was filled in connection with the Universalist Church at Geneva. 

St. Agnes' Roman Catholic Church at Clifton Springs was organized, 
and the parish also, in 1856, and during the same year the church edifice 
was built. For several years this church was an out- station, and 
Father McDermer was the first resident priest. The present priest is 
Father Patrick Lee. 

The Baptist Society of Clifton Springs is the youngest of the several 
religious organizations having an abiding place in the village, its forma- 
tion dating back only a few years. The church edifice is located on the 
hill in the east part of the village and is a very attractive structure. 
The present pastor is Rev. H. F. Cope. 

THE CLIFTON SPRINGS SANITARIUM AND ITS FOUNDER. 

The life record of Dr. Henry Foster, as far as it is not directly con- 
nected with the history of the famous institution of which he is the 
head, is extremely brief. Dr. Foster is the son of a Vermont farmer 
and miller, and was born in Thetford, in that State in January, 1821. 
Receiving a good English education, he pursued medical study in 
Lowell, Mass., and in 1844 graduated from the medical department 
of the Western Reserve College. While studying in Lowell he cared 
for a sick brother in a sanitarium which bore the name of a water cure, 
if not its full character. Of this experience he has himself said: 
"While there observing and helping, a revelation was made to me, 
that this kind of treatment was the best mode of treating chronic dis- 
eases, though bred an allopathic physician and, of course, strongly 
attached to that faith ; as a result of that impression, and wishing to 
learn more of this system, in 1847 I found myself for three years at the 
head of the medical department of a similar institution at Graeff'enberg, 
N. Y." During those three years Dr. Foster accumulated one thousand 
dollars and a valuable stock of experience. It is proper at this point to 
explain that Dr. Foster has been from his early life a firm believer in 
not only the general principles of Christianity, but in the daily and un- 
remitting guidance of the Almighty in all of the affairs of those persons 
and undertakings which seek His honor and to do His will. This belief 
has ever permeated his life and was the corner-stone upon which he 

43 



338 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

finally built the institution over which he has so long presided. This 
fact explains the following remark in one of his addresses recently given 
before the great family in the Sanitarium : " My coming here was, as 
I have no doubt, purely a divine leading, for I had a number of offers 
to build and equip establishments, if I would take one in charge ; one 
in Cincinnati, one in the western part of this State, another in Con- 
necticut. But led by some peculiar experiences, I had learned by this 
time to submit everything to God, to commit all my ways to Him, and 
never start in any enterprise without having first within me the inquiry, 
' What saith the Lord ? ' " 

In his quest for a proper place at which to establish the institution 
in which he hoped to carry out the plans already formed or partly 
formed in his mind. Dr. Foster was, as he said, directed to Clifton 
Springs. The locality then had a local reputation as " the sulphur 
springs," the freely flowing waters of which had been long used, but 
the country round-about was simply a farming community, where now 
stands the pretty and thriving village. Let us quote a little farther 
from the address before mentioned, to indicate how Dr. Foster's plans 
had their birth and grew to perfection : " While at that place (New 
Graeffenberg) a question came up which was absolutely necessary for 
me to investigate and settle for myself; for, having a desire both to 
please and to benefit the patients, I used to take the feeble ones and 
carry them into the parlor, and there we would have an exhibition of 
what we then called pleasure, dancing, tableaux, charades, etc. It did 
some patients good to go there and witness the dancing ; it did them 
good and I used to minister to it. I could not dance myself any more 
than a wild colt, but could help others dance. I began to see, however, 
that while at first many of them seemed to be benefited, and indeed a 
few were benefited, there came up other and adverse symptoms, and I 
found that the larger number, quite two-thirds, were absolutely injured. 
Well, that question, then suggested, began to enlarge, and I enquired 
into the reason why such amusement often proved unhealthful. I 
found that it was twofold — that the old adage which had been with 
me a law with chronic cases, to tell them to ' laugh and grow fat' was 
not always founded on truth, and that we must minister to the mental 
and spiritual as well as to the physical, if we would do the largest 



TOWN OP MANCHESTER. 339 

amount of good. With that sort of investigation there came upon me 
a pressure — some of you know what that is — when there comes a truth 
pressing upon you, and you have not accepted it fully, and it presses 
upon you until it gets hold of your conscience, and if you have any 
regard for God's will and God's law, how you yield to that pressure, 
and it becomes after a while like fire shut up in your bones. It is some- 
thing which you must settle at once and forever. I began to look at 
the question still more carefully; I began to pray for guidance, and to 
gather up all the literature bearing on the subject that could be found 
and study it with an honest heart, trying to get at the truth. Well, 
the more I studied that question the more it grew and enlarged. At 
first my views seemed vague and unsettled ; but they finally crystal- 
lized in one particular, and there was one thing settled in my mind. 
That was, that if we would do the largest amount of good, we must 
give to the elements in man's being the same order in importance that 
God gives. And He has always mentioned the soul first, the body 
second. He has put the two together, it is true, but always towering 
above the interests of the body were the interests of the soul ; and that, 
too, when we are searching for physical health. . . . There is 
another power outside of that which physicians recognized as medical, 
which has to do with health, and it became to me a most potent factor 
for good in almost every case. Well, that thought got hold of me and 
I began to work it out ; and with that God brought a pressure upon me 
which revolutionized my whole life. . . . And I was taken right 
out of my plans, right out of my former schemes and ambitions entirely, 
and a new order of things was set up. A new life came to me ; 
another motive came to me ; and from that day to this I have pursued 
that thought and that idea, without once wavering. I had no option 
after that. . . The moment that was settled, there came another 

thought, by the divine spirit — there came another scheme, and it was 
the one for me to adopt. And that was the establishing of a sanitarium 
where God should be honored ; where reference should be had first of 
all to him ; one that would take cognizance of the necessities of God's 
own children. That grew for a few weeks in my mind, and after 
awhile I could see nothing else." We have quoted thus Hberally from 
Dr. Foster's own words, as they are best calculated to show the reader 



3'10 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

the motives and plans underlying the whole undertaking. It may be 
added that before his plans were fully perfected the}' embraced the 
charitable features which have since been constantly at work in the 
conduct of the institution, relating to the treatment of ministers of the 
gospal without cost to themselves, in the first instance ; missionaries in 
the second and teachers in the third instance, as far as the profits of 
the establishment would permit. It is, perhaps, as well to state right 
here that mere money- making has never been a part of the scheme 
of management of this Sanitarium, except as it would provide for its 
further extension and usefulness. This feature will be again alluded 
to a little further on. 

Going back to the practical work of founding the Sanitarium, Dr. 
Foster came here with his one thousand dollars, felt that he had found 
the spot to which he was destined, purchased ten acres of the land sur- 
rounding the springs, and from friends, brought to him as he believes 
through divine influence, obtained $23,000. This sum was expended in 
erecting the first buildings, as shown in the accompanying sketch. Had 
Dr. Foster not beeen supported by his abounding faith, or had he 
listened to the gloomy predictions of evil, he would have met a fate 
wholly diflerent from that which is commonly encountered by pioneers 
in any direction, and particularly in undertakings that seem to the 
majority of persons to be Utopian in character. To diverge in the 
least from the beaten paths of business ; to place a spoke called by 
the name of charity in the wheels that are to move a great work ; to 
place any direct reliance upon divine good- will and aid is in these days 
to call down the forebodings of most of one's acquaintances. " He was 
called a fool," said he, "an enthusiast, doing a work which would 
only go to pieces. But a long step had been taken, and by God's bless- 
ing there was something to stand on." Let those carpers now look upon 
the noble institution which has members of its almost innumerable 
family in all parts of the world, singing its praises from strong lungs 
and sound bodies, and is dispensing in charitable treatment and support 
about twenty-five thousand dollars annually, while the " enthusiast " 
looks quietly on, and does his work, content with his living, with the 
whole immense property turned over by him in trust to others when his 
work is done. 





^-^-^^ 



TOWN OF MANCHESTER. 341 

The sanitarium grew as God's special works often do. In 1856 a 
brick chapel had been added, which was dedicated on the 25th of July 
of that year, with addresses by many honorable and noted divines and 
others. Aside from this there have been from time to time various ad- 
ditions to the main structure, as the means accumulated and the necessi- 
ties for more room became imperative. These additions comprise some- 
thing like fifteen different improvements. 

In the year 1873 what is known as " The Annex " was erected. It 
is a brick structure, three stories in height, two hundred and twenty 
feet front, with parlor, offices and bath room and nine stores on the 
ground floor and sixty rooms for guests above. It is entirely separate 
from the original Sanitarium buildings and on the opposite side of the 
street. This has since been enlarged by a fine proof building to more 
than one hundred rooms for patients. 

In the year 1880 Mr. Andrew Pierce erected what has since been 
known as the Pierce Pavilion, upon which and the grading and beauti- 
fying the grounds he expended $15,000, out of gratitude and good will 
to the instutition. 

The Tabernacle is a recently constructed building, one story high with 
its sides constructed largely of glass ; it has a large veranda, and is 
fitted up on the interior for public meetings. Here various religious 
bodies meet every summer to further their good works. 

Opposite the Annex is Dr. Foster's cottage home, which forms a part 
of the Sanitarium property. 

The time came, and that just at the present, when the Sanitarium 
proper, with all of its various additions and improvements, became in- 
adequate for its purposes and the best results. To meet the require- 
ments, plans were obtained and early in the year 1893 was begun the 
rebuilding of the entire structure, which will take on the appearance 
shown in the accompanying engraving, which shows also several of the 
other structures. This step was taken to secure ample room, to improve 
the accommodations for patients, and particularly to secure a strictly fire- 
proof structure. Said Dr. Foster in the address from which we have 
already quoted, " I have walked these halls many nights, stormy nights, 
watching against fire, and have taken every precaution possible, and 
we have gone on forty- two years without burning, but we fear when I 



342 HISTORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

am gone (and that may not be but a short time now), that the person 
who succeeds me will not watch the house with the same vigilance. We 
know human nature too well to expect it." Yes; when the watchful 
eye is closed forever, and the tireless hand is cold, it will be well that 
the structure wherein are at all times so many lives, shall be fire- proof, 
self-supporting and able to stand and flourish upon the solid foundations 
laid by its faithful founder. 

The farm as it is now connected with the Sanitarium, embraces nearly 
four hundred acres of land, and the same careful system prevails in its 
management that governs the Sanitarium. As an accessory to the in- 
stitution and its cuisine it is of paramount importance. 

It is perhaps not proper in this place to attempt a detailed description 
of the treatment of disease in this Sanitarium, as it would occupy much 
space. It must suffice to say that it embraces " the use in a liberal 
spirit of all known remedial agents." The faculty is composed of mem- 
bers of every reputable school of medicine. It is a water cure only so 
far as water may prove an efficient aid to other remedies; while the 
waters of the springs are used in all kinds of baths and in connection 
with electricity, massage, and that stimulation and recreation of the mind 
afforded by books and religious services daily in the chapel in which Dr. 
Foster so ardently believes. More than three thousand patients were 
treated in the past year, and the number is constantly on the increase. 

As before intimated, the Sanitarium is not a money- making enter- 
prise. Twelve years ago, in 1881, Dr. Foster and his wife drew up a 
deed of trust which commits to a board of thirteen trustees comprising 
seven denominations the management of the whole property. The 
provisions of this deed of trust are such that in the course of time the 
property becomes a free home for invalids to recuperate, but not a per- 
manent home for incurables. The majority of the board of trustees are 
non- elective, but hold their office ex officio so that the provisions of the 
deeds of trust cannot be tampered with by mercenary persons. The 
readers will best get a clear idea of the character of the men at present 
constituting the Board of Trustees by a reference to their names. The 
Right Rev. Arthur C. Coxe, of Buffalo, N. Y. ; the Rev. N. G. Clark, 
D.D., of Boston ; the Rev. F. F. Ellenwood, D.D., of New York; the 
Rev. Henry Y. Satterlee, of New York ; the Hon. James C. Smith, of 



TOWN OF MANCHESTER. 343 

Canandaigua ; Bishop J. H. Vincent, of Buffalo ; the Rev. D. J. Hill, 
D.D., president of Rochester University, Rev. Samuel Hopkins, presi- 
dent of Auburn Theological Seminary, the Rev. H. M. Cobb, D.D,, of 
New York, and Henry Foster, M. D., of Clifton Springs. 

Following are the names of the faculty and officers of the Sanitarium : 
Henry Foster, M. D., president, assisted by C. C. Thayer, M. D., J. H. 
North, M. D., E. O. Crossman, M. D., J. C. Smith, M. D., B. C. Love- 
land, M. D., Mrs. M. Dunbar Adams, M. D. 

The Rev. Lewis Bodwell has for many years been chaplain of the in- 
stitution. E. A. Miles is hotel keeper, and J. J. Dewey, cashier. The 
force of employees embraces about one hundred and sixty five other 
persons. 

The following description recently prepared for a current publication, 
will give the reader a correct idea of the new Sanitarium: 

Six stories lift their stately proportions into the air and 244 feet are 
occupied by the front. In the center a graceful tower surmounts the 
whole and at each end two other towers are constructed. From this 
building a wing extends backward one hundred feet. In the basement 
story is a smoking room in the corner and also lavatories and water 
closets. Two elevators start from the rear end of the center, one for 
the transportation of guests and the other for servants and the carriage 
of baggage. All baggage is taken to a glass covered trunk room in the 
rear where it can be elevated without the annoyance of its being in the 
way in the lobbies. In this basement story are found other apartments, 
such as a ladies' movement room and gentlemen's movement room, a 
room for wheel carriages, etc. The dining room, ninety- four by fifty- 
one and one-half feet occupies a considerable portion of the first story 
above the basement. 

The dining room is a magnificent hall, and all accessories to make it 
beautiful, and its service easily attended to, are found here. The en- 
trance is in the center of this story ; just back of this are the lobby and 
business offices. A large reception room extends its spacious quarters 
to the visitors, and three parlors, richly furnished, make intercourse 
pleasant among the guests. Another large room is used as a library 
on this floor, and a beautiful chapel also is here, thus making the place 
of divine service one quickly reached. This chapel will be, as in the 



344 HISTORY OF ONTAEIO COUNTY. 

past, a great element in promoting the work of the institution. The 
upper stories are divided into private rooms and special apartments 
suited to the peculiar service of the Sanitarium. There are bath rooms 
on every floor for both sexes as well as water closets of the most ap- 
proved type. Many rooms have both attached. In each room is a fire 
place with a gas log which sheds its cheerful light and warmth through- 
out the apartment. Transoms are placed over every door; the build- 
ing at all portions is lighted with electricity, and the system of heat and 
ventilation adopted is simply the best possible. The result is that the 
entire building will be uniformly cool in summer and warm in winter. 
The roof forms a great winter garden where patients can obtain exer- 
cise and watch the varying landscape of the surrounding country; be- 
sides they can obtain sun baths and at any season of the year be in the 
midst of a tropical climate, as the roof is enclosed with glass. The ele- 
vators make this portion of the building easily accessible. The plan 
adopted for the construction of this edifice gives fourteen rooms to the 
benevolence of charitable persons. Any one of these rooms may be en- 
dowed for $15,000. 

The Village of Shortsville. — In all respects this is the most impor- 
tant village in Manchester, and in point of manufactures it ranks second 
only to Geneva in the county. In 1804 Theophilus Short came to this 
locality and built both flour and saw- mills, from which fact the little 
hamlet thus built up became known as Short's Mills. In 1822 Mr. 
Short built a second flour mill north of the first one, but before this, and 
in 1818, William Grimes had a woolen mill in operation, while the year 
18 1 8 witnessed the founding of a foundry and furnace. 

All these old industries, however, had their period of existence many 
years ago, and are now unknown to the locality. They were succeeded 
by other and more important enterprises which have been continuously 
maintained until the present time, and all have combined as elements 
of strength in building up one of the most progressive little villages of 
Ontario county. In truth it may be said that the increase of businees 
interests in Shortsville has never declined since the founding of the vil- 
lage ; on the contrary there has been maintained a steady progression 
and the village was never more prosperous than now, although one of 
the large factory buildings is idle while the ravages of fire destroyed one 



TOWN OF MANCHESTER. 345 

or two others. From this the statement may be made that the history 
of Shortsville is best written in the history of its manufactures, its 
churches, schools, and other enterprises, public and private. In 1889 
the village interests were of such character and importance that the 
people thereof procured its incorporation, the proceedings being com- 
pleted in November. Within its limits there are about 1,000 inhab- 
itants, and few there are of them who are not in some manner directly 
interested in the welfare of the municipality. The present trustees are 
J. Morgan Stoddard, president, and C. M. Sisco, E. P. Babcock and 
E. D. Mather ; village clerk, Charles Davidson. 

On the old mill site where Theophilus Short built his pioneer mills, 
now stands the extensive works of the Empire Drill Company, incor- 
porated with $150,000 capital. In 1855 Hiram F. and Calvin P. Brown 
established a business of manufacturing grain drills in a somewhat small 
way. Their product was originally called the " Pioneer Force Feed 
Drill," but in later years became known as the "Empire Drill." The 
first year they produced thirty completed drills ; in 1892 the company 
made 4,000 drills. Two men began the work, now nearly one hundred 
are employed. 

The Star Paper Company was organized in 1867 and on the outlet 
where formerly stood one of the Short mills and the old distillery a 
building was erected. In 187 1 the old wooden mill site was utilized as 
the " Diamond " paper mill. The company had a capital of $50,000, 
and for many years did a large and successful business. Dr. J. P. H. 
Deming was its president ; Stephen T. Seymour, secretary and treas- 
urer. However, this was one of the industries of the village which ulti- 
mately failed, its affairs being closed about five years ago. 

The Ontario Paper Mills is the name of one of the substantial and en- 
during industries of the village, and under the present proprietorship 
of James Jones does a large business. These mills have also been in 
operation many years. 

The Shortsville Wheel Company was incorporated January 7, 1889, 

by Charles W. Brown, Jennie B. Heath, Charles E. Brown and Calvin 

P. Brown. The works were situated on the outlet about half a mile 

above the village. The company above named sold to the American 

44 



346 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Wheel Company, but the latter failed and the plant passed into the 
hands of Calvin P. and H. L. Brown, by whom it is now operated. 

The Shortsville Cart Company was organized in December, 1891, 
and continued operations for about two years. 

In this connection mention may also be made of the general planing 
mill of Charles M. Clark, which does a successful business ; and also of 
the former enterprises known as G. Van Sickle's Champion Grain and 
Hay Unloader, and the machine and implement shops of H. C. Sheffer 
&Co. 

The first school in Shortsville was conducted in Asel Kent's dwelling 
and Manning Redfield was its teacher. The first school-house was 
built in 1 807 on the farm of Elam Dewey, just outside the village proper. 
In 181 1 the first district school in the village was built, the first teachers 
being Harry Robinson, Sylvester Miner and Aaron Pomeroy. In edu- 
cational matters Shortsville has kept even step with the villages of the 
county, but in 1886 it advanced beyond many others and erected a 
large and attractive Union school building, being the property of dis- 
trict number seven. 

The Myron Buck Free Library is one of the institutions of the vil- 
lage, and was established in a handsome memorial building on Main 
street, and although only a few years old is recognized as a contribu- 
tion of much worth to the village residents. 

On the i6th of April, 1888, Edgar D. Mather opened a private bank 
in Shortsville, which was another progressive step in village history, 
this being the first bank to be established here. 

The First Presbyterian Church of Manchester was in fact organized 
in January, i860, although meetings were held and an effort at organ- 
ization several years earlier, A Sunday-school of the Presbyterian 
Society was started in the village in 1857. In 1859 and '60 a church 
edifice was completed, which was replaced in 1884 by the present 
beautiful structure which now adorns Main street, near the center 
of the village. This church is by far the largest and most influential in 
this part of the town, numbering about 265 members, while the Sun- 
day-school has about 250 pupils. Since the organization the pastors 
and supplies in succession of this church have been as follows : Revs. 
Charles H. Chester, William J. Stoughtenburgh, Richmond James, 



TOWN OF MANCHESTER. 347 

James M. Harlow, Chester C. Thorn, E. G. Cheesman, W. O. Carrier, 
J. C. Lenhart, W. I. Coburn, and John T. Crumrine, the latter being 
the present pastor, who was called to the church in December, 1892. 

The other church societies of Shortsville are the Protestant Epis- 
copal, the Methodist Episcopal, and the Roman Catholic, each of which 
are of comparatively recent organization, and neither of which has a 
resident pastor. Trinity Church was built about 1884, ^^^ is a small 
chapel edifice standing on Main street. The Methodist Church is 
organized and beyond the condition of a mission, and its pastorate is 
supplied by Rev. J. E. Showers. St. Dominick's Church and parish 
was organized about ten or twelve years ago, and holds monthly serv- 
ices under the charge of Father Patrick Leel, of Clifton Springs. 

T/ie Village of Manchester. — This locality at an early day acquired 
some prominence as a manfacturing center, and here there was in opera- 
tion a pioneer woolen- mill, hence the townspeople called the hamlet 
Manchester, in allusion to the great manufacturing city of the same 
name in England. The mill referred to was built in 181 2, and the 
village was established soon afterward. In 1822 the town was given 
the same name as the village. 

On this site of the pioneer woolen-mill now stands the roller flour- 
mill of W. G. Mason, which, with the spoke factory adjoining, com- 
prises all there is of manufactures in the village at this time. The 
original settler on the village site was Valentine Coon, from whom the 
locality was first called Coonsville. In 1892 the village of Manchester 
was incorporated, having a population of about 450 persons. In 1891 
the Lehigh Valley road was built through the village, thus giving an 
impetus to trade, and, what is still better, extensive round-houses have 
been built conveniently near the center of the village, with a promise 
of large machine shops in the near future. The trustees of Manchester 
village are Dr. J. R. Pratt, president, and VV. A. Wilson, W. G. Mason 
and Isaac Reed ; clerk, Elmer Ver Planck. 

The First Baptist Church of Manchester was originally organized as 
the First Baptist Church of Farmington (before the division of the 
town), and dates back to 1797, although not until 1810 was the first log 
meeting-house built, followed by a stone chapel in 181 5. In 1822 
Farmington was divided and Manchester was formed, whereupon the 



348 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

society took the name of the First Baptist Church of Manchester. The 
property on which the present large church edifice now stands was pur- 
chased in 1849, ^"^ i" the same year the meeting-house was built. 
The church has a present membership of about 190 persons, and a Sun- 
day school with about seventy- five members, all under the pastoral care 
of Rev. Edwin C. Long. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Manchester (village) also had its 
origin in pioneer times, but no reliable record of its early history seems 
to have been preserved. The present church edifice was built in 1841, 
and recent repairs have given it an attractive appearance. The society 
has about 130 members on the church roll, the Sunday-school about 
100 pupils. Pastor, Rev. De WittTooker. 

Manchester Center is the name of a small hamlet situate about mid- 
way between Manchester village and Clifton Springs. Having a loca • 
tion on the outlet of Canandaigua Lake, this has been a manufacturing 
point of some note during the early history of the town, but the growth 
of Shortsville and Clifton Springs have drawn trade from the Center 
to those places. The recent construction of the Lehigh Valley railroad 
has given an impetus to trade in this locality, and the Center is un- 
doubtedly benefited thereby. 

Port Gibson enjoys the distinction of being the only village in On- 
tario county which touches the Erie Canal, in fact the port owes its 
very existence to the construction of the canal, which famous water- 
way was completed and opened for traffic in 1825, Among the lead- 
ing men of Canandaigua who were prominently interested in the con- 
struction of the canal was Henry B. Gibson, and in his honor this hamlet 
was named Port Gibson, and in the laying out of the village tract the 
names of other influential residents of the county seat are preserved, 
for here are found Grieg street (for John Grieg), Atwater street (Moses 
or Freeman Atwater), Granger street (Francis Granger), Bemis street 
(James D. Bemis), and others. However, it was during the palmy days 
of exclusive canal transportation that Port Gibson enjoyed its greatest 
glory, for v;ith the construction of railroads across the State canal traf- 
fic began to decline, consequently the village also lost its importance in 
a corresponding degree. The village now has two or three stores, 
several shops, a school and a M. E. Church, the latter having a merti- 



TOWN OF PHELPS. ' 349 

bership of 128 persons, and now being under the pastoral charge of 
Rev. John Easter. The total value of church property (edifice and 
parsonage) is about $9,000. 

Littleville was first called Parker's Mills, the latter name being given 
in allusion to Edward Parker, the former proprietor of the grist-mill at 
that place. Norman C. Little afterward purchased the site, and the 
name was thereupon changed to Littleville. However useful and 
profitable these mills may have been, they have been discarded as such, 
and the buildings have recently been remodeled and fitted for use as an 
electric power station, form which point it is proposed to furnish electric 
lights for Clifton Springs, Shortsville and Canandaigua, and also to furnish 
power for the electric cars in the last mentioned village. A further ac- 
count of this place may be found in the history of the town of Hopewell. 

Gypsum is the name of a small hamlet situate on the line between Man- 
chester and Phelps, and about two miles north of Clifton Springs. In 
this locality Pioneer Van Derhoof settled, followed by other Dutch 
families, from which fact the place or vicinity was originally called the 
Dutch settlement, later it became known as Plainsville, and still more 
recently as Gypsum. Having its location on the outlet, this has been a 
manufacturing point of some note in the past, and the opening of a 
plaster bed here also added to the industry of the place. 

The Baptist Church at Gypsum was the second society of that de- 
nomination in the town, having been organized in 18 13 under Elder 
William Rowe as first pastor. The early meetings were held at various 
convenient places in the town, and it was not until about 1835 that the 
somewhat historic old stone meeting-house was built. 



CHAPTER XVHL 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PHELPS. 

THE town of Phelps includes within its boundaries the northern 
half of township No. 10 and the southern part of No. 1 1 in the 
first range, together with all that part of the " gore " lying east of the 
portion above mentioned. This town or district was originally known 



350 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

as " Sullivan," and so named in allusion to General Sullivan, the com- 
mander of the historic expedition against the western Indians during 
the summer and fall of 1779. Upon the organization of the town in 
1796, at the solicitation of the proprietary, the name was changed to 
"Phelps;" in consideration of which change it is said that Oliver Phelps 
regaled the inhabitants with a sumptuous feast at the tavern of Jona- 
than Oaks. 

The honor of being the pioneer settler of this town is generally con- 
ceded to John Decker Robison, and enough of history on this subject 
has been furnished by past writers to fill a volume ; but in the present 
narrative we mainly rely on the accuracy of the statements of Dr. Caleb 
Bannister in his address before the Agricultural Society in 1852. Ac- 
cording to the address, in the summer of 1888, James Robison, son of 
the pioneer, was employed with Nathaniel Sanborn to drive loo head 
of cattle into the Genesee country, which were intended as presents to 
the Indians, in order to conciliate their friendship and good will, that 
subsequent negotiations for their title to the lands might be consummated 
with as little difficulty as possible. Robison and Sanborn reached 
Geneva with the cattle on June 3, 1788, and on the next day John 
Decker Robison arrived at the same place. The latter at once pro- 
ceeded to the town of Phelps, as afterward known, but then unnamed, 
and settled on lot No. 14 in township 11, first range, which was sur- 
veyed to contain 320 acres of land, but by an error the tract actually 
contained more than 320 acres, and its total cost to the pioneer was 
not far from $100. 

The foregoing statement is corroborated by the fact that the consid- 
eration was paid by Robison in building for Phelps and Gorham a house 
in Canandaigua, according to the following contract : 

Memorandum of an agreement between William Walker on the 
one part and John D. Robison of the other part, witnesseth, that 
the said Robinson doth agree to Build for the said Walker a house 
at Canadauque of the Same Dimensions and in the same manner 
as the house now building by Captain Bartles at Geneva, with this 
Variation, viz.: he is to build but one Chimney and is not either of 
the floors, or make the Doors or window Shets, he is to board himself, 
and procure all the materials except nails, the building is to be com- 



TOWN OF PHELPS. 351 

pleted every way as well as the said Bartles, there is to be a twelve 
square, seven by nine Glass Window frame in the front and rear of each 
room, the work is to be completed this fall, for which the said Walker 
doth agree to pay the said Robinson forty pounds New York Currency 
in the following manner, viz.: in provisions Sufficient for him the said 
Robinson's self and hands, while building said house, and the remainder 
in a Lot of Land in No. Eleven, first range, to be valued according to 
Quality and Situation, reckoning the whole Township at two Shillings 
per acre, and if the said Lot should be found to exceed the Remainder of 
the said forty pounds, said Walker agrees to take his pay in Said Rob- 
inson's Labour after the first day of June next, when the said Walker 
may demand it, witness our hands interchangeably, Signed this Twenty- 
eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord, 1788. 

Wm. Walker, 
John Dk'r Robison. 
Witnesses present, Ezekiel Scott, Enos Boughton. 

The above building was used as a land office and for the residence of 
Judge Walker, the agent for surveys and sales of Phelps and Gorham. 

This worthy pioneer, John Decker Robison, built and opened a tav- 
ern on his tract in 1793, the first event of its kind in the town ; also his 
son, Harry H. Robison, was the first white child born in the town. 
The Robison purchase included a part of the Phelps village site, being 
that portion thereof lying east of the town hall. In 1789 Mr. Robison's 
family came to the town, and nine days later there also came Pierce 
and Elihu Granger, Nathaniel Sanborn and a Mr. Gould, but all these 
returned to Connecticut (for all were Yankees) in the fall, leaving Rob- 
ison and his family alone in the town, eight miles from the nearest set- 
tlement (Geneva.) Following those who have been mentioned, the 
next settlers in the town were Jonathan Oaks, Seth Dean, Oliver Hum- 
phrey, Charles Humphrey and Elias Dickinson. In 1793 or '94 Mr. 
Oaks built a large frame house, which for many years was occupied as 
a hotel, and was located at Oaks' Corners, a small hamlet of the town, 
its name being applied in honor of the pioneer. This was the second 
frame tavern west of Geneva, a place of much note in early days, while 
its founder was hardly less prominent in the new community. Philetus 
Swift was a pioneer of 1789, a man of much energy and influence, par- 



352 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ticularly in early political history ; and as well was he prominent in 
military afifairs, he being commander of a company during the war of 
1 812. Seth Dean, who has been mentioned, was a pioneer on the 
Phelps village site, and here in company with Oliver Phelps he erected 
a saw- mill on Flint Creek, on the location where an industry of some 
sort afterward became a fixture. 

Another very prominent early pioneer was Dr. Joel Prescott, who 
settled in the town at an early day and was one of the prominent physi- 
cians of the county. He came to this region as early as May, 1788, 
and, probably, for a while resided at Kanadesaga, as during that and 
the succeeding year his name is found as a witness on several papers 
dated at that place. At the first town meeting in Phelps, 1796, Dr. 
Prescott was elected school commissioner and assessor, was appointed 
justice of peace, January, 1798, was supervisor of the town from 1797 
to 1809 inclusive, except 1805, and for several years chairman of the 
board ; was school commissioner of the town for several years. He 
located on a farm one mile west of Oaks' Corners, and was the first 
physician of Phelps, his practice being very extensive and laborious 
with the old time saddle bags strapped to his saddle. He was married 
in Phelps to Lucy Reed, September 8, 1793, and had seven children, 
two of whom died in infancy, the rest living to mature years. His home 
was among the earliest of frame houses in the town. With an active 
interest and efficient in rendering them he was repeatedly placed in po- 
sitions of trust by his fellow-citizens, and so great was the esteem for 
him that his counsels were called for in all departments of life. He was 
born June 20, 1759, and died October 5, 1841. His funeral took place 
on the afternoon of Sunday, October 6, and was attended by the largest 
number of people that had ever before been gathered together on such 
an occasion, from 1,000 to 1,200 being present, among whom were 
the principal and prominent men of Geneva and the surrounding 
country. 

The following is worthy of a record in this place. Horatio Jones was 
one of the early pioneers at Kanadesaga or Geneva. In 1788 he was 
joined by his brother, John H., at that place, and having obtained a 
yoke of oxen in the spring of 1789, the two brothers went into the town 
of Phelps, found an open spot, ploughed and planted five or six acres of 



TOWN OF PHELPS. 353 

corn, which they sold on the ground, and finally removed to the west 
of the Genesee River. 

Referring again to the address of Dr. Bannister, we find the names of 
other early settlers, among them being John Salisbury, who settled in 
1 79 1 a short distance west of Melvin Hill. Also in the same year came 
Walter Chase and Nicholas Pullen ; in 1792, John Patten and David 
Boyd; in 1793, Jonathan Melvin ; in 1794, John Sherman; in 1795, 
Osee Crittenden and Cornelius Westfall ; in 1796, Jesse Warner and 
John Newhall ; in 1797, Theodore and Lemuel Bannister, who located 
just north of Oaks' Corners. Another account says Theo. Bannister 
settled in 1798, and Lemuel one year later, which latter is probably cor- 
rect. Deacon John Warner was a pioneer at Orleans, while the first 
settler at Melvin Hill was Jonathan Melvin, from whom the hill derived 
its name. Jesse Warner settled at Warner Hill, east of Flint Creek. 
Joseph Vandemark, Lodowick Vandemark, John and Patrick Burnett, 
came about or during the year 1794. Lodowick was a skillful mill- 
wright, and put up an excellent saw-mill in the town. Other early set- 
tlers were Coll Roy, Joseph, Eleazer and Cephas Hawks, Augustus Dick- 
inson, and others now forgotten. About 1799 Cephas Hawks, Augustus 
Dickinson and Theo. Bannister built a grist-mill on the outlet, on the 
site in later years known successively as Dickinson's, Norton's, and the 
Exchange Mills. 

In 1800 George Wilson and Harvey Stephenson came to the town, 
followed in 1802 or '3 by John Hildreth. John R. Green was the first 
merchant at Oaks' Corners. Wills Whitman came with the Oaks. The 
first marriage in the town was that of Joseph Annin with the daughter of 
pioneer Seth Reed. Magistrate Thomas Sisson performed the cere- 
mony. Cephas Hawks erected the first plaster-mill, and about the 
same time Luther and Francis Root, Ezekiel Webb, and Nathaniel 
Hall, bought the Seth Dean grist-mill, and converted it into a plaster- 
mill. 

The persons who have been mentioned thus far in this narrative were, 
it is thought, the pioneers of the town of Phelps ; there may have been 
others whose names are lost and forgotten, but drawing information 
from all reliable sources, the statements above made are probably ac- 
curate in general. It will be observed that when once begun the settle- 
45 



354 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ment progressed rapidly ; in fact, in 1796, on April i, the inhabitants 
were so many that it became advisable to organize the town and elect 
officers. Prior to this time the town formed part of a district, and was 
known as Sullivan, as has been stated, but at the time of organization 
the name was changed to Phelps. We may further state that according 
to Dr. Bannister the change in name from Sullivan to Phelps was made 
in 1795. Boyd's Gazetteer of the State of New York, Albany, 1872, 
states that Phelps was formed in 1796, under the act of January 27, 
1779. 

The officers elected at the first town meeting were as follows : Super- 
visor, Jonathan Oaks ; town clerk, Solomon Goodale ; assessors, Joel 
Prescott, Philetus Swift and Pierce Granger ; collector, Augustus Dick- 
inson ; overseers of the poor, Oliver Humphrey and Patrick Burnett; 
commissioners of highways, Jesse Warner, Oliver Humphrey and Phi- 
letus Swift ; overseers of highways, Cornelius Westfall, Abram D. Spurn, 
Charles Humphrey, Elijah Gates, John Patten, Augustus Dickinson, 
David Woodard ; pound-master, Jonathan Oaks. 

The present town officers are : Wm. E. Edmonston, supervisor ; Jno. 
T. Watkins, town clerk ; Lysander Redfield, Richard M. Green, Jesse 
P. Warner and Jno. B. Armstrong, justices ; Stalham Crittenden, Wm. 
H. Hunt and Judson Raymer, assessors ; Russell B. Cobb, Thos. H. 
Gerow, Samuel Cuddeback, commissioners of highways ; Jno. M. White, 
overseer of the poor ; Willard R. Laughlin, collector ; Epenetus T. 
Lamb, James T. Sweeney, Adrian Easterly, commissioners of excise. 

Succession of Supervisors: Jonathan Oaks, 1796; Joel Prescott, 
1797-1804, and 1806-09; Pierce Granger, 1805 ; Elihu Granger, 1810- 
II; Wm. Burnett, 1812-13, and 1816-17 ; Lemuel Bannister, jr., 1814 ; 
Thaddeus Bannister, 181 5; Philetus Swift, 1818-22; Wm. Hildreth, 
sen., 1823-26; Thos. Edmonston, 1827; Jas. Van Demark, 1828-29, 
and 1832-33; Richard D. Cuyler, 1831 ; David McNiel, 1834; Isaac 
M. Norton, 1835; FVed'k Van Demark, 1836-37; Wm. Dickinson, 
1838-40; Jno. S. Harris, 1841-42; Moses Chapman, 1843; Cornelius 
Horton, 1844-52; Henry C. Swift, 1853; Hubbard McLoud, 1854; 
Sylvanus B. Pond, 1855; Lewis Peck, 1856-59; Ambrose L. Van 
Dusen, i860; Nathan Oaks, 1861-64; Lysander Redfield, 1865; Henry 
Ray, 1866-67 ; Horatio N. Mather, 1868 ; Samuel E. Horton, 1869-70; 



TOWN OF PHELPS. 355 

David Cosad, jr., 1871 ; Thaddeus O. Hotchkiss, 1872-73, and 1875 
-79; Hamilton McBurney, 1874; Jno. C. Warner, 1880; Benj. F. 
Odell, 1881-82; Abram S. Smith, 1883-87; Thaddeus O. Hotchkiss, 
1888-90; Geo. B. Shepperd, 1 891 ; Wm. C. Edmonston, 1892-93. 

On the iith of April, 1823, a portion of the town of Phelps was set 
off to Lyons, Wayne county, therefore to correctly note subsequent 
changes in population we may properly begin with the federal census 
of 1830. In that year the number of inhabitants in the town was 
4,798; ten years later it had increased to 5,563; in 1850 was 5,542 ; 
in i860 was 5,586, the greatest number ever attained in its history. 
By 1870 it had fallen to 5,130. During the next decade it increased 
to 5,189, and by 1890 had again fallen to 5,086, which is about the 
present population. From this we discover that Phelps had a less 
population in 1 890 than in 1840, or half a century before. 

Among the pioneers of Phelps were a number of Revolutionary sur- 
vivors, the names of some of whom can still be recalled, but there were 
others who are now forgotten. At a later period, and during what may 
more properly be termed the early history of the town, the inhabitants 
were called upon to furnish men for frontier service in the second war 
with Great Britain. The enrolled militia of Phelps were frequently 
under arms during the War of 18 12-15, ^"^ ^'so they performed duty 
on the Niagara frontier. Unfortunately no reliable record of the Phelps 
company has been preserved. However it was during the War of 
1861-65 that the men of the town made their most glorious military 
record, at a time when the population of Phelps had reached its maxi- 
mum, in i860, the number of inhabitants then being 5,586. In 1861 
the war began, and from that time until no more volunteers were 
needed, Phelps was ever ready to contribute men and means for the 
prosecution of the war. More than that, the patriotic people of the 
town, both men and women, had local organizations the object of which 
was to relieve and administer to the personal comfort of the sick and 
wounded soldiers. This organization was known as "The Phelps 
Union Soldiers' Aid Society," formed in 1863, and prominently con- 
nected with which were Mrs. Hibbard, president; Mrs, Stebbins, vice- 
president; Mrs. Browning, secretary and treasurer; Mrs. C. P. Moser, 
assistant secretary and treasurer ; and Mrs. W. A. Smith, Mrs. Jackson, 
Mrs. A. Hawks, Mrs. A. Swan and Mrs. Williams, directresses. 



356 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

During the course of the war the town of Phelps furnished to all 
branches of the service a grand total of more than 500 men, although 
the imperfect records extant show a number slightly less. An exam- 
ination of the muster rolls will disclose the fact that hardly a regiment 
formed in Western New York in which were any Ontario county men 
that did not contain Phelps enlistments. A preceding chapter of 
this work has narrated at length the composition of the several com- 
panies recruited in whole or in part in the county, and a reference 
thereto will show the towns which contributed to the county contingent 
of volunteers. 

THE VILLAGE OF PHELPS. 

First in importance in this town, and one of the first in commercial 
and industrial importance in Ontario county, is the incorporated village 
of Phelps. John Decker Robison was a pioneer of the town, and also 
of the village, his purchase including a part of the village tract (lying 
east of the town hall). Seth Dean is also to be mentioned in the same 
connection, for he also located on the village site and afterward became 
identified with Oliver Phelps in the erection of a saw-mill on Flint 
Creek, where the Nelson & Bowker mill of later days was built. How- 
ever, pioneer Robison laid the real foundation for the subsequent village 
by erecting in 1793 his famous tavern. The locality at once thereafter 
became a trade center, and before long we find Orin Redfield in general 
mercantile business on the land now occupied by the Phelps Hotel. 
Hotchkiss & McNeil opened trade in 1810 in Root's bar-room, but 
later on moved to the site of the Odell block. Wing & Nelson began 
business in 1813 ; D wight and Partridge in 18 16; while David D. Van 
Auken and the Thayers were later business men. In 18 16 Hotchkiss 
& McNeil built the first brick block in the village. 

As is elsewhere stated, Seth Dean built the first grist mill, and he 
was followed in the same line by the larger mill built by pioneers 
Hawks, Dickinson and Bannister, the latter being erected in 1799 on 
the outlet, while Dean's mill was on Flint Creek. In the village, about 
18 1 2, Luther and Francis Root and Erastus Butler built a rather large 
woolen-mill, and established an industry that prospered about three 
years and was then abandoned. 



TOWN OF PHELPS. 357 

In fact, by this time (1812) the village had become a place of much 
importance, and had industries and business interests. The truth is 
that in the early history of this village the whole people were imbued 
mainly with the spirit of enterprise, while in some other localities large 
tracts of land, and business interests as well, were held for speculative 
purposes only. To outsiders, and to wits who spoke in derision, this 
village was known as " Woodpecker City," yet no person will now 
venture to trace the origin of the name. In 18 12 the village was made 
a post station under the name of " Vienna," and so called in accord- 
ance with the then prevailing custom of naming towns and villages 
after foreign municipalities (excepting English names, which were even 
then distasteful to the Yankees). David McNiel was the first post- 
master. About the same time mail stage routes were established 
between Phelps and Geneva, Palmyra and Pittsford. Weekly mails 
were at first carried by Francis Root and Lyman Williams. 

As Vienna this village continued without corporate character from 
1812 to 1855, and then, under the name of Phelps the court of sessions 
granted the petition of the people for an incorporation, thereby enabling 
its citizens to carry to a completion certain desirable improvements 
which met with some opposition from the residents of the town at large, 
who were not directly interested in village affairs and property, hence 
were not willing to be taxed for those improvements. The order of 
incorporation was granted by Judge Folger in February, 1855, and 
thereafter the first village trustees were elected, as follows: Zenus 
Wheeler, Dolphin Stephenson, Harvey Carey, Anson Titus and John 
Trisler. 

Thus constituted and organized, Phelps village entered upon an era 
of prosperity not before enjoyed during the period of its history. In 
all these years there had been a gradual and healthful increase in popu- 
lation and industry, and at the time of incorporation we find the village 
possessed of such local institutions as were usual to other similar vil- 
lages of the county, and in many respects was far in advance of some 
other of the municipalities. It had then church accommodations suffi- 
cient for the town's people added to those of the village ; the schools 
were of such character as to commend them to the public favor ; and 
the impetus given to manufacture in various branches made Phelps, 



358 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

forty years ago, a place of much importance. The railroad between 
Syracuse and Rochester furnished ready transportation to both east and 
west markets, and before many years passed another thoroughfare of 
travel provided a north and south outlet. These facilities have been in- 
creased quite recently, yet the confession must be made that business 
in general in the village is not so great in volume as a quarter of a cen- 
tury ago. However, avoiding comment, we may briefly refer to some 
of the leading institutions of the village, and in a measure trace their 
growth. 

Schools. — Tradition has it that a school was opened in Phelps village 
prior to i8oo, but on this point there is a possibility of doubt. It is 
well known, however, that in 1805 a school was maintained in the vil- 
lage, the building standing on the site of the Hotchkiss bank, being a 
double house, one story in height, and occupied in part as a dwelling- 
house. Among the early teachers who are remembered as having 
charge of the first regular district school were Chloe Warner (better 
known as Aunt Chloe), Rowland Dewey, Ann Bigelow, Abigail Bige- 
low, Betsey Newell, Caleb Bannister, Jared Willson (later a prominent 
lawyer at the county seat). Dr. Harry E. Phinney, Miss Knapp, Oliver 
Moore, Erastus Kellogg and John Chapman. 

After the term of Mr. Chapman had expired (in 1820), the district 
was divided, in order that two schools might be maintained, and to bet- 
ter suit the convenience of the children then living in the vicinity. 
Therefore the "East" and "West" districts, so-called, were established 
and each provided with a school-house, that of the east district being 
of stone and standing just south of St. Francis' Church, and that of the 
west district being of brick. After the division above mentioned the 
teachers in the east school were Wm. King, Mr. Noble, Jacob Moon, 
Erastus Marvin, Ziba Crawford, Chas. E. Pinkney, Sybil Marvin, T. A. 
Pinkney, Hiram Frazer, John S. Moore, Cornelius Horton, Philander 
Dawley, J. C. Anderson, Fanny Henry and Mr. Coon, the latter con- 
cluding his period of service about 1845. Among the teachers in the 
other districts during the same period were Cornelius E. Crosby, Rich- 
ard Marvin, F. Root and Ann S. Frazer. 

However, about the year 1845, the districts were consolidated, and 
in 1846 the large brick building now owned by district number eight 



TOWN OF PHELPS. 359 

was built. In after years material repairs were made, but in 1890 the 
new rear addition was erected, while the general structure was entirely 
remodeled. Also about the same time (1846) the Phelps Union and 
Classical School was incorporated, and the affairs of its management 
vested in a Board of Education. This proceeding placed the Phelps 
school on a level with the best academic institutions of the county, and 
at that time it took the name above mentioned. 

Succession of Principals: Lewis Peck, Thomas Purington, W. F. 
Crosby, Ziba H. Potter, Ezra J. Peck, Rev. Ferris Scott, Lockwood 
Hoyt, John S. Coe, Ezra J. Peck, James S. Root, H. C. Kirk, Geo. W. 
Rafter, H. C. Kirk, F. M. Smith, Cicero Hutchins, Daniel D. Edgerton. 

The members of the Board of Education are as follows : H. K. 
Bowker, president ; Wm. B. Hobbie, secretary ; and F. H. Wisewell, 
Dr. Wm. Howe and Edward Hicks. 

The village fire department is equipped with one serviceable hand 
engine, controlled and operated by the Crothers Fire Engine Company; 
and a good hook and ladder apparatus, operated by the Redfield Hook 
and Ladder Company. 

In the spring of 1889 the village gave permission to the Phelps 
Water Works Company to lay water mains through the principal 
streets. Although a local improvement, the stock of this company is 
owned by non residents. The water supply is taken from the locality 
known as Melvin Hill. 

The Baptist church of Phelps village was organized January 31, 1843, 
although a society of this denomination was formed in the town as 
early as 1808, and was known as the First Baptist Church of Phelps. 
The old society continued in existence from 1808 to about the year 
i860, but its life was one of vicissitudes and hardships. For many 
years its meetings were held in school-houses and other convenient 
places, and not until about 183 i was a minister employed. The Second 
and Third Baptist churches of Phelps were the outgrowths of this mother 
society. However, in 1843 the Baptists of the village were sufficiently 
strong in numbers and influence to accomplish the formation of a 
society, and on January 31 the organization was effected with fifty-one 
original members. The first pastor was J. H. Stebbins, followed, in 
succession, by Revs. Bingham, Luke Davis, G. W. Mead, J. M. Wade, 



360 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

C. M. Newland, M. W. Holmes, W. D. Woodruff, H. C. De Witt, Mr. 
Chase, C. A. Vottley and others. The membership of this church is 
now small. The church edifice was built in 1845 ^^^ dedicated in 
1847. The present pastoral supply is Rev. Mr. Long. 

The Presbyterian church of Phelps village was organized May 10, 
1 83 1, with sixty constituent members, under the pastoral charge of 
Rev. Levi Grisvvold. A comfortable church edifice was erected for 
the society on what is now known as Church street, and here the 
society met and prospered, growing constantly in numbers and influence, 
until certain dissensions worked a division in the church, followed 
by the withdrawal of about twenty members in 1840, who organized a 
new society and held regular services. In 1858 the old school adher- 
ents, having then become numerous, built a large and commodious 
edifice on Main street, while the dissentients occupied the old building 
on Church street. However, about 1869 or 1870 the factions were 
once more united and consolidated, and all worshiped thereafter in the 
Main street edifice. The building on Church street was then sold to 
the bishop of the diocese for the use of the parish of St. Francis' Roman 
Catholic church. The Presbyterian church of the village is a large 
organization, and is under the pastoral care of Rev. Wm. Henry Bates, 
who was in January, 1892, called to succeed Dr. Porter. This society 
has a large Sunday school, and also helps to support several benevolent 
dependencies. 

St. John's Episcopal church was founded in 1832. Its early services 
were held in public buildings until 1845 when the erection of the stone 
church edifice was completed and consecrated in 1856. The communi- 
cating membership numbers fifty- three. The rectors in succession 
have been Erastus Spaulding, Edward de Zeng, Eli Wheeler, Erastus 
Spaulding (second rectorship), Dr. Kendrick Metcalf, Francis T. Rus- 
sell, Dr. Wm. B. Edson (who died December, 1892), and Dr. Charles 
Wells Hayes. St. John's has an endowment fund of $12,500, the gift 
of the well-known Stanley family ; the rectory lot also was given to the 
society by the same generous donors. 

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Phelps, or, as legally 
organized, the "First Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church," 
had a beginning in this village and locality during the early years of 



TOWN OF PHELPS. 3G1 

the present ceiitiir)', although the formal organization was not effected 
until July 19, 1831, at which time Josiah Maffitt, Erastus S. Morin and 
Caleb Bannister were elected trustees. In 1856 the substantial brick 
church edifice on Main street was erected. The church has a present 
membership of about 200, and a Sunday school with about 150 pupils. 
The present pastor is Rev. Piatt T. Hughston. 

St. Francis' Roman Catholic Church. A mission was established in 
Phelps in July, 1856, which afterward developed into a parish and 
church organization, and named as above mentioned, in 1857. Tlie 
parish of course includes all the Catholic families of the village and 
vicinity, and is under the pastoral care of Father A. M. O'Niel. As 
has been mentioned in an earlier church histor}-, the congregation of 
St. Francis' own and occupy the building formerly used by the Pres- 
byterian society. 

The record of the press of Phelps village forms a brief though inter- 
esting local history, and while the newspaper publications have not 
been many the proprietors have indeed been numerous; almost "too 
numerous to mention." About the year 1832 the Phelps Citizen and 
Clifton Springs News was founded, but since that time the paper, in its 
various stages of prosperity, and under its numerous proprietorships, 
has been known as the Vienna Advertiser, The Phelps Democrat, The 
Westerii Atlas, The Phelps Union Star, The Phelps Citizen, The Ontario 
Citizen and Neivs, and finally, as at present permanently established, 
as The Phelps Citizen. And we may here state, parenthetically, per- 
haps, that at no time during the entire history of the paper (or papers) 
has its success been greater than at present — under the management of 
Bussey Brothers. It is a bright, newsy, clean and interesting publica- 
tion, enjoying a large circulation and liberal advertising patronage. 

Other papers of the village, which have had a transient existence 
only, were The Neighbor s Home Mail and The Phelps Advertiser. 

As a manufacturing locality Phelps village has for many years held a 
position of importance among the municipalities of the county. The 
two principal waterways of the town — Canandaigua Lake outlet and 
Flint Creek — have provided abundant mill sites and privileges, and 
while the former stream has its general course north of the village, its 
principal influences have ever extended to the village and contributed 

4G 



362 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

to its welfare. Flint Creek is a stream of good size and crosses the 
village in an east and west direction, and its " fall " being considerable, 
abundant power has been provided for operating the machinery of the 
many mills which have for nearly a century lined its banks. In a pre- 
ceding portion of this chapter reference has been made to the old mill- 
ing and manufacturing enterprises that have been operated in the 
vicinity, wherefore a repetition of them here is unnecessary ; nor in the 
present connection need we be confined by corporate limits, for the 
adjoining mills are quite a part of the local interests, and may be so 
treated. 

The commonly called Stone Mill, but in fact the old " Farmers' and 
Mechanics' Mill," now owned by the estate of Dr. J. O. Howe, was 
built in 1834, under the ownership of F. Van Demark ; A. More, 
builder. This mill is in the center of the village, and in the immediate 
vicinity is the basket factory of Henry J Whiting, which formerly was 
the Miller & Hoffmill; also the malt-house of Oliver Crothers & Son, 
the store- house and machine shop. The old Edmonston mills, which 
were erected in 1819 are no longer used ?s originally built, but are 
now the cider mill and brandy distillery of Peter Garlock. The mill is 
north of the Phelps Hotel. The Red Mill at Phelps, built many years 
ago by Wm. Hildreth, has not been in operation during the last fifteen 
years. 

The old foundry and machine shop and edge tool factory of Thomp- 
son & Co. is now a part of the extensive plow works of G. H.Parmelee. 
The carriage factory of S Bowker is a thing of the past, the shop hav- 
ing been sold to other persons who for a time made thermometers, but 
afterward suspended business. 

The Ontario Mills are half a mile northeast of Phelps, on the Newark 
road. Here are made about sixty barrels of flour daily. Fridley Bros, 
are proprietors. Next west of this place is the location of the Empire 
Mills, of which Pnilander Mott is proprietor. Still farther west is the 
Plainesville Mill. 

At Unionville, which was formerly a place of some note, is the site 
of the once well-known Unionville Mill, originally built in 1839, 
also the New Mill, on the site of the old paper-mill. Although still in 
operation, now owned by R. A. Willing, this locality has lost its former 



TOWN OP PHELPS. 363 

prestige. The roller flour- mill here has a seventy- five barrel capacity. 
A little farther east is the old Swift mill site, where General Swift built 
a small mill in pioneer days, and here a mill has ever since been contin- 
uously maintained. Since 1858 Jesse Barlow (now sole owner) has 
had an interest in the property. The present large mill was built in 

1882, and has a fifty, barrel capacity. Unionville, though once a busy 
locality, has lost its primitive importance. 

The Crown Manufacturing Company, by far the largest industry of 
Phelps, was incorporated in 1883 ! capital $ioo,000. The large build- 
ing was erected the same year, and here are manufactured annually 
about one thousand Crown Grain and Fertilizer Drills, and about one 
thousand two hundred Crown Wheel-barrow Grass Sowers. About fifty 
men are employed in the works. The officers of the company are Benj. 
F. Prichard, pres. ; Geo. C. Prichard, vice-pres. and treas., and Edward 
H. Leggett, sec. The officers are also directors. 

Summarizing briefly, it is found that the manufacturing interests of 
Phelps at the present time are the Crown Manufacturing Company ; 
Fridley Bros., millers ; Peter Garlock & Son, cider and brandy manu- 
facturers ; Jno. O. Howe & Sons, millers; Calvin Mclntyre & Son, 
maltsters; J. K. Nester, maltster; G. H. Parmelee, plow manufacturer; 
the Phelps Chilled Plow Works of G. H. Parmelee ; H. C. & T. C. Sev- 
erance, carriage manufacturers. 

In 1857 L. B. Hotchkiss opened a private bank in Phelps. Thaddeus 
O. Hotchkiss succeeded to the business in 1869, and Wm. B. Hotchkiss 
& Co. succeeded to the last mentioned owner in 1879. 

The banking firm of Jno. H. Roy & Co. began business in February, 

1883. The personnel of the firm is as follows: John H. Roy, Simeon 
K. Bowker, Wm. T. Van Vranken, Isaac Roy, and Isaac Roy 2d. 

The villages and hamlets of the town, except Phelps, are small and 
have been of little importance as elements of local history. Of those 
worthy of mention Orleans is the largest, and is a station on the line of 
the Sodus Point and Southern Railroad It is situated in the southwest 
part of the town, on Flint Creek, which stream has been utilized to some 
extent in furnishing mill power. The Blythe Mills are to be mentioned 
as among the industries of first importance in this locality. The public 
properties, past and present, have been the district school, the M. E. 



364 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

church, the Baptist church and the H. P. Chapel. The M. E. church 
building was sold to the Presbyterians and its congregation joined with 
the church at Seneca Castle. 

The Baptist church at Orleans wasorganized in 1819, under the min- 
istry of Elder Shay, its first pastor It had fifty-eight original members, 
among whom were a number of the pioneers of the town and their de- 
scendants. The first church edifice was built in 1820, burned in 1846, 
and soon afterward replaced with a more substantial structure. 

Oaks' Corners is the name of a small hamlet situated three miles 
southeast of Phelps village, and attained an early prominence from the 
efforts of pioneer Jonathan Oaks, who built a hotel here as early as 
I793> '^^^ who also contributed much to the general welfare and devel- 
opment of the town. 

A Presbyterian society was informally organized here in 1803, and 
in tlie next year the organization was perfected by Rev. Jedediah Chap- 
man, the original members numbering fourteen persons. The society 
of this church has experienced many vicissitudes, yet its life has been 
constant to the present time. Originally organized as Congregational, 
it became Presbyterian in 181 1 and so continues. The edifice was built 
in 1804, and still stands, a neit and well preserved structure. Frequent 
repairs have been made to the building The present membership is 
one hundred, and in the Sunday school are over eighty pupils. The 
pastor is Rev. Henry W. Maier, whose term began June i, 1893, suc- 
ceeding Rev. Samuel Murdock. 

Melvin Hill is a settlement in the southeast part of the town. The 
village of Clifton Springs includes within its corporate limits a portion 
of the town of Phelps, a subject more fully discussed in another chapter. 
Gypsum is a hamlet north of Clifton Springs and extends over the 
town line into Phelps, but it is a settlement belonging chiefly to Man- 
chester. 

In this chapter occasional reference has been made to the early schools 
opened in the town, and however interesting might be found a complete 
history of each from the time of founding, such a record is impossi- 
ble in consequence of insufificient minutes and record books. Accord- 
ing to the present arrangement the town of Phelps has a total of 
twenty- four school districts, four of which (Nos. 3, 5, 7 and 10) have no 



TOWN OF VICTOR. 365 

school-house. The school census of 1892 shows the number of children 
of school age to be 1,614; number of teachers employed, thirty- three ; 
amount received from all sources for school purposes, $18,056.80; paid 
to teachers, $10,959.49 ; total value of school buildings and sites, $48,- 
120. Of the school buildings in the town, thirteen are of brick, five of 
frame and two of stone. 



CHAPTER XIX. 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF VICTOR. 

IN 1789, under the name of Bloomfield, the territory of the town now 
known as Victor, was first organized by competent authority and 
without dispute as to right of sovereignty and jurisdiction. However, 
there was an earlier occupancy of this particular region than that ac- 
complished by the settlers under the Phelps and Gorham titles, for re- 
liable records furnish the information that here was the Seneca village 
known as Gan-da ga-ro, although of the time of its founding we have 
no knowledge. In 1656 the Jesuit father, Chaumonot, visited the 
locality, but some doubt has been expressed regarding the exact loca- 
tion of the village at tnat time, for the Indians were not only migratory 
in their personal habits, but frequently changed the location of their 
villages. In 1677 and ten years later the village was on Boughton 
Hill, one mile directly south of the village of Victor, and contained, ac- 
cording to Greenhalgh, about 150 houses In 1669, Galinee, the asso- 
ciate of La Salle, described Gandagaro as a large plain, about two 
leagues in circumference on the edge of a small hill, and surrounded 
with palisades. It was this description that aroused a feeling of doubt 
as to the time the village was founded. Denonville found some kind 
of a work on the hill north of Victor village, and evidences of a small 
village have been discovered here, but the weight of testimony tends to 
show that Gan-da gan was south of the great hill. This Gandagan, 
alias Gandagaro, was the "St. James" founded by the Jesuits about the 
middle of the seventeenth century, and afterward discovered by the 



366 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Moravian missionaries. It was also a chief seat of the Senecas and the 
residence of the sachem who presided over the grand council of the 
tribe. In 1687 Denonville, the French governor of New France, made 
an expedition against the Senecas and destroyed the village. How- 
ever, this subject is treated at much length in one of the earlier chap- 
ters of this volume, to which the attention of the reader is referred for 
greater detail ; and the brief observations we have here made are only 
introductory, and for the purpose of showing that the earliest history of 
this locality was fully as interesting as that of later years. 

By an act of the Legislature passed January 27, 1789, Ontario county 
was created, and provision was also made for the formation of jurisdic- 
tional districts for the purposes of organization and government. One 
of these districts was called Bloomfield, and included all that is now 
East and West Bloomfield, Mendon and Victor. The town last men- 
tioned, the subject of this chapter, was set off and separately organized 
May 26, 1812 ; and although the early history of the town was made 
while it formed a part of Bloomfield, that fact will be disregarded and 
and the town treated in the same manner as if No. ii in the fourth 
range was an original creation. 

Pioneer and Early Settlement. — All authorities concede to Jared 
Boughton the honor of being the first pioneer settler in what is now 
Victor. Enos Boughton, brother to Jared, was a clerk for William 
Walker, ths principal agent for the surveys and sales of the Phelps and 
Gorham Co. Enos purchased township No. 11, fourth range, from the 
proprietors, paying therefor twenty cents per acre for the land, the 
money being furnished by his father, Hezekiah Boughton, and other 
members of the family. In the spring of 1789 Enos and Jared Bough- 
ton came to Canandaigua, and soon afterward visited the recently pur- 
chased township, in their journey following the old Indian trail. In the 
extreme south part of No. 11, they built a small cabin and made other 
preparations for a permanent residence in the then wilderness region. 
In June following, Hezekiah Boughton, jr., and Jacob Lobdell arrived 
at the cabin, bringing with them cattle and implements for household 
and farm use. After making improvements and clearings, and harvest- 
ing the season's crop, all these pioneers, except Lobdell, returned to 
the east for the winter. In February, 1790, Jared Boughton and his 



TOWN OF VICTOR. 367 

family set out upon the journey to their future home, and after many 
noteworthy incidents, and some hardships, they safely arrived at their 
destination on the 7th of March, and gained the distinction of being 
the pioneer family of Victor. 

The Boughtons were a prolific as well as adventurous family, and 
after their surname the historic Boughton Hill itself was named. Heze- 
kiah Bougbton, the father, with his son Seymour and daughter Theo- 
doria, came to the town in the fall of 1790, and settled in the "hill" 
neighborhood in a locality afterward called "Turner's Hill." 

Jacob Lobdell, who was about eighteen years old when b.e first came 
to this locality, became the owner of a hundred acre farm by purchase 
from the Boughtons, and he married the daughter of Levi Boughton, 
and was also the sire of a large family. He was the first supervisor 
elected for Victor, and was otherwise prominent in town affairs. He 
died in 1847. Hezekiah Boughton in 1792 built the first framed house 
in the town, which he put to use as a tavern, in which occupation he 
was the pioneer. He died in 1 798, and was succeeded as landlord by 
one Dickinson. Jared Boughton left the town in 1799, but two years 
later returned, and remained until his death. Frederick, son of Jared, 
was the first child born in the town, the date being June i, 1791. 
Claudius Victor Boughton, child of Hezekiah, jr., became a prominent 
man in the town, and after him the town was named. 

Having mentioned at some length the facts connected with the set- 
tlement by the Boughton family, it is proper that there also be some 
reference to other early settlers in the township. We have noted the 
fact that Enos Boughton purchased the entire township from the Phelps 
and Gorham proprietary, but of course he did not remain absolute 
owner for a great length of time. The lands were sold to various pur- 
chasers, each of whom became in a measure a pioneer, or at least an 
early settler; therefore, for the purpose of preserving a record of all 
such persons and families, we may appropriately name them, but with- 
out reference to date of settlement or locality of their respective first 
purchases of land. The list is as follows: ^ Elijah Ingersoll, David 

I The reader must not assume that this list contains the names of all the pioneers of Victor. The 
names mentioned are of persons who in some manner contributed to the erection of the " Proprie- 
tors' Church." 



368 - HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Lusk, Asahel Boughton, Jirah Rowley, James Upton, George Low, 
Dinah Brooks, Joseph Rowley, Lora Davis, Thomas Ingersoll, Joseph 
Thrall, Elisha Coon, Isaac Marsh, De Forest Boughton, Silas Pardee, 
Solomon Turner, Nicholas Smith, Timothy Williams, Samuel Gillis, 
Jeremiah Hull, Thomas Hawley, Jabez Felt, Harry Hart, Eleazer 
Boughton, Jared Boughton, Lucy Boughton, Jacob Lobdell, Urana 
Willard, Erie Hawley, John Hughes, Nathaniel Turner, Isaac Root, 
Elisha Brace, Peter Berry, Elisha Williams, Jesse Scudder, Israel Sim- 
mons, Joseph Brace, Nathaniel Boughton, Solomon Griswold, Johanna 
Marsh, Claudius Victor Boughton, Isaac Hathaway, Reuben Parmele, 
Jonathan Smith, M. O. Dickinson, Alice Boughton, Abraham Bough- 
ton, Ezekiel Scudder, Ira Seymour, jr., Ebenezer Bement, Ezra Wil- 
marth, Reuben Brace, Thos. Beach, Asahel Moore, Abraham Brunson, 
Abner Hawley, Wm. Jackson, Seymour Boughton, Andrew Colton, 
Henry Bement, Simeon Parks, Silas Thayer, Harry Boughton, sr., John 
Brace, Gershom Wilmarth, Joseph Perkins, Peter Turner, Erastus In- 
gersoll, Enos Gillis, Asa Root, Samuel Perkins, Abijah Williams, Jabez 
Hart, Rufus Dryer, Seymour Boughton, jr., Asahel Lusk, Edwin 
Bement, Samuel Rawson, Silas Barnes, Manley Hawley 

These names represent not only the proprietors of the 'ands of the 
township upon its subdivision, but represent also pioneers, and in many 
cases the children and wives of pioneers, in whose names titles were 
given through feelings of generosity and for convenience; and it is 
quite probable that names of persons are mentioned who were not 
early residents of Victor, but who were land owners for purposes of 
speculation, for of some of those named, there is little or no record ex- 
cept as holders of title However, of some whose names are above 
referred to there is a record of settlement, and also we may state that 
the town had a few pioneers who are not named in the list of proprie- 
tors. 

Asa Hecock settled in the town in 1790, and was the first postmaster ; 
also an early tavern-keeper,' and at one time a side judge of the courts. 
Abijah Williams also settled in Victor in 1790, first in the north part, 
but moving later on to the southern part of the town. Nicholas Smith 
settled in 1790; Ezra Wilmarth in 1796; Reuben Parmele, an early 
and prominent Presbyterian minister, in 1798; Elisha Brace in 1793- 




'■e^'i-e.<f<>^-t.i^/i, ,_>^-t^^C!^/c-^'f-z^d^. 



TOWN OF VICTOR. 369 

In the same connection may also be mentioned the names of Josiah and 
Jabez Morehouse, Dr. Thomas Beach and Elisha, Herman, Joseph, Dr. 
Joel, and Reuben Brace, all of whom were early settlers and identified 
with the development of the region. Those who have been named in 
this connection were pioneers in the south part of the township, in the 
locality later known as School District No. 2. 

In the eastern part of the town is the hamlet now called East Victor, 
which was originally named Scudderville, after Ezekiel Scudder, who 
built here the first permanent mill in the township. The locality has 
also been called Freedom The pioneers of this district (No. 4) were 
Abraham Boughton, 1791 ; Thomas Hawley, a pioneer saw- mill 
builder ; Otis Wilmarth, builder of an early grist-mill ; Elijah Griswold, 
who had a carding- mill as early as 1800; Levi Boughton, settler in 
1790; N. O. Dickinson, tavern-keeper ; Samuel Boughton, shoemaker ; 
James Felt, distiller ; John M. Hughes, carding-miller. In the same 
locality also were early settlers Samuel Drowne, Eleazer Boughton, 
/ Nathan Jenks (merchant), James Barnhart, Cornelius Conover, Asahel 
Moore. In the southeast corner of the town Solomon Griswold made 
the first settlement, remaining only a short time, and giving way to 
Isaac Wheeler. In this neighborhood also were Ebenezer Stone, wheel- 
wright and handy man at any trade, and William Barber, said to be a 
famous hunter. 

The west and southwest portions of Victor were not settled until 
about twenty years after the eastern and southeastern sections, and a 
number of the settlers here were from the Mohawk valley country. Jona- 
than Culver came in 1801 ; Increase Carpenter in 1808 ; Roswell Mur- 
ray in 1810; as also did Stephen Ellis and Elston Hunt. Murray's 
wife was sister to Brigham Young, the Morman leader. Other early 
settlers in this locality were John and William Ward, James M. Camp- 
bell, Abijah Covill, Ezra Wilmarth, Samuel Dryer, James Wilmarth, 
Deacon Sheldon, and James Potter. 

In the northwest part of the town is located the railroad station and 
post-village called Fisher's, and so named in honor of Charles Fisher, 
who settled here in 18 17. However, it was not until the completion of 
the railroad and the establishment of a post-office that the name was 
regularly applied to the station. Irondequoit Creek has its course in 
47 



370 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

this part of the township, consequently the locaHty became desirable for 
the purposes of both farming and lumbering. The result was in the 
founding of a settlement at an early day and the starting of numerous 
saw mills along the stream mentioned. Asahel Lusk was an early set- 
tler here ; Elisha Coan was an early comer, and built a saw- mill ; Rich- 
ard Brunson had a saw- mill and also a distillery, the latter as early as 
1818 ; Richard Hayes was proprietor of a grist-mill ; Jonas Allen built 
a saw mill in 18 14, and a fulling and carding-mill in 18 17. Among 
the other early settlers in this immediate locality we may mention the 
names of Gregory Hill, Joseph and Barzilla Woolston, Asa Gaskill, and 
David Barrett, while in the same general region, and a little farther east, 
the pioneers were Joseph Rowley, Simeon Parks, Eleazer Bough - 
ton, Jonathan Smith and Isaac Simmons. In the extreme north- 
west of the town dwelt pioneer Abraham Mattison, who built the 
first saw- mill on Irondequoit Creek. A little later David Lyon built 
both saw and grist-mills (1820), and in 1825 Erastus Hughes operated 
a fulling-mill. John Earle and Samuel Moore were also early settlers 
in this locality. East of the section just referred to, and in what after- 
ward became District No 7, the early settlers were Capt. Jirah Rowley, 
a pioneer of District No. 8, who served in the War of 1812-15, and 
was captain of the Victor militia company. In this neighborhood also 
lived at an early day Ichabod Town, the cooper ; Allen Bearmore or 
Barmour, Asa Root, De Forest Boughton, John Gould, and Squire 
Fox, the latter being noted for his native ability as a lawyer in justice 
court. 

The northeast part of Victor was settled very early, when we consider 
its comparatively remote location. The first improvement here was 
made in 1797 by James Upton and Jabez Hart, and in the next year 
there came pioneers Isaac Marsh, the first tanner; Jirah Rowley, who 
soon moved to the north part of the town ; Abraham Bliss, John Cline, 
and Joseph Trail came in the same year, while among the later early 
settlers were Timothy Wilson and John Rose, the latter a local preacher 
of the M. E. Church. John and Timothy Lane settled about 1800 in 
the extreme eastern part of the town, and in 1802 Jeremiah Richard- 
son began an improvement in the northeast corner. 



TOWN OF VICTOR. 3*1 

District No. i and Victor Village. — In the central part of the town is 
located the large school district known as No. i, and within the limits 
thereof is the attractive village of Victor. The location of this district 
was generally favorable to early settlement, but it so happened that its 
pioneers were quite extensive land owneis, consequently the number of 
early settlers was small. About where the depot is now located dwelt 
pioneer Peter Turner, and north of him was Isaac Root. Israel Blood 
settled in the northeast corner of the district soon after 1790, while in 
other parts the pioneers were Joel Hart, Samuel Burgman, Samuel Raw- 
son, and Michael Brooks, the latter a tailor by occupation. The village 
site was occupied and owned by Capt. Abner Havvley, whose residence, 
and also that of his son James, were the only buildings standing in 1798. 
James Hawley kept a tavern, and was the pioneer in that line, and was 
succeeded in business by Rufus Dryer, who came to the town in 1792, 
and became a man of note in local affairs. He was prominent as a land- 
lord, and built and conducted the Victor Hotel, one of the landmarks, 
in name at least, of the village. Enos Boughton was the pioneer mer- 
chant, and was followed in that line by William Bushnell. Other early 
business men of Victor may be briefly mentioned, among them Bush- 
nell & Jenks, Giles Arnold, Thomas Embry, Alfred Gray, merchant, 
1 8 17, succeeded by T. M. Boughton; John Turner and William Turner, 
shoemakers, 1826; Stephen CoUyer, wagonmaker, 1816; David Stout, 
hatter ; Wm. T. Roup, harnessmaker ; Enos, Samuel and James Gillis, 
tanners, established 18 10. 

For many years there was a feeling of friendly rivalry between the 
residents of districts Four and One, for each had an ambition to be the 
more important center. Scudderville, or East Victor, possessed the 
most desirable water-power, while Victor was the natural center, at 
which the principal highways terminated. The latter gradually ac- 
quired the greater population, and East Victor maintained its early 
manufacturing supremacy. 

The completion of the Auburn and Rochester railroad in 1840, added 
much to the prosperity of Victor village, although the station is half a 
mile distant from the business center. The post-office was established 
at the village soon after 18 10, the first postmaster being Asa Hickox, 
succeeded by William Bushnell, the latter serving twenty years, and 



372 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

being succeeded in 1835 by Wm. C. Dryer. In 1892 the Lehigh Val- 
ley Company completed an extension of their road through the center 
of the village, thus affording additional shipping and traveling facilities 
to the people, though it must be confessed that this improvement has 
made no apparent increase in manufactures. 

Within the last score of years the people of the village have realized 
the necessity of having a corporate existence, which should in a meas- 
ure separate the municipality from the township. To this end an in- 
corporation was effected during 1879, and the newly elected trustees 
held their first meeting on December 31. These trustees were James 
Walling, Josiah Upton, Albert Jacobs and William R. Townsend, the 
latter of whom was elected president of the board. The first clerk of 
the village was F. W. Edmonds. The corporation includes about one 
square mile of land, extending about half a mile in each cardinal direc- 
tion from the business center. The trustees at present are Theodore 
M. Norton, Albert Bailey, John M. Ladd and William A. Higinbotham. 
Mr. Norton is president. The village clerk is Gilbert Turner. The 
population of the village is about 800 inhabitants. 

Although one of the small municipalities of the county, Victor num- 
bered among the oldest trading centers of the region. James Hanley 
opened the way to trade by starting the tavern here, and was later on 
followed in the same pursuit by other worthy citizens, among whom we 
may recall the names of Eleazer Boughton, Rufus Dryer, Asa Hickox, 
John M. Hughes, George W. Dryer, Wm. C. Dryer, Harry Peck and 
others. Rufus Dryer and N. O. Dickinson were early millers, while 
Enos Boughton and William Bushnell were the first merchants. The 
stone store was built in 1834. The frame school-house was built in 
1 8 16, its first teacher being Melancton Lewis. The principal general 
merchants in the village at the present time are A. Simonds' Sons, suc- 
cessors to A. Simonds & Sons, and William B. Gallup. F. E, Cobb is 
the local druggist, Walling & Brace, the tailors, while the present in- 
cumbent of the post-office is D. A. McVean. 

About 1870, William C. Moore opened a private bank at Victor, ran 
it about ten years and then failed. He was followed in business (more 
successful in results, however,) by Parmele, Hamlin & Co., and in 1889 
Norman A. Wilbur purchased the Parmele interest, and the firm of 



TOWN OF VICTOR. 373 

Higinbotham & Wilbur was formed. The members of the firm are 
William A. Higinbotham and Norman A. Wilbur, both men of worth 
and integrity, and each interested in the welfare of the village and 
town. 

At the New York Central station is a large and well equipped flour- 
ing- mill, which was built in 1876 by Amos Scramling. In 1885 this 
property was purchased by the present proprietor, E S. Berry. 

In 18 16 the first frame school-house was built in the village, and as 
has been stated, Melancton Lewis was its first teacher. In the village, 
both before and after the incorporation, educational affairs have re- 
ceived deserved attention from the trustees of the district, and a good 
school building and excellent teachers have always been provided. In 
1883, at an expense of about $15,000, the trustees of the district caused 
to be built the large school-house which now adorns the village. 

The Herald is the name of a newspaper published at Victor village, 
under the sole proprietorship of Wm. W. Gillis. The Herald is an in- 
dependent paper, devoted to the interests of the county in general and 
of Victor in particular. It is the only paper published between Canan- 
daigua and Rochester, or in northwestern Ontario county. The paper 
is in all respects a worthy and enterprising publication, and deservedly 
enjoys its large circulation and a good advertising patronage. 

CHURCH HISTORY. 

The pioneers of Victor were not wholly unmindful of the spiritual 
welfare of the community, and at a very early day provided for relig- 
ious instruction according to the New England custom. They first 
acted as a united people, and secured the services of a minister of the 
gospel to conduct services for the benefit of all the inhabitants, and a 
little later on (1804,) raised by contribution enough money to purchase 
a lot and build a meeting-house. This was known as the "Proprietors' 
Church," from the fact that nearly all the then land owners of the town 
contributed to its erection. At length, as the population increased, 
each denomination prepared to conduct services according to the rules 
of the church favored by it, hence withdrew from the use of the union 
edifice and built for themselves. In another part of this chapter will be 
found the names of the contributors to the Proprietors' Church. 



374 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

The First Presbyterian Church of Victor is the outgrowth of early 
meetings inaugurated by Rev. Reuben Parmele as early as 1798, al- 
though the life of the society from the time of its origin has been one 
of many vicissitudes. Mr. Parmele began holding Congregational 
meetings in 1798 at the request of the inhabitants of the town, and on 
the loth of February, 1799, a society was organized with twenty mem- 
bets. In January, 1828, a majority of the members determined to 
adopt the Presbyterian form of church government, which resulted in a 
division of sentiment in the society. However, in 1832 the factions 
were reunited and an independent Congregational church was organ- 
ized, and was so conducted until March 8, 1858, when a Presbyterian 
government was adopted, and the "First Presbyterian Church of Victor" 
was formally organized, and thenceforth superseded the older society. 
The first church edifice of this society was built in 1837, at a cost of 
$3,500, and was substantially enlarged and repaired in 1844, and again 
in i860. The parsonage was built in 1868. 1 he pastors of this church 
since its original founding have been as follows: Reuben Parmele, 
Philander Parmele, Ebenezer Raymond, Jabez Spicer (supply), John 
Taylor (supply), Richard Kay, Jarius Wilcox (supply), Charles E, Fur- 
man, Charles Merwin, A. V. H. Powell, C. Waterbury, C. C. Carr, Wm. 
H. Webb, G. P. Nichols, Henry T. Miller, W. B. Marsh, Robert Ennis, 
Thomas E. Babb, C. W. Backus and Charles Noble Frost, the latter, 
the present pastor, having been installed in November, 1889. The 
church membership numbers 197 persons, and the Sunday school has 
200 pupils. 

The Methodist Episcopal Cliurch. — The history of Methodism in Vic- 
tor dates back to the early years of the century, and to the primitive 
meetings occasionally held by Joseph Jewell, Amos Jenks and James 
Kelsey, which resulted in the formation of a class in 1807, followed by 
a permanent church organization. The first meetings were held at con- 
venient places, one of which, the Ladd school-house, was especially 
devoted to the use of the society. In 1820 a small church edifice was 
built, and so far completed as to be dedicated in August, 1821, although 
it was not entirely finished until 1829. It was enlarged in 1832, and 
five years later the society purchased a parsonage. The large edifice 
superseded the old church in 1870, and was completed during the fol- 



TOWN OF VICTOR. 375 

lowing year, and dedicated June 15. The church has a present mem- 
bership of about 220 persons, a Sunday school with 100 pupils, and is 
under the pastoral care of Rev. Richard W. Copeland. 

TJie First United Universalist Society of Victor was organized by the 
compact signed by its members in 1834, although Universalist teaching 
and preaching was conducted in the town as early as 1825, under the 
ministerial labors of Wm. J. Reese. The early meetings were held in 
the M. E. and Proprietors' churches, the latter of which afterward be- 
came the property of the Universalist society, and was used by it until 
the erection and dedication of the large brick edifice in 1857. Univer- 
salism in Victor had a beginning as humble as any other of the town's 
institutions, but continued to grow and spread until it became one of 
the leading churches, both in members and influence. The pastors, in 
the order of succession, have been as follows: James Cook, S. W. Fuller, 
L. L. Saddler, Olin Ackley, Geo. W. Montgomery, Stephen Miles, 
Daniel R. Biddlecome, Kneeland Townsend, James Cook. J. R. John- 
son, Charles S. Skinner, Thos. Bartholon)ew, Thos. Whitcomb, W. W. 
Dean, Charles D. Fluhrer, Rev. Goodenough, Thomas Borden, Rev. 
Peck, Stephen H. Roblin, G. L. Leland and Charles Legal, the latter 
being the present pastor, who entered upon his duties July i, 1891. 
The church has 100 members, and the Sunday-school about 125 pupils. 

St. Patrick's Church at Victor was an out mission attached to Pal- 
myra, from 1850 to 1857, and was attended by Fathers Kilbride, Walsh 
and Casey. In 1857 East Bloomfield received a resident pastor, and 
Victor was made one of its out- missions, being attended during the next 
four years by Father P. Lee. In 1859 the church was built. Father 
Wm. Hughes succeeded Father Lee, and in 1882 the Victor church was 
given a resident pastor, the first being Rev. Angelo Lugero, who was 
the successor to Father Hughes On October 20, 1888, Rev. J. J. Don- 
nelly was appointed pastor. In St. Patrick's parish are 170 families, 
numbering about 875 persons. 

The Episcopal Church, or mission, at Victor village was erected in 
1 873, and named " Church of the Good Shepherd." It was consecrated 
in September, 1874. The parish has but few families and the church 
ever maintained a struggling existence. It has no regular rector, being 
supplied with occasional services by clergymen from other parishes. 



376 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

In an earlier part of this chapter we have referred to the early settle- 
ment in the locality where is now the little hamlet called East Victor, 
which was originally known as Scudderville. Among the villages of 
the town this place has acquired little importance, except in connection 
with early settlements to which we have referred. The New York Cen- 
tral road passes half a mile south of it, and the Lehigh Valley is still 
nearer, yet East Victor remains about the same in business importance. 
During the greater part of a century this has been a milling locality, but 
the present industry in that line is substantially confined to operations 
at the Winans Mills. 

Fisher's Station we have also referred to, and to the early mills in the 
northwest part of the town. At the station at the present time the busi- 
ness interests are the grist and saw- mills ofKingsley Brownell, the gen- 
eral store of George E. Prosseus, and potato storage of C. W. Ford & 
Co., the latter an industry of much note. 

Town Organization. — On the 26th of May, 1812, the town of Victor 
was formed from the still older town of Bloomfield, and in October fol- 
lowing the inhabitants held a meeting and determined to call their new 
formation " Victor," after and in honor of Claudius Victor Boughton, 
who had rendered great service to the people in the early events of the 
war then in progress. The first meeting of the freemen was held April 
6, 18 13, and these officers were elected: Supervisor, Jacob Lobdell ; 
town clerk, Eleazer Boughton ; assessors, Nathaniel Boughton, Ezra 
Wilmarth, and Sellick Boughton ; commissioners of highways, Ezekiel 
Scudder, Elisha Williams, Joseph Brace ; overseers of the poor, James 
Upton, Rufus Dryer; constable and collector, Solomon Griswold ; 
poundmaster, Joseph Perkins. 

Schools of Victor. — In 1790 the inhabitants of the Boughton Hill lo- 
cality built a school house, it being the first in the town. The East 
Victor neighborhood had a school before 1800, and District No. 8 had 
one in 1798. In due time the township was divided into districts and 
school accommodations were provided for each. There are now four- 
teen districts in the town, three of which (Nos. 11, 13 and 14) have no 
school- houses, hence are joint districts with others. The reports for 
the year 1892 inform us that the school census is 688 children, and that 
the value of school property is $21,650 ; that there are eight frame, one 



TOWN OF NAPLES. 377 

brick, and two stone school buildings; that seventeen teachers are em- 
ployed, to whom is paid annually $5,637.22, while the amount of school 
moneys received from all sources, for the year mentioned, was $9,- 
504.80. 

Succession of Supervisors — Jacob Lobdell, 18 13-14; Andrew Colton, 
1815 ; Jacob Lobdell, 1816-18; Jared Boughton, 1819-20; Jacob 
Lobdell, 1821 ; Eleazer Boughton, 1822-23; Samuel Rawson, 1824; 
Jacob Lobdell, 1825 ; Samuel Rawson, 1826-28 ; Nathan Jenks, 1829 
-30; Orin Miller, 1831-33; Henry Pardee, 1834-35; Samuel Rawson 
1836; Jacob Lobdell, 1837; Samuel Rawson, 1838; Azariah Bickford, 
1839; Henry Pardee, 1840; Joseph Rawson, 1841 ; Thomas Embry, 
1842; Henry Pardee, 1843 i Thomas Embry, 1844; Lauson Dewey, 
1845 ; Wi" C. Dryer, 1846-48; Peter S. Bonested, 1849; Wm. Ball, 
1850; Lauson Dewey, 185 i ; Levi B. Lobdell, 1852-53 ; William S. 
Clarke, 1854-56; Josiah Upton, 1857-58; Lauson Dewey, 1859-67; 
Wm. C. Dryer, 1868; James Walling, 1869-77; Gilbert Turner, 1878 
-79; Bolivar Ellis, 1880-82; Marvin A. Wilbur, 1883-86; Stephen 
Van Vorhis, 1887; John Colmey, 1888-89; Wm. B. Osborne, 1890 
-91 ; Willis D. Newton, 1892-93. 



CHAPTER XX. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NAPLES. 

ON the 20th of March, 1789, the Phelps and Gorham proprietary 
conveyed by deed to certain representatives of a Massachusetts 
company, the tract of land now known as Naples, being township 7, in 
range 4, for the consideration of 1,056 pounds Massachusetts currency. 
However, there is a little history back of this apparently plain transac- 
tion which is worthy of narration. According to the records, written 
and traditionary, during the year 1789 (the true date is believed to have 
been 1788) a company of Massachusetts residents was formed for the 
purchase of a township of land in the Genesee country from Phelps and 

48 



378 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Gorham. For the purposes of the company, which numbered sixty 
persons, a committee of eleven was chosen, and the latter delegated 
their authority tD a smaller committee, comprising Edward Kibbe, Na- 
than Watkins, and William Cady. 

In September, 1789, the committee set out upon the journey to the 
Genesee country, and in three weeks arrived at Canandaigua. They at 
once visited Gen. Israel Chapin, who represented Phelps and Gorham, 
and informed him of the purpose of their presence, and by him they 
were directed to examine township 9, in range 2 (Gorham), which they 
did, and at once decided upon its purchase. However, before the ne- 
gotiations were completed, this town was purchased by an agent of a 
Dutchess county company, whereupon the committee of Yankees were 
referred to township 9, in range 5 (Richmond), with a request to ex- 
amine its lands. This being done, and the town proving satisfactory 
to the visitors, its purchase was agreed upon at the price of 1,056 
pounds, but, either through error or design on the part of the grantors, 
the deed of conveyance described township 7, in range 4, which the 
grantees accepted. There does not appear any evidence to show that 
the grantors manifested any disposition to correct the error, wherefore 
the purchasers were at liberty to accept the township described or take 
none at all. 

Notwithstanding the evident fraud practiced upon them, the purchas- 
ers of the town accepted the situation, and at once made preparations 
to settle and improve the lands of the town. The pioneers of the town 
were Samuel, Reuben and Levi Parrish, who with their families started 
for the western country in January, 1790, and four weeks later reached 
the head of the lake, and thence proceeded to the site of the present 
village, where they built a small log-house. Soon afterward Levi Par- 
rish built a second house in the same locality. But the Parrishes were 
not altogether alone in this then wilderness region, as the Seneca In- 
dians were still in the neighborhood and watched the operations of the 
white pioneers with evident interest, but made no attempt to molest 
them. In April or May following other pioneers came to the town to 
the number of thirty, and among them were Capt Ephraim Cleveland, 
Colonel Wm. Clark, Nathan and William Watkins, John Johnson, Jona- 
than Lee, and their families. The newcomers built the third dwelling- 



TOWN OF NAPLES. 379 

house in the town, and during the summer Capt. Nathan Watkins built 
the fourth, Captain Cleveland the fifth, and Colonel Clark the sixth. In 
1793 Captain Watkins built the first framed barn, and the honor of 
building the first framed house fell to pioneer Isaac Whitney, in 1794, 
Captain Watkins also was the pioneer hotel- keeper in the town. 

The persons and families mentioned above were the first settlers in 
the town, but they were soon afterward followed by others, whose 
names are also worthy of mention in these pages. Captain Edward 
Kibbe came in 1793; Dr. Thomas Maxwell in 1796; Otis Fuller in 
18 1 3. Mr. Sutton very appropriately arranges the names of early set- 
tles in Naples, from which we extract the following: In district No. i 
the pioneers were James Lee, Richard Hooker (181 1), John Sibhart 
(18 1 2). In district No. 2 were Wm. James, Asa Perry, Paul Grimes, 
Guy Hinckley and E. Stiles. In district No. 3 were Rev. Thomas Peek, 
John Powers and Seymour Gillett. In district No. 4 were Peter Whit- 
ney, Wm. Oakley, Amaziah Cornell, Nathan Tyler, Abijah Shaw and 
Israel Meads. In district No. 5 were Zacheus Barber, Oliver Tenney, 
Lemuel and John Barber, the latter in 1798. The settlers of No. 6 were 
Abraham Sutton (181 1), John Sutton (1812) and Samuel Shaw, Jacob 
Dagget, Nathan Clark and Russell Parrish, all in 18 12. In No. 7 the 
first settler was Aaron Hunt, who built the first grist-mill in the neigh- 
borhood. Others in this vicinity were Jacob Holdren, Jonas Belknap, 
Gail Washburn and Wm. Sullivan. In No. 8 were Stephen Garling- 
house, Jesse Peck, Mr. Tallman, Wm. West, sr., and Joseph Grant; of 
No. 9 were Isaac Whitney, Benj. Clark, Simon Lyon, Stephen Storey 
and Dr. Newcomb ; in No. 10 were Isaac Sutton, Thomas Blodget, John 
Blodget, Thos. Bentley, Wm. Bush, David Fletcher; in No. 11 were 
Alanson Lyon, Elisha Sutton, Chas. Wilcox, Bushnell Cleveland, Uriah 
Davids ; in No. 13, Deacon David Carrier, Pitts Parker, Ichabod Green, 
Samuel Stancliff, John Cronk, Ithamer Carrier and Michael Keith ; in 
No. 15 were Reuben Parrish, Peabody Kinne, Robert W^iley, Nathan 
and Wm. Watkins, and the already mentioned Clark, Cleveland and 
Kibbe, John Johnson and Levi and Samuel Parrish; in No. 17 were 
John Hinckley, Nathan Goodell, Ami Baker, Joshua Lyon, Joseph Bat- 
tles, Hiram and Stephen Sayles. 

One of the first duties which engaged the attention of the proprietors 
of this town was the proper survey of its lands and the division of the 



380 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

lots; and this seems not to have been done previous to 1793. The 
whole area was surveyed into 195 lots, each having 108 acres. Fif- 
teen of the best lots were first selected and each was divided into four 
parts, a total of sixty, one of which parts was allotted to each of the 
sixty original proprietors. Then followed a geneial drawing of lots, 
according to the established New England custom, and while many of 
the pioneers held their lots for their children, very large tracts were sold 
to speculators of the East. 

In 1795 and '96 the inhabitants began the work of laying out and 
opening roads in various directions from the center of the town. Pre- 
vious to this time the chief thoroughfare of travel was to the head of 
the lake, thence down the same to whatever point was desired. The 
road to Rushville was surveyed in 1794; the Bristol road was partly 
constructed in 1 795 ; the road to the Indian landing from Reuben Par- 
rish's was made in 1796. 

Having referred at some length to the pioneer and early settlement 
of the town of Naples known as No. 7, in range four, attention may now 
be turned briefly to the early civil history of the same territory. As 
originally formed by the Court of Sessions in January, 1789, the district 
included all its present area, also all that is now Italy and part of Spring- 
water. The earliest name applied to this district was " Watkinstown," 
and so called in allusion to pioneer William Watkins. This naming is 
believed to have been done in January, 1788, at which time the terri- 
tory of the county was divided into districts; however, in 1785, the 
year in which the town was organized, Watkinstown was dropped and 
Middletown adopted in its stead. The next year,on April 5, the organ- 
ization of the town was made complete and town officers were then 
elected. The change of name to Naples was accomplished at a later 
date, on April 6, 1808. Italy was taken off in 18 15, and a part of 
Springwater in 18 16, and by these separate creations Naples was re- 
duced to its present area. 

At the first town meeting above mentioned the following officers were 
elected : Supervisor, William Clark ; town clerk, Joel Watkins ; asses- 
sors, Jabez Metcalf, Edward Kibbe and Edward Low ; highway com- 
missioners, Nathan Watkins, Wm. Dunton and Elijah Clark ; poor mas- 
ters, Wm. Watkins, Ephraim Cleveland, Robert Wiley ; constable, Elisha 



TOWN OF NAPLES. 381 

Parrish ; pathmasters, Levi and Reuben Parrish, John Mower and 
Isaiah Post; fence viewers, John Johnson, Benjamin Hardin and Isaac 
Whitney; poundmaster, Jabez Metcalf 

The patriotic mihtary spirit of the early settlers of Naples is shown in 
the fact that the town furnished a militia company for the frontier serv- 
ice during the War of 1812-15 ; and it is worthy of special remark that 
this is one of the few towns in which the roll of militiamen has been pre- 
served. The names are as follows : Elijah Clark, captain ; Joseph Clark, 
lieutenant ; and privates, Fisher Metcalf, Elias B. Kinne, Levi Watkins, 

Otis Pierce, Jonathan Pierce, Wm. Danton, Kimball, 

Matoon, Dodge, Wheeler, John Cronk, Pitts Parker, 

Daniel Parker, Ichabod Lyon, Benj. Johnson, Edward Low, Jacob B. 
Sutton, Zelotus Sackett, Captain Wm. Watkins, Henry Porter, Robert 
Vickery, Ephraim W. Cleveland, John W. Hinckley, Amos Johnson, 
Amasa S. Tift, Loring Pottle ; sergeant, Lyman Hawes. 

Equally honorable, also, was the record made by Naples soldiery dur- 
ing the war of 1861-65, in which the town is credited with having sent 
more than two hundred men into the service ; and many of them never 
returned. In memory of the faithful performance of their duty and of 
the specially brave deeds of many the generous town's people caused to 
be erected a memorial townhall, a building both useful nnd ornamental, 
in lieu of the customary soldiers' monument. Land was purchased in 
1869, at the corner of Main and Monroe streets, and thereon at an ex- 
pense of several thousand dollars a large two-storied and basement brick- 
building was erected. It was completed November 16, 1872. 

The Village of Naples. — The history of Naples village is a part of the 
history of the town itself and with difficulty are the subjects separated. 
The pioneers of the township located within the limits of the village 
proper, and from this central point all subsequent operations were con- 
ducted. One of the first improvements which called for attention from 
the pioneers was the need of a water supply to furnish power for mills. 
To provide this the people made a united effort and constructed a race 
from " below the falls," by which mill sites and abundant power were 
afforded. On this stream pioneers Benj. Clark and Jabez Metcalf built 
the first saw- mill in the town. Reuben Parrish also built a saw- mill in 
1796, at the " mouth of Parrish gulley," and in the same year Benj. 



382 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Clark built a grist-mill where O. M. Woodruff's Ontario Mills now 
stand. Likewise Jason Goodrich built a cloth and carding mill, Paul 
Grimes built a woolen mill, and Perry Holcomb a fulling mill in the 
vicinity, all at an early day. 

The pioneer tradesman of the settlement was a Plolland Dutchman 
named Hesselgesser, who was noted for the large price rather than the 
extent of his wares. Later merchants were Warren Clark (also dis- 
tiller and owner of an ashery). Pardon T. Brownell, Robert Fleming 
and Calvin Luther. Paul Grimes was the proprietor of the first public 
house, and another early representative of the same business was Joseph 
Clark. Joshua Abbey was the village blacksmith, and Jabez Metcalf, 
Jason Goodrich, Oliver Tenney, Amaziah Cornish and Charles Wilcox 
were the first carpenters and joiners. The first distillers, in succession, 
were Reuben Parrish, Warren Clark and Zacheus Barber. Phineas P. 
Lee, son of Col. James Lee, is also said to have been the first white 
child born in the town, while the first death of which there is a record 
was that of the Seneca Indian, Kanesque, at the unusual age of one 
hundred years. Benjamin Clark married Thankful Watkins in 1795, 
and Susanna Parrish taught the first school, in 1792, which were also 
first events of this kind in the town. 

Naples is the largest unincorporated village in Ontario county, and 
while the subject of incorporation has frequently been discussed the 
necessity for such action has not been apparent. In fact, between the 
inhabitants of the village and those of the town at large there has ever 
existed perfect friendliness, and neither seems inclined to oppose the 
projects of the other. The result is that the numerous public improve- 
ments, both in and outside the village, are paid for by the whole town. 
And in the matter of improvements there has been no backwardness on 
the part of Naples's people, for both village and town are far advanced 
in this respect as any locality of the county, and on every side the view 
of the interested visitor is rewarded with a general appearance of neat- 
ness and progress. 

In 1890 the total population of the village and town was 2,455, more 
than one-half of which is within the village proper. The public prop- 
erties of the latter are four church buildings, the Memorial hall, the 
Union school, formerly the academy, and these added to the several 



TOWN OF NAPLES. 383 

mercantile and manufacturing interests, and the many residences built 
along Main street on both sides of the business center, all combine to 
make Naples one of the most attractive villages in the county. Previous 
to 1892 communication with the outside localities and the county seat 
was had only by wagon travel and steamboat, but in the year men- 
tioned the Middlesex Valley Railroad was completed, thus affording 
rapid connection with the large villages of the region. This is a boon 
which the people of the town fully appreciate, as they have for many 
years paid interest on a large bonded indebtedness, created to aid the 
construction of the road, and for which they had previously received no 
return whatever. 

The present business interests of Naples are not numerous, neither 
are they of great magnitude ; but all are important and contribute to 
the prosperity of the town. There are three well- equipped flouring 
mills, known, respectively, as the Ontario Mills, O. M. Woodruff, prop. ; 
the Naples Mills, N. W. Clark, prop. ; and the mills of J. C. Morgan. 

E. A. Griswold is owner of a saw and planing mill and basket factory. 
J. H. Loveland has a planing and shingle mill and basket factory. Z. 

F. Knapp has a basket factory. W. B. Ensworth is the present pro- 
prietor of the knife factory. 

The principal merchants in trade during the early spring of 1893 are 
the firm of Lewis Brothers and G. C. Dill, dry goods and general 
stores ; grocers C. G. Everitt, D. J. Doughty, C. M. Lyon, A, W. 
Durston, Mrs. E. R. Thornton, George Stoddard, the latter also dealing 
in drugs Storey Bros, are dealers in boots and shoes; J C. Morgan is 
the druggist ; F. W. James, stationer and bookseller, also postmaster ; 
W. H. Tobey, merchant tailor and clothier; M. B. Reed, merchant 
tailor ; S. R. Sutton and Charles Peck, jewelers ; O. W. La Valley and 
J. P. Richardson, harness makers and dealers ; E. Wells & Co. and Doo- 
little & Graham, hardware dealers; J. H. Tozer, furniture dealer; Mrs. 
Tyler and Johnson & Stetson, milliners ; E. E. Lafler and Rowland, 
meat markets. The hotels are the Naples House, M. Brown, prop., 
and the Luther House, S. S. Luther, prop. 

The banking house of Hiram Maxfield was established in 1877, and 
it is no fulsome compliment to say that this is one of the safest and 
strongest private banking institutions of Ontario county. 



384 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Naples has been the home of several newspaper publications, among 
which may be mentioned the Free Press, founded January i, 1833, by 
Charles P. Waterman, and was continued about two years. The Nea- 
politan was started in 1840 by David Fairchild. In 1845 it was sold 

to Phelps, who changed its title to the Naples Visitor, and soon 

afterward the paper suspended publication. The Naples Journal was 
published in 1853 by R. Denton. The Naples Record was started in 
January, 1870, by Mr. Deyo, who was its sole publisher and proprietor 
until February i, 1873, when he sold a half interest to R. M. Mcjan- 
nett, who was a partner until July i, 1877, when he sold to Mr. Deyo. 
October i, 1878, Mr. Deyo leased the office to Miles A. Davis, who 
published the paper until November, 1879, at which time Mr. Mcjan- 
nett purchased and ran it until February i, 1884. January i, 1880, 
Mr. Deyo established the Neapolitan, which paper he continued to 
publish until February i, 1884, at which time he purchased the Record 
of Mr. Mcjannett and consolidated the two papers under the name of 
Neapolitan Record. The paper continued under this name and man- 
agement until October i, 1887, when it again changed hands, and the 
old name, Naples Record, was restored." 

May I, 1890, Rev. F. P. Leach, then pastor of the Baptist church, 
began the publication of an eight page church paper called the Naples 
Church Unioji. Mr. Leach continued its publication until he removed 
from town — January, 1891 — when the publication ceased. The work 
on this paper was done in the Record office. 

The Naples Academy was the outgrowth of an ineffectual attempt to 
form a Union school in 1858. Following the failure of the Union 
school enterprise, a subscription fund of $12,000 was raised in the 
village, and in i860 the academy building was erected, the corner- 
stone being laid June 12, and the building soon afterward completed, 
with capacity to accommodate two hundred pupils. The first principal 
was M. M. Merrill, succeeded by Charles Jacobus, P. V. N. Myers, L. 
G. Thrall and others. In the course of time, however, the academy 
property was transferred to the Board of the Union School District, the 
latter including parts of three town districts Nos. 2, 9 and 15. The 
principal of the Union school is Burr W. Mosher. 

While there has not been made any attempt to organize an elaborate 
fire department in the village, the enterprising citizens have provided a 



TOWN OF NAPLES. 385 

good serviceable engine, hose cart, truck, and an abundance of buckets. 
This equipment in the hands of interested residents and all working 
unitedly, has thus far proved equal to any emergency. The truck is 
in charge of" Morgan Hook and Ladder Company, No. i," an organ- 
ization which was incorporated June 22, 1885. 

The church and religious history of Naples has an interest equal to 
its civil and political records, yet may be briefly narrated. The town 
now has three and possibly four active church societies, the fourth being 
St. Januarius Roman Catholic, which had it organization soon after 
1880, but has had a resident pastor only a short time Father Ege 
is the present incumbent. The church edifice stands on Tobey street, 
in the north part of the village. The other churches referred to are 
the Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal and Baptist. 

The present Presbyterian church and society of Naples are the out- 
growth of the still older Congregational society, the latter dating its 
history back to the pioneer days of the town. That indefatigable Chris- 
tian worker and organizer, Rev. Zadoc Hunn, conducted religious serv- 
ices in this town as early as 1792, but not until 1 800 was there any 
formal organization. On February i of that year. Rev. Samuel Fuller 
completed the organization with these members : Nathan and Sarah 
Watkins, Edward and May Kibbe, Timothy Madden, Mary Clark, Mrs. 
Parrish, Samuel, Susanna, Mark and Lydia Watkins, Lemuel Barber 
and Martha Cleveland. Rev. Mr. F'ishals preached for a time. Rev. 
Solomon Allen was the first regular pastor, installed December 15, 
1803, and was followed in the same capacity by Revs. Silas Hubbard, 
Lyman Barrett, John C. "Morgan, John Burbank, Mr. White, John C. 
Morgan, Henry Morgan, Mr. Everett, G. T. Everest, Mr. Roulette, F. 
S. Gaylord, B. F. Millard, Miles B. Gilston, W. L. Austin and B. F. 
Millard, the latter being the present pastor. 

The first services were held in a log barn and afterward in the log 
school-house on the square. In 1823 the society began raising a fund 
for the erection of a church home, and in December, 1825, the edifice 
was completed and dedicated. However, during the course of its history 
this church changed its form of government and became Presbyterian. 
In 1850 a new edifice was built, but was burned in March, 1874. It 
was soon afterward replaced by the handsome structure now in use. 

49 



38G HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

This church has a membership of one hundred and fifty-one, and a Sun- 
day-school of two hundred and seventy pupils. 

Methodist Episcopal services were first held in Naples as early as 1 826, 
but not until several years later was a class formed and an organization 
effected. A church edifice was first erected for the society in 1 851, at 
the corner of Vine and Main streets. From a small beginning this society 
has grown into one of the most numerous and influential in the region. 
Rev. E. G. Piper is the present pastor. 

The Naples Baptist church was organized in 1843, Y^t as early as 
1826 preaching service of this society was held in the town. After or- 
ganization the society purchased the Congregational edifice, and being 
thus provided the Baptist society became one of the permanent institu- 
tions of the town. Elder Cole, an aged Baptist minister, had much to 
do with the early history of this society, and among others who followed 
him in pastoral work were David Olney, M. Tuttle, E. A. Hadley, H. 
Ingraham, Amos Chase, Edward Tozer, W. F. Purington, R. H. Tozer, 
S. J. Douglass and others. The present pastor is Rev. Eugene Anthony, 

The Christian church of Naples is now a thing of the past, the society 
having forfeited its property and the same reverted to the general con- 
ference. The church in Naples was organized in 1826, the first meet- 
ings antedating that event by several years. The society transferred 
to the village and reorganized in 1842, and Rev. J. J. Brown was its 
first pastor at the latter place. The church edifice was built in J845, 
and removed to its present location in 1875. 

In the same connection mention may also be made of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and societ}^ at Garlinghouse in the township, of which 
D. A. Parcells is pastor; of the F'ree Will Baptist church society, which 
is under charge of Rev. Lindsay, and of the Methodist Episcopal society 
at Hunt's Hollow, over which Rev. E. G. Piper exercises pastoral care. 

The early school records of the town of Naples are indeed meagre, 
but well grounded tradition has it thatthe education of the youth ofthe 
town was begun very soon after the first settlement. The first frame 
school-house was built on "the square" in 1797, and here Isaac Blan- 
chard and Caleb Abernathy were first teachers. As the population 
increased the town was divided Into school districts, and these have 
been changed from time to time to suit the convenience of the inhab- 



TOWN OF FARMINGTON. 387 

itants. At the present the town has sixteen districts, two of which. Nos. 
12 and i6, have no school-house. In the town is a school population 
of seven hundred and forty- eight (census of 1892), and there are em- 
ployed thirty three teachers, at an annual expense of $5,380. In 1892 
there was received from all sources school moneys to the amount of 
$7,243.46. The Union school building at Naples village is of brick, and 
all others in the town and village are of frame, and the total value of 
all school property is placed at $34,225. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF FARMINGTON. 

IN 1788, in pursuance of the authority conferred by the act creating 
Ontario county, the Court of Sessions formed the townships now 
known respectively as Farmington and Manchester into one town, and 
to the same was given the name of F'armington. Of this, however, it 
must be said there is no present positive record to prove the foregoing 
assertion, but it is nevertheless an accepted fact. Within the territory 
of the original township, were numbers eleven in the second and third 
ranges, each containing presumably thirty-six square miles of land. In 
1 82 1 number eleven in the second range was separated from the mother 
town and organized under the name of Burt, but subsequently changed 
to Manchester. 

The first township sold by the Phelps and Gorham proprietary was 
number eleven in the third range, and its purchasers were a company 
of Massachusetts citizens, then residing mainly in Berkshire county, 
who were members of the old and honored society of Friends, whose 
desire was to leave their former home and take up their abode in a then 
wild, uncultivated and almost unknown region called the Genesee 
country. The purchasers of number eleven were Nathan Comstock, 
Benjamin Russell, Abraham Lapham, Edmund Jenks, Jeremiah Brown, 
Ephraim Fish, Nathan Herendeen, Nathan Aldrich, Stephen Smith, 
Benjamin Rickerson, William Baker and Dr. Daniel Brown. 



388 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Nathan Comstock and Benjamin Russell appear to have been the 
leading spirits of this enterprise, as the conveyance of the town was 
made to them individually, and the lots were afterward chosen by draft, 
a New England custom, and agreeable to the results of the allotmejit 
the deeds were given. The purchase being completed pioneership at 
once began, the honor of being first settler falling to Nathan Comstock, 
and his sons Otis and Darius, and Robert Hathaway, all of whom, dur- 
ing the year 1789, came to the town, made a clearing and sowed a 
small field of wheat, built a cabin, and thus accomplished the first per- 
manent settlement in the town. Closely following this little party, 
however, came pioneer Nathan Aldrich, who brought seed for planting 
and sownng, but when winter approached all save Otis Comstock re- 
turned to their New England homes. 

On the 14th of February, 1790, Nathan Comstock and his large fam- 
ily, accompanied by pioneers Nathan Aldrich and Isaac Hathaway set 
out upon their journey 10 the town, and on the next day Nathan Her- 
endeen and his family, comprising his son Welcome and his sons-in-law, 
Joshua Herrington and John McCumber, with their wives and children, 
likewise set out for the new country. These pioneers were united at 
Geneva, and from thence journeyed together to Farmington, which 
name was given in allusion to the town of Farmington in Connecticut. 

Referring briefly to first events, we may note the fact that Nathan 
Comstock and his party built the first dwelling and made the first clear- 
ing of land. Nathan Aldrich is credited with building the second 
dwelling, while Nathan Herendeen followed as third in the same im- 
provement, and was first to raise a barn, this being in 1794. In 1 790 
a son was born to Joshua Herrington and wife. It was named "Wel- 
come," after its uncle, but the surname was afterward changed to Her- 
endeen. Otis Comstock and Huldah Freeman were married in 1792. 
Elijah Smith died in 1793. Jacob and Joseph Smith built the first 
grist-mill in 1793, and the first saw-mill in 1795. The first wheat was 
harvested in the town in 1790. In this connection we may state the 
claim to building the first barn by Annanias McMillan for Isaac Hath 
away in 1793. The grist-mill was built the same year by McMillan for 
the Smiths on Ganargwa Creek. The first physician was Dr. Stephen 
Aldridge. 



TOWN OF FARMINGTON. 389 

The greater part of the pioneers who are named above settled in the 
general southeast portion of the town, in what afteiward became school 
district number one. In the same locality, and sufficiently early to be 
numbered among the early settlers, there came in 1790 John Payne, 
Jonathan Reed (the pioneer blacksmith), Samuel Mason (cabinet maker), 
John Dillon, Adam Nichols and Joseph Wells. Joseph Smith and 
James Fish started an ashery in this locality in 1793, and in 1800 
Thomas Herendeen had a tannery in operation. In the region just 
west of that last mentioned Jacob Smith settled in 1791 ; Jonathan 
Smith in 1790, and at now unknown dates came Ichabod Brown, Abi- 
ather Power, George Jenks, John Young, Mr. Shotwell and Ebenezer 
Wells. In the southwest part of the town lived pioneers Isaac Hatha- 
way, from whom Hathaway's Corners took its name, Asa Wilmarth, 
who run an ashery, Levi Smith, Arthur Power, Moses Power, Robert 
Power, Eseck, Jesse and Willis Aldrich, and Samuel Cooper, were also 
early settlers in this locality. Levi Smith and William Dailey were in 
in the same neighborhood, though farther south. Still farther west 
along the town line, in 1793, Annanias McMillan built the pioneer mill 
for Jacob and Joseph Smith, and two years later a .saw-mill was built 
in the same locality. Both were operated until about 1840. The 
Smith families came to this vicinity in 1791, and other early settlers 
were Jephtha Dillingham, Richard Thomas and David Smith. 

In the west part of the town the earliest settlers were Jeremiah 
Brown, one of the original purchasers of the town tracr, and near him 
were Gideon Grinnell, Peter Smith, and others named Harris and Pratt. 
In this general neighborhood also were David Brown, Otis Comstock, 
William Smith, David Gillis, Zurial Brown, Nicholas Brown, Hezekiah 
Lippett and others now forgotten. The settlers last mentioned were 
early residents of what was known as the Brownsville district, a locality 
which at an early day was of much note as a center of trade. In this 
vicinity David and Stephen Brown had a distillery and an ashery, while 
Stephen Brown and Elias Dennis started a carding and cloth mill. 
Other early manufacturers hereabouts were James Van Vleck, and 
the Haskinses, Amos, James and John. Reuben Smith was in trade, as 
also, later on, were Paul Richardson, Abner and Stephen Brown and 
Albert Nye. Peter Cline is remembered as an old tanner, and Otis 



390 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Brown a blacksmith. Joseph Jones made hats for the early settlers. 
The pioneer of Brownsville is said to have been David Gillis. 

East of Brownsville was the pioneer abode of Dr. Stephen Aldrich, 
the first physician of the town, and in this district we may name as 
early occupants of the land Gideon Herendeen, Elisha Gardner, Turner 
Aldrich, Ebenezer Horton and others of later date. Here, too, was 
made an attempt to found a hamlet, for in the locality pioneers Talcott 
and Batty started an ashery in 1817 ; Reuben Hoyt built a tannery; 
John Sheffield kept hotel ; Augustus Bingham had a blacksmith shop, 
and other trades were also pursued in the neighborhood. In the north 
part of the town, about where the quiet little hamlet of Farmington or 
New Salem is situated, pioneer Nathan Comstock and his family made 
their first settlement. With him came his sons, Otis and Darius, also 
Robert Hathaway, and later on four other sons, Nathan, jr.. Jared, 
Joseph and John, were added to the settlement. Otis Hathaway was 
the founder of the village and its firsl: merchant. S. Pattison built the 
saw-mill on the creek. Other early settlers in this locality were Hugh 
Pound, Isaac Lapham, James Brooks and Benjamin Rickerson. 

The central and eastern portions of Farmington were not settled as 
early as many other sections, the marshy character of the land at that 
time making them not specially desirable as a place of residence. 
These localities, however, had their pioneers, and among them we may 
mention John and Elijah Pound, Stephen Ackley, James Hoag, Calvin 
Whipple, Job Howland, Major Smith, Jonathan Archer, William Dillon^ 
Pardon Arnold, George Smith and Ahez Aldrich. In the northeast 
part of the town Moses Power settled in 1798, and later on there came 
Isaac Price, Simpson and Benjamin Harvey, Peter Pratt, Lawrence Mc- 
Louth, Perez Antisdale, Samuel Rush, Benjamin Peters and others now 
forgotten. 

In this connection the statement may be made that the foregoing 
brief mention of the pioneer families is not intended to be a sketch of 
each, for such notices are reserved for another department of this work. 
However, in recording the early history of the town, at least a passing 
notice is due to the pioneers, and for more detail of early and late fam- 
ilies the attention of the reader is directed to the personal and family 
sketches. 



TOWN OF FARMINGTON. 391 

From what has been stated in this chapter it will be seen that Farm- 
ington was settled generally as early as other towns of the county, and 
was accomplished as early as elsewhere. Prior to 1821 its civil history 
was associated with Manchester, although the general characteristics of 
the inhabitants were radically different, yet all were worthy, industrious 
and self-sacrificing people. The settlement of this town was completed 
about 1820, and Manchester was set off from it in 1821. From the 
year last mentioned to the present time there has been no material vari- 
ation in population, but there appears to have been less tendency 
toward vacating the town in favor of other localities than is noticeable 
in the history of the towns of the county generally. By referring to 
the census reports of each decade we may get a fair idea of the changes 
in population since 1 830. In that year the population was 1,773 ; in 
1840 was 2,122; in 1885 was 1,876; in i860 was 1,858; in 1870 was 
1,896; in 1880 was 1,978; in 1890 was 1,703. 

As we have already stated, the original purchasers and pioneer set- 
tlers of Farmington were of the once extensive Society of Friends; ear- 
nest, honest, faithful and patient Christians and workers, whose every- 
day walk in life was in full accord and keeping wi;h their religious be- 
lief and teachings. From the time of their first settlement, beginning 
in 1790, the Friends held regular meeting services, and although wholly 
devoid of display or demonstrations of any sort, the members were none 
the less zealous or devoted. Ostentation was foreign to their character- 
istics and repugnant to their doctrines ; and it is a serious question 
whether these sturdy plodders were not the first settlers in the county 
to hold and conduct religious services, although the Friends themselves 
made no claim to this honor, as it did not become them to do so. When 
they came as pioneers to the Genesee country their action was disap- 
proved by the body of the Friends' society in the east, and being with- 
out consent and approbation, the emigrants were for a time cut off from 
the parent society ; but when, a few years later, representatives from 
the east made a visit to Ontario county and discovered the happiness 
and progress everywhere discernible in the Farmington colony, the er- 
rors and faults of the former separatists were condoned and forgiven, 
and the factions became united. Throughout several of the towns in 
this part of the State there dwelt families of the Friends, and by them 



392 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

regular meetings were held at various places. In Macecion there were 
many families of the society ; in F'armington about thirty families, and in 
Palmyra about forty- five. In 1796 the first Friends' meeting house was 
built of logs in the north part of Farmington, near the hamlet called New 
Salem. In December, 1803, the building was destroyed by fire, and in 
1804 was replaced with a larger building, of frame construction, but per- 
fectly plain in exterior and interior finish. The first speaker of the Friends 
in this town was pioneer Caleb McCumber, who died in 1850. From its 
first humble beginning the society increased in numbers, influence and 
usefulness for a period of about twenty- five years, when, in 1828, Elias 
Hicks, an able and eloquent speaker, was moved to so teach and preach 
sentiments not at all in harmony with previous usages, and the result 
was in a division in the society, a large number of the people flocking 
to the standard of tiie new doctrinal expounder, and thenceforth the se- 
ceders were called Hicksites, while those who remained faithful to their 
old allegiance at the same time became known by the name of Ortho- 
dox Friends. About the year 18 16 the society had erected a new 
meeting house of greater proportions than the older structures, the build- 
ing committee comprising Darius Comstock, S. Pattison, Ira Lapham, 
Nathan Aldrich, and W. Herendeen. The Hicks'tes took possession of 
the new building, and the Orthodox members returned to the old 
meeting-house, still standing in the same vicinity. The committee 
charged with the erection of the meeting-house of 1804 was comprised 
of pioneers Nathan Herendeen, Caleb McCumber, Stephen Aldrich, 
John Sprague. Nathaniel Walker, Nathan Comstock, Hugh and David 
Pound, Isaac Wood, H. Arnold, and Jesse Aldrich. 

In the course of time the house of meeting occupied by the Orthodox 
Friends was burned, and to replace it the members built a neat and 
commodious modern structure, the first services therein being held in 
June, 1876 In addition, it may be stated that another Friends' meet- 
ing-house was built in the southeast part of the town, between lots 
21 and 22, in which preparative meetings were for many years con- 
ducted. 

Having due regard for the educational and physical welfare of their 
children, the Friends established what has been called a Manual Labor 
School, in which the youth of the town might acquire necessary educa- 



TOWN OF FARMINGTON. 393 

tion, and pay therefor in manual labor on the lands connected with the 
institution. On March 19, 1838, Daniel Robinson, Isaac Hathaway, 
and Asa Smith conveyed lands to the extent of 12.14 acres to trustees 
Gideon Herendeen, Asa B. Smith, and John Ramsdell, in whom the 
management of the school was vested. It must be said, however, that 
notwithstanding the worthy character of the institution, it failed to pro- 
duce desired results, and therefore enjoyed not more than a brief ex- 
istence. 

As must be seen from what is stated in this chapter, the majority of 
the early settlers and nearly all the pioneers of Farmington were Friends, 
and as such, possessing distinguishing traits and characteristics, they 
made their spiritual life a part of the temporal by erecting houses for 
meetings, and giving strict attention to attendance and discipline ; and 
although a century has passed since their work in the town began, the 
present generation of inhabitants seems to possess much of the old and 
worthy spirit of their ancestors, and still remain a majority in the town. 
However, many of the later of the early settlers were not of the Friends' 
religious convictions, and when their numbers became strong enough 
they established churches of their own denominations. As early as 
1817 a Presbyterian society was organized in Farmington, under the 
fostering care of the Geneva Presbyter}-, but its members were few 
and it passed out of existence after about fifteen years of vicissitudes. 

The Farmington Wesleyan Methodist Church and society was organ- 
ized January 12, 1846, and enjoyed a prosperous lite of about forty 
years. The first trustees were Lewis Lumbard, Wm. Pound, Benjamin 
Haight, Wm. Plum, and Rufus Holbrook, and the first pastor was 
Thomas Burrows. The church edifice was built at New Salem, on prop- 
erty originally deeded to the trustees by Joseph C. Hathaway. The 
parsonage property was the gift of Miss Fanny Robson, and the ceme- 
tery lot was deeded to the society by Benjamin Soule and wife. Not- 
withstanding these and other benefactions, the society was destined to 
dissolution, but not until within the last three years did it finally cease 
to exist. The church edifice was sold to the trustees representing Farm- 
ington Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, who took possession of the prop- 
erty in 1892. 

50 



394 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Neiv Salem is the name of a small hamlet situated in the extreme 
north part of the town, in the locality where pioneer Nathan Comstock 
made the first improvement. The early settlers of this place and the 
various business enterprises established by them are sufficiently stated 
in a preceding paragraph, hence need no repetition here. The hamlet 
hardly retains its old importance, but the name " Pumpkin Hook," ap- 
plied in derision, still clings to it. The post-office name of the place is 
Farmington. Its present business interests comprise the stores of Mrs. 
A. E. Nichols and C. H. Betz, the latter being also postmaster. About 
half a mile west of the " Hook" is the grist mill of Warren Young The 
Hicksite and Orthodox Friends' meeting-houses are about half a mile 
east of the hamlet. 

The hamlet of West Farmington, as originally called, but Mertensia, 
as more recently known, is situated in the southwest part of the town, 
in school district No. 6, and has little importance, except as a station 
on the Central road, and the possession of one or two small stores. 

Farmton is the name of a station on the Lehigh Valley road, and 
was established in 1892, on the completion of the road. Industries and 
interests it has not, and the possibilities of the future are not proper sub- 
jects for discussion here. 

Although the old school established by the Friends failed to secure 
the success hoped for by its promoters, the educational system of the 
town has kept even step with that of other towns of the county. Ex- 
tracting briefly from the commissioner's report for 1892, it is learned 
that in Farmington there are thirteen school districts, only one of which 
has no school-kouse, and the twelve are frame buildings, having a total 
value of $8,160. Tlie school population of the town is 488 children, 
for whose instruction thirteen teachers are employed at an annual ex- 
pense of $3,079 20. The town received moneys for school purposes in 
1892 to the amount of $4,131.62. 

Present Tozvji Officers — C. H, Herendeen, supervisor; A H.Steven- 
son, town clerk ; Edwin J. Gardner, Charles G. McLouth, John F. Sad- 
ler, justices of the peace; Edwin A. Adams, Henry C. Osborn, Wm. 
H. Edmonston, assessors ; Julius Aldrich, commissioner of highways; 
Hinckley Fay, overseer of the poor ; Edward H. Randall, coUector. 



TOWN OF GORHAM 395 



CHAPTER XXIT. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF GORHAM. 

ON January 27, 1789, in pursuance ot the act creating the county 
and dividing its territory, a town called " Easton " was formed, and 
included all of townships 9 and lO, second range, Phelps and Gorham pur- 
chase. On April 17, 1806, the name of this town was changed to " Lin- 
coln, "and one year later, April 6, 1807, was again changed to Gorham, 
and so called in honor of Nathaniel Gorham, one of the proprietors. In 
1822, township 10 was taken from Gorham and given a separate organ- 
ization under the name of Hopewell ; and in 1824 all that part of town- 
ship 9 in the third range which lay east of Canandaigua Lake, was an- 
nexed to Gorham, the convenience of the inhabitants east of the lake 
demanding that such annexation be made. 

The first settlement in this town was made in the year 1789, in the 
locality known as Reed's Corners, by James Wood, whose particular 
location was on lot fifty- four. The other pioneers and early settlers in 
this part of Gorham were Silas Reed, John McPherson, Jeremiah Swart, 
and one Gurnsey, nearly all of whom left children, the descendants of 
some of them being still residents of the town. In this part of the town 
is the little village of Reed's Corners, named in honor of the pioneer 
family, of which village a more detailed narrative will be found on a 
subsequent page. 

In the extreme northwest part of the town, including the part set off 
to Gorham from Canandaigua, there dwelt at an early day James Wood, 
son of the pioneer, Alexander Sampson, Jonathan Stearns, and other fam- 
ilies whose surnames were Koomer, Sackett, Wilson, Mead, Davis, Fisher, 
Carson, Gulick, with others whose names are not now recalled. South 
of the Reed's Corners vicinity the pioneers were Silas Reed, Harvey 
Stone, Jacob Young, Mr. Wilson, Royal Stearns, Thomas Tuffs, John 
Tuffs and others ; while still further south dwelt pioneers Nathan Pratt, 
Elisha Pratt, Charles Russells, Benjamin Washburn, Daniel Treat, Eben 
Harwood, Archibald Armstrong, G. Merrell, Charles Headgar, 



396 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

East of the Reed's Corners neighborhood there settled at an early 
day a colony of pioneers, among whom were a number of Dutch 
families from the Hudson River Valley, but unfortunately many of the 
surnames have been lost. So far as can be now learned the early set- 
tlers in the northeast part of No. 9 were Darius Miner (18 12), Ebenezer 
Lewis, 1798 ; Levi Sortell, 18 10; William Howe and Frederick Spauld- 
ing, 181 1. 

In the eastern part of the town is located the pleasant post village of 
Gorham, named from the town, and about which is a fertile agricultural 
district. This is an important locality, for here Flint Creek has its 
course, and various mill enterprises have added to the resources of the 
vicinity. In this connection the name of Levi Benton became con- 
spicuous at an early day, he having built the first grist mill in the town, 
on Flint Creek. The first lumber-mill on the creek was built in 1808 
by one Craft. The surnames of Petit, Phillips, Perkins, Pickett, Harris, 
Sherman, Arnold and Hogeboom are named as heads of families who 
settled in this part of the township at an early day, the domain of their 
settlement extending west to the center of the town. 

The incorporated village of Rushville is situated in the south part of 
Gorham, and includes within its corporate limits parts of three towns — 
Gorham, Potter and Middlesex. Nothing of more than ordinary im- 
portance contributed to the early settlement of this loeality, and it was 
not until a comparatively recent date that railroad communication be- 
tween this place and the county seat was opened. Ludin Blodget was 
one of the pioneers of this locality, as also in the same connection may 
be mentioned the names of Daniel Gates (proprietor of the once famous 
Gates' Tavern), Henry Green, Chester Loomis, Samuel Torrey. Timothy 
Moore, Captain Harwood, Zebediah Morse, Daniel White, John Catlin, 
Curtis Chatfield and Oliver Chatfield. A little farther east some of the 
pioneers were Richard Westbrook, William Bassett, James Lewis, Lem- 
uel Moore, Solomon Blodget, William Blodget, Samuel Reed, Horatio 
Gates, Lewis George. West of the Rushville neighborhood the earliest 
settlers were Christian Fisher, Abraham Garrison, John Ferguson, the 
Franciscos, Briggs, Van Brankens, Martins, Sheep, Bascoms, Abner Du 
Valle Northward from this locality and along the lake shore, the early 
settlers were Otis Lincoln, Southwick Cole, Amasa, Gage (head of the 



TOWN OF GORHAM. 397 

numerous and thrifty Gage family of Gorham), Henry Elliott (built a 
grist-mill in 1815). Still farther north pioneer James Wood made his 
first beginning, which has been referred to in this chapter. However, 
without here making more detailed statements concerning the pioneer 
families of Gorham, the attention of the reader is directed to another 
department of this volume, wherein will be found further allusion to the 
early settlers of Gorham, and as well to their descendants and some of 
the later generations of inhabitants of the town. 

From the large number of names of heads of families above mentioned 
it will be seen that the early settlement of Gorham was made as rapidly 
as that of any part of the county of similar situation. In 1824 the 
town was enlarged by the acquisition of territory from Canandaigua, 
and constituted according to its present boundaries. In 1830 the cen- 
sus enumeration showed Gorham to contain two thousand nine hundred 
and seventy-seven inhabitants, and since that time there has been a 
gradual and constant reduction in number, as will be seen from the 
statement taken from the census reports. The population in 1840 was 
2,789; in 1850 was 2,645 : i" i860 was 2,537 ; i" 1870 was 2,389 ; in 
1880 was 2,521, and in 1890 was 2,203 It will be seen from this that 
the present population of this town is about eight hundred less than that 
of sixty years ago. 

The civil, social, political and military history of Gorham is equally 
interesting with that of any other interior town in the county. Its 
pioneer settlement began at about the same time as elsewhere, but when 
it actually ceased to be of that distinguishing character is quite difficult 
to determine. However, while it was still in operation the people of the 
town were disturbed by the events of the War of 18 12, and that con- 
flict called the young men of the enrolled militia into service on the 
western frontier, while others were in the regular continental army; 
but, unfortunately, no records have been preserved, and is therefore im- 
possible to name the volunteers in the militia service during the war. 

In the war of 1861-65, commonly known as the Rebellion, the town 
gained an enviable reputation. At that time its population was about 
2,500, and the records show that more than two hundred and twenty-five 
men entered the service, while the fact exists that at least twenty- five or 
thirty others were in commands not credited to the town, making a 



398 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

total of more than two hundred and fifty men to the town's actual cred- 
it. Recent publications have been made which show the services of the 
several commands in the field in which were Gorham volunteers, and 
almost every comrade has not only the record but also the roster of his 
regiment and company, wherefore in this chapter it is not necessary to 
more than refer to the period of the war. In an earlier chapter of this 
work will be found a record showing the composition of the Ontario 
county regiments, with some pertinent allusion to their services in the 
field, and to the military chapter, therefore, the attention of the reader 
is directed for further information regarding the record of Gorham's 
soldiery. 

The Village of Riishville. — In point of importance, population and 
business interests, Rushville stands at the head among the villages of 
Gorham, and in fact is the only one of those in the town that has ac- 
quired a corporate character. Unfortunately, however, for the general 
good of Ontario county, and particularly the town of Gorham, compar- 
atively little of the corporate territory of Rushville is within this county, 
the same lying chiefly in Yates county, and taken from the towns of 
Potter and Middlesex. The Union School district of Rushville never- 
theless extends beyond the village limits on the Ontario county side. 
The village is distant from the county seat, by wagon road, about ten 
miles, but the most convenient route of travel between these points is 
the Middlesex Valley and Northern Central railroads. 

In addition to its general business and manufacturing interests, the 
village possesses several large and useful public buildings, and as well a 
number of societies and enterprises of fraternal character. On the Gor- 
ham side of the village the generally called public institutions are the 
cemetery and the M. E. Church property, while the Congregational 
church is south of but very close to the line. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized about the year 1821, 
the original members being from Gorham, Potter and Middlesex. The 
first church edifice was begun in 1830, and finished and dedicated in 
June, 1832. The society has a large membership, numbering about 
200 persons, and is at present under the pastoral care of Rev M J. 
Wells, who also supplies the pulpit of the M. E. Church at Vine 
Valley. 



TOWN OF GORHAM. 399 

The Congregational Church at Rushville has among its members a 
number of residents of Gorham, who are prompted by convenience in 
their attendance there rather than at the church of the same society at 
Reed's Corners. The present pastor of this church and society is Rev. 
Hover, who officiates in the same capacity at Reed's Corners 

The Roman Catholic Church at Rushville extends its paris-h into this 
town. Its present pastor is Rev. Father Dougherty. 

Gorham Village. — This pretty little hamlet may be said to be the 
most important trading center in the town. Settlement in its imme- 
diate locality began with the present century, the pioneer being Thomas 
Halstead, who laid the foundation for a village by erecting a public 
house. Soon afterward Levi Benton built a grist-mill, utilizing the 
waters of Flint Creek for purposes of power. Craft's saw- mill was 
erected in 1808, and in the same year Joseph Palmer opened a store 
and began trade. Thus was the village founded. Its original name 
was Bethel, and was thus maintained until about 1856 when it was 
changed to Gorham, In the village a frame school-house was built in 
1815, and also in that year the cemetery was laid out. 

As Gorham village has its location on Flint Creek the locality very 
early acquired some prominence as a manufacturing and milling center. 
This reputation has ever since been maintained, though the last score 
of years have witnessed a general diminution rather than an increase in 
industry. However, the recent completion of the Middlesex Valley 
railroad has had the effect of stimulating a renewed effort in the direc- 
tion of manufacturing, hence the outlook for future prosperity becomes 
brighter. 

In 1868 a disastrous fire destroyed many of the business buildings of 
the village, but these were afterward replaced with more substantial 
structures. We have mentioned some of the early interests of the vil- 
lage and may also add the names of the first physicians, Doctors Coffin 
and Dean ; and the churches, the Methodist, built in 1828; and the 
Presbyterian and Baptist, both built in 1842-43. The large and sub- 
stantial school-house was built in 1874. The principal business enter- 
prises of Gorham at the present time are the general stores of William 
Pulver and and A. M. Phillips ; the drug store of Bowen Cook; Cro- 
zier's hardware store; Charles Johnson's store (he being also postmas- 



400 HISTORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ter) ; the hotel of Mark Bane, together with the shops and light indus- 
tries of a well-regulated village. In the immediate vicinity are the saw- 
mill, commonly called the " Stockoe mill;" the grist mill of the Gorham 
Mill Company (Joseph Hershey, owner) ; the planing mill and the bar- 
rel and stave factory. 

Reed's Corners is the name of a very small settlement in the northeast 
part of the town ; and although the smallest of the hamlets, or villages, 
in Gorham, it has a historic importance in many respects superior to the 
other trading centers which have greater population. It is a fact, also, 
that many of the institutions which have developed and grown in other 
localities had their beginning at or near the Corners. The business in- 
terests at Reed's Corners comprise the general store of A. S. Winne, 
the wagon shop of George W. Tozer, and the hotel of Mrs. George Par- 
tise. The Reed's Corner Recreative Association have a hall for enter- 
tainments, and near the cross-roads is situated the grounds of the Gor- 
ham Agricultural Association. The last mentioned is one of the old 
institutions of the town, having been formed in 1852 and maintained 
without interruption ever since. The track is one- third of a mile in 
length, the grounds on the Mason H. Reed farm are ample, and the 
annual meeting of the association is an event of importance in local an- 
nals. The president is S. B. Douglas ; secretaries, Frank G. Gage and 
John Turner ; treasurer Virgil Smith. Among the directors are G. W. 
Tozer, A. J. Anderson, William Macgaffe, John H. Miller and Charles 
Washburn. 

In the vicinity of Reed's Corner are the Congregational and Baptist 
Churches, both of which are offshoots from older societies in the town. 
Neither has a resident pastor, the supply of the former being Rev. Hover 
of Rushville, and of the latter Rev. Rose of Gorham village. 

Referring briefly to the churches of the town, it may be noted that 
as early as 1796 religious teaching and preaching was conducted in 
Gorham. Revs. Owen and Hamilton of the M E. Church were mis- 
sionary workers in the region at that early day, and the result was the 
organization of " The first M. E. Society of the Town of Gorham," 
which was the parent of Methodism in the town. In 1842 the society 
made a permanent lodgment at Bethel (Gorham) where the church has 
ever since been maintained. It is a joint station with Stanley and is now 



TOWN OF GORHAM. 401 

under the pastoral care of Rev. O. D. Davis. In this connection also 
we may mention the organization of the M. E. Society at Reed's Cor- 
ners, which was incorporated in 1856 by John Turner, Jacob W. Lamb, 
Abram Arnold, Moody VVyman and Hiram F. Wilbur, trustees. 

The Presbyterian Church of Gorham was organized February 26, 
1828, with twenty four members. The first meeting-house was erected 
near Reed's Corner, but in 1843 the society was divided and the Gor- 
ham village church formed. Thereafter the Congregational Church at 
the Corners was organized and the edifice built by former members of 
the mother society. 

Schools. — The educational welfare of Gorham has neverbeen neglected 
and an examination of the facts will show that this interest has been 
carefully regarded. As early as 181 3 the town, which then comprised 
Gorham and Hopewell, was divided into school districts and moneys 
appropriated for the maintenance of schools therein. However, on the 
separation of Hopewell from the mother town, and the annexation of a 
large territory from Canandaigua, the Gorham thus constituted was re- 
districted according to the convenience of the inhabitants. 

It would indeed be difficult to trace the history of the schools in every 
district in Gorham from its earliest infancy to the present time, and such 
a recital would even then have a doubtful interest, but we may broadly 
state that school teaching began in this town as early as 1798 and has 
continued uninterruptedly to this time. According to the present dis- 
position of educational interests in the town, there are sixteen school 
districts, fourteen of which have good school-houses, there being eleven 
of frame and three of brick material, and of a total value, exclusive of 
the large Union school at Rushville. of $6,820. In 1892 the town re- 
ceived for school purposes $4,428.21, of which amount the sum of 
$3,616. 10 was paid to the fi:fteen teachers employed. The school popu 
lation of the town is 577. 

Orgajiization. — Gorham was formed as Easton January 27, 1789, but 
as to the date of organization there appears some uncertainty, the rec- 
ords giving no account of town meetings previous to April 4, 1797, and 
from the general character of the minute book it is doubtless a fact that 
the town organization was not perfected before that time. The town 
meeting was then held at the dwelling house of pioneer Frederick Fol- 

51 



402 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

lett, and officers were elected as follows : Supervisor, Samuel Day ; town 
clerk, James Austin ; assessors, Samuel Day, Frederick Follett, Silas 
Reed and George Brandage ; collector, John Warren ; overseers of poor, 
Wm. Engle and Joseph Brundage : commissioners of highways, Elijah 
Hurd, Robert Whittery, Wm. Hicks; constable, John Warren. 

Succession of Supervisors. — Samuel Day, 1797: James Austin, 1798 ; 
Daniel Gates, 1 799-1 802 ; Samuel Reed, 1 803-8 ; John Price, 1809-18- 
Lemuel Morse, 18 19; Stephen Bates, 1820; John Price, 1821 ; Aaron 
Younglove, 1822; Lemuel Morse, 1823; Chester Loomis, 1824-25; 
Lemuel Morse, 1826 ; Timothy Mower, 1827-32 ; Joseph Blodget, 1833- 
34; Adam Fake, 1835; Joseph Blodget, 1836; Isaac Phillips, 1837; 
Joseph Blodget, 1838 ; Staats Green, 1839-44 ; Wm. H. Lamport, 1845- 
46; Hiram Harkness, 1847; Staat.? Green, 1848; Wm. R. Pettit, 1849- 
50; David H. Runyan, 1851; James M Pulver, 1852-53; Marvin 
Gage, 1854; David Pickett, 1855-56 ; Harvey Stone, 1857-59; James 
M. Pulver, i860 ; Hiram Harkness, 1861-65, 1867; Henry Metcalf, 
1866; John Robson 1868-72; Erastus Green, 1873; James Robson, 
1874, 1876-78, 1883; Lebbeus Phillips, 1875; Adnah J. Phillips, 
1879-80; Lorenzo D. Gage, 1881-82; De Roy J. Harkness, 1884-86; 
Wm. O. Valentine, 1887 ; Alex. D. Allen, 1888-92; Marvin Gage, 1893. 

Present Toiun Officers. — Marvin Gage supervisor ; H. Clark Wood, 
town clerk ; Gilbert W. Elwell, Lewis C. Lincoln, Wm. Pulver, Richard 
Ringer, justices of the peace : J. Andrew Henry, D. A. Goodrick, John 
W. Wasiiburn, assessors; John Dear, collector; John W. Turner, com- 
missioner of highways; Charles Babbitt, overseer of poor ; Charles 
Stark and Thomas Dawson, constables. 



CHAPTER XXni. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF EAST BLOOMFIELD. 

ON January 27, 1789, Ontario county was created and its inhab- 
ited portion organized into provisional districts, or towns with 
an incompleted civil jurisdiction. One of these was called Bloomfield, 
and included within its boundaries all that is now Mendon, Victor and 



TOWN OF EAST BLOOMFIELD. 403 

East and West Bloomfield. The two towns first mentioned were 
taken off in i8i2, and West Bloomfield in 1833. The latter creation 
necessitated a change in the name of the mother town, hence it was 
called East Bloomfield. 

The original occupants of this town, so far at least as we have any 
definite knowledge, were the Seneca Indians, and within what is now 
East Bloomfield, on the east side of Mud Creek, (known to the savages 
as Gan-ar-gwa), and on lot 13, was at one time the Seneca village 
of " Gan dou-gar-ae," the St. Michael of the Jesuit fathers, and a 
place of some note in aboriginal history. This village was destroyed 
by Denonville in 1687, and though the inhabitants fled the invaders 
also destroyed growing crops in the vicinity, which were said to have 
been cultivated to a great extent. This subject, however, is so fully 
discussed in an earlier chapter that no more than a passing reference to 
it is necessary in this place. 

In 1789 the Phelps and Gorham proprietary sold township 10, range 
4 (now known as East Bloomfield), also townships 12, range i (now 
Arcadia, Wayne county), to a party of Massachusetts purchasers, com- 
prising Capt. William Bacon, Gen. John Fellows, Gen. John Ashley, 
and Elisha Lee, of Sheffield ; Deacon John Adams, of Alford ; and Dr. 
Joshua Porter, father of Judge Augustus Porter. According to the 
reminiscences of Judge Porter, he made an arrangement with the pur- 
chasers to survey the tracts of the township, and in May, 1789, met 
Captain Bacon at Schenectady, where also was Deacon Adams and his 
family These pioneers had a number of cattle and such utensils, pro- 
visions and implements as were needful in making a beginning in a new 
region. The goods were carried as far as possible by boats, while 
Deacon Adams had charge of the cattle. The journey was at length 
accomplished, though after much labor and hardship, and in the same 
year, 1789, the pioneer settlement of East Bloomfield was begun. 

The honor of pioneership in the town is accorded Deacon John 
Adams, whose party comprised himself and his sons John, William, 
Abner, Jonathan and Joseph, his sons-in-law Ephraim Rew and Loren 
Hull, and also Elijah Rose, Moses Gunn, Lot Rew, John Barnes, Roger 
Sprague and Asa Hickox, and the families of such of them as were 
married. Truly, it may be said that this was a formidable party of 



404 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

determined Yankee pioneers, and that many of the hardships which 
usually attend early settlement were set at naught by the numbers and 
courage of the first settlers of the old township No. lo. Pioneer Lot 
Rew died in 1793; Laura Adams opened a school in 1792; General 
Fellows and Judge Porter built a saw-mill on Mud Creek in 1790; Benja- 
min Goss married the daughter of George Codding about the same 
time, which event is said to have been the first of its kind on the Phelps 
and Gorham purchase. Other first events may be recorded by mention 
of the distillery of Nathaniel Norton, and the tannery of Anson Munson, 
each prior to 1800. These pioneers of the town settled mainly in the 
Mud Creek neighborhood, though a few of them made their first im- 
provements in the eastern part of the town generally, and almost wholly 
in what afterward became districts four and ten. In the same vicinity 
also there settled at a very early day Nathaniel and Ezra Norton, 
Benjamin Goss, John Keyes, Joel Steele and Thaddeus Keyes. 

Having referred to the original settlers of East Bloomfield, we may 
also recall the names of other early residents of the town, briefly 
mentioning them and directing the reader's attention to the latter part 
of this work where will be found biographical sketches of pioneers, 
early settlers and others In the east part of the town in the vicinity 
of the pioneer settlement there dwelt Oliver Chapin, who built a grist- 
mill on Fish Creek, and who was one of the settlers of 1789. Dr. 
Daniel Chapin and Aaron Taylor came in 1790, while others followed 
at later periods, among them Heman Chapin and Roswell Humphrey, 
1795 ; Cyprian and Tyrannus Collins, 1800; and at dates now unknown 
came settlers Nathaniel Baldwin, Philo Norton (son of pioneer Aaron 
Norton), Zebediah Fox, Chauncty Beach, John Doud, Jonathan Hum- 
phrey, Asa Johnson and others whose names cannot now be recalled. 
Joel Steele and Capt. Nathan Waldron were also in the east part of 
the town, as also were Timothy Buell, Joab Loomis, Benjamin Wheeler, 
Joel Parks, Benjamin Chapman, Ashbel Beach, Israel Beach, George 
Lee, while westward of these there settled the pioneer Goss, or Gauss, 
family in 1789; Aaron Collins, a minister, in 1795 ; Amos Bronson in 
1794; and Moses Gunn, Gideon King, Daniel Bronson, Joel Kellogg, 
Joseph Parker, and other families whose names were Lamberton, 
Winslow and Tainter. Moses Sperry was in the south part of the town, 



TOWN OF EAST BLOOMFIELD. 405 

as also were Pitts Hopkins and Erastus Rowe. Ebenezer Spring may 
also be named among the pioneers. 

The west and southwest portions of this town were settled early. 
Pioneer Silas Sprague and his sons Silas, Roger, Asahel and Thomas 
made the first improvements here, and at or about the same time came 
Lot Rew. In this region the first settlers generally were those named 
and also Elijah Hamlin, William and John Adams, Jonathan Adams, 
Nathan Wilcox, Christopher Parks, Henry Lake, Asa Doolitlle, Asher 
Saxton, Enoch Wilcox, Ransom Spurr, James McMann and Israel 
Reed. In the northwest part of the town the early settlers were Moses 
and Flavel Gaylord, Silas Harris, Ebenezer French, Joseph Dibble, 
Alexander Emmons, Ransom Sage, John Benjamin, Archibald Rans- 
ford, Luther Millard and Silas Eggleston 

In the central portion of the township is the pretty little village of 
East Bloomfield, situated entirely within the boundaries of old school 
district No. 8. The pioneer and early history of this locality naturally 
belongs to the village narrative, yet we may properly mention in a 
general way the names of some of the early dwellers of the vicinity. 
Dr. Daniel Chapin made a pioneer settlement here, and the subsequent 
growth must have been quite rapid, for upon his removal, Dr. Ralph 
Wilcox succeeded to local practice and was soon afterward followed by 
Dr. Henry Hickox. John Fairchilds, Silas E^leston, Abraham Dud- 
ley, John Keyes, Benjamin Keyes, Deacon Hopkins, Elisha Hopkins, 
Abner and Gains Adams, Asa Hayward, Elijah Rose, Isaac Stone and 
Ephraim Turner are also to be named among the early settlers of this 
central district. The pioneer of the village site was Benjamin Keyes, 
whose generous donation of land for the park has ever caused his name 
to be held in kind remembrance by the villagers. These first settlers 
were mainly native New Englanders — Yankees — and imbued with 
truly patriotic and generous sentiments, and to them, or any of them, 
the giving of land for park purposes was a custom of long standing, and 
such an action was never animated by selfish motives. 

The pioneers of East Bloomfield were a hardy, industrious and pro- 
gressive body of Yankees, and their coming to the region had the effect 
of inducing settlement in the town and vicinity by other New England- 
ers, and at a comparatively early day we find the whole territory occu- 



406 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

pied and as densely populated as any other part of the Genesee 
country. The originally formed town of Bloomfield was a large terri- 
tory, from which four distinct townships were created, and these divis- 
ions make it impossible to state the population of the mother town in 
such manner as to throw any light on the number of inhabitants of 
East Bloomfield previous to its separate erection. However, we may 
state that the population of Bloomfield, as existing in 1830, was 3,861, 
there then being only three large towns in the county. In this con- 
nection also we may state the population of the town at various periods, 
showing the fluctuations in number of inhabitants at the beginning of 
each decade. In 1833 Bloomfield was divided and West Bloomfield 
set off, hence the number of people was reduced, there being in East 
Bloomfield in 1840 only 1,986 inhabitants; in 1850 the number was 2,- 
262; in 1860,2,163; in 1870,2,250; in 1880,2,527; and in 1890, 
2,039. 

The early settlers of this town were not only thrifty but were patri- 
otic, and even during the doubtful period of the war of 1812 emigration 
from the east to the town was constantly going forward, while during 
that period within the town there were the organized militiamen, many 
of whom went into the service on the frontier, and from there a few of 
them never returned. But it was during the war of 1861-65 that the 
town made its best military record and showed the characteristic New 
England martial spirit, for in that period the records show that more 
than one hundred volunteers are credited to the town, and were scattered 
throughout the regiments of New York, which were specially noted for 
their fighting qualities. However, it does not become important in this 
chapter to review at much length the military history of East Bloom- 
field, as in one of the general chapters of this work a more extended 
account of military experience during the war referred to is given, but 
we may here state in a general way that the volunteers of East Bloom- 
field were mainly in these regiments: The Twenty-seventh, the Eighty- 
fifth, the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth, the One Hundred and 
Forty- eighth, while many others were scattered through various other 
commands of State troops 

The town of East Bloomfield has very appropriately and munificently 
remembered her honored soldier dead by the erection of a handsome 



TOWN OF EAST BLOOMFIELD. 407 

brown granite monument in the park in the village of East Bloomfield. 
This was done by the people in the year 1868, and the expense of the 
work was about $6,000. On the base of the monument is this inscrip- 
tion : " East Bloomfield. To the memory of her sons who died in 
defence of the Union, 1861-65." 

T/ie Village of East Bloomfield. — In the central part of School Dis- 
trict No. 8 is the pretty little village of East Bloomfield. This locality 
was one of the first settled in the town, and its pioneer, Benjamin 
Keyes, apparently anticipated a future village in this immediate locality, 
for, in accordance with New England custom, he set apart a desirable 
tract of land for a public park, about which the village should be built 
up. One of the earliest evidences of a village here was the tavern 
established by Ephraim Turner, who was succeeded by one King. Mr. 
Turner was also a tanner in the neighborhood and had much to do with 
the early history of the place. The first dealers in merchandise in the 
village were Norton & Beach, the latter of whom (Eli^ha Beach) was 
the first postmaster of the town. The firm of Childs & Gardner began 
merchandising about 1812, while later proprietors in tl e same line were 
Roger Sprague, Daniel Bronson and others. Peter Holloway was the 
village blacksmith as early as 1804, but being ambitious, turned land- 
lord and built a hotel. Jared Boughton, of Victor, also built a hotel of 
brick in 18 1 2, which was run by his son Frederick. Besides Ephraim 
Turner, before mentioned, Anson Munson also engaged in tanning as 
early, it is said, as 1804, and some of his leather was used by shoe- 
maker Zadock Bailey, a settler in 1798. 

The village of East Bloomfield stretches away a mile in length, 
reaching from the now called old village limits to a point somewhat 
beyond the railroad station. In fact, where was once but one village 
there are now two, fliough where the one stops and the other begins 
would be difficult to determine. There are two post offices, one at the 
depot, called East Bloomfield Station, and the other at the old village 
and ever known as East Bloomfied. Each village has its special indus- 
tries and institutions, but no unfriendly rivalry is known among the 
people. 

At an early day the village attracted some attention as a manufac- 
turing center, and a special industry was wagon and carriage making, 



408 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

but in common with the great majority of villages similarly situated the 
importance and value of these industries seems to have declined with 
passing years, and now the local manufacturers do not aim to supply 
much more than domestic trade. 

The banking firm of Hamlin & Steele was formed in 1883, and con- 
tinued to 1885, then chauL^ed to Hamlin & Company. Under this style 
the present partners. John S. Hamlin and Henry M. Parmele, conduct 
a general banking business. The other business men and merchants in 
East Bloomfield are F. Munson & Company, general dealers ; O. E. 
Thorpe, drugs and groceries : E. H. Ashley & Son, hardware ; Barton 
Douglass, flour and feed ; Childs & Wilson, meat market ; Michael 
Monaghan and Thomas Cummings, blacksmiths; Neenan Brothers, 
wagon makers and blacksmiths; T. A. Spitz, carriage painter; S. 
Mayo, carriage maker and dealer, established 1846; A. E. Spitz, horse 
goods and harness maker ; P. McGreevey, shoe dealer ; Edward S. 
Mason, barber and town clerk; William Brldgland, tailor; C. W. 
Bradley, agricultural implement dealer; F. K. McMann, jeweler and 
photographer. We may also mention the grist and flour mill of C. M. 
Bayless on the old mill site, which has been in use for some kind of 
manufacture for at least three quarters of a century. The physicians 
are S. R. Wheeler, P. S. Patridge and D. O. Williams. The local 
dentist is Charles Sweeney. Postmaster, Thomas W. Peeling 

The busy little hamlet which has been built up at the station owes 
its prosperity, if not its very existence, to the construction of the rail- 
road and the establishment of a depot at this point. The business in- 
terests here are fairly equal to those at the old village, and may be 
summarized as follows : C. H. Mason & Company, general merchants ; 
R. W. Appleton, groceries and boots and shoes ; E. Wheeler, agricul- 
tural implement and coal dealer; M. B. Eaton and William A. Frear, 
blacksmiths; John S. Hamlin, coal and lumber; C. H. Mason, grain 
and produce ; Daniel McWilliams, general hardware ; C. F. Zimmer- 
man and Leonard Jones, evaporators ; William Van Aken, undertaker; 
Hugh Flanigan, cooper ; Thomas Welch, proprietor Rowley House ; 
Mark Reubenstein, clothing and jewelry ; C. H. Mason, postmaster. 
On the site of the old " Shepard mill " the firm of Burrell Brothers 
have a good water-power flour and feed-mill. 



TOWN OF EAST BLOOMFIELD. 409 

The East Bloomfield Academy is one of the important and enduring 
institutions of the locality, and although in late years its corporate 
character has been lost and it is now a Union school, it has not lost in 
value or worth by the modification. In April 9, 1838, the academy 
was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, the following persons 
being named as its trustees : Robert Hill, Moses Fairchild, Josiah 
Porter, Bani Bradley, Harlow Munson, Silas Eggleston, Calvin Pom- 
eroy, Timothy Buell, jr., Henry Prindle, George Rice, Thayer Gauss, 
F. J. Brunson, Myron Adams, Frederick N. Tobey, Frederick Mun- 
son. In 1840 the institution passed under control of the State Regents. 
Its first principal was Aaron Garrison. 

The academy building, a large three storied brick structure, occupies 
a commanding site in the center of the village, having a front on the 
public park. After a period of about forty years the institution passed 
from its originally intended character and became the property of the 
Union Free School District in which the village is situate, and the high 
standing and character of the school which was firmly established more 
than half a century ago has ever since been maintained. The Board 
of Education comprises these members ; T. W. Peeling, Dennis 
Neenan, B. S. Partridge, J. S. Hamlin, E. W. Page, John Mason, R. 
W. Appleton, S. R. Wheeler. Officers of the Board : J. S. Hamlin, 
president; P. A. Spitz, secretary; F. R. Munson, treasurer; princi 
pal of the school, Arthur E. Neeley. 

In this connection we may also properly mention the schools of the 
town generally, for it is a well known fact that in East Bloomfield the 
educational interests have been guarded with commendable zeal, but to 
trace the history of each school in each district would be an impossible 
task. However, enough is known to authorize the statement that the 
first school in the town was built and opened on Mud Creek as early as 
1792 ; the second in 1795 in what became district No. 7; the third in 
No. 6 in 1797, and others throughout the town as rapidly as settlement 
permitted. Later on the territory of the town was arranged in districts, 
and these have at various times been altered to suit the public conven- 
ience. According to the present arrangement of its territory. East 
Bloomfield has eleven school districts, each of which has a school build- 
ing. The total amount received for school purposes for the last current 

52 



410 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

year was $5,833.39, of which $4,589 was paid to the fifteen teachers 
employed. The value of school property in the town is $1 1,750. The 
school population in 1892 was 552. Of the buildings nine are frame, 
one of brick, and one of stone. 

It so happens that the churches of the several societies having an or- 
ganization in this town are located in East Bloomfield village, and on 
the road leading thence to the depot; and although they may be 
treated as institutions of the village, their attendance is drawn from the 
town at large. A brief narrative of the history of each of these will 
prove interesting. 

The Presbyterian church of Bloomfield dates its special organization 
only from 1873, although it is properly and directly the outgrowth of 
the " Independent Congregational Society," which dates its history 
almost to the first settlement of the town itself. The society just men- 
tioned was formed September 8, 1795, and pioneers Nathaniel Norton, 
Ehud Hopkins and Asher Saxton were chosen its first trustees. The 
regular church organization under the name of the Congregational 
Church, was effected in November, 1796, through the efforts of that 
zealous laborer. Rev. Zadoc Hunn, and the original members were sev- 
enteen in number. The first church home of the society was built in 
1 80 1, and was without doubt the first church edifice in all Western 
New York. On the 19th of June, 1822, the church adopted the Pres- 
byterian form of government, but in 1825 returned to Congregational- 
ism, and so continued until September 2, 1873, when the Presbyterian 
form was formally and permanently adopted. As has been stated the 
old pioneer meeting-house was built in 1801, although not full)/ com- 
pleted until several years later. In 1836 a new edifice was begun, and 
finished and dedicated September 28, 1837. Twelve years later the 
building was materially repaired and enlarged. The present church 
property consists of a large and well arranged house of worship, and 
also a commodious chapel and lecture-room adjoining the church. 

The missionaries and pastors, in succession, of this church, through- 
out its life and vicissitudes have been as follows : Zadoc Hunn, Seth 
Williston, Jedediah Bushnell, Jacob Crane, David Higgins, John Weber, 
Aaron Collins, Oliver Ayer, Darius O. Griswold, Julius Steele, Robt. 
W. Hill, Henry Kendall, Luther Conklin, Lewis D. Chapin, J P. Skeele, 



TOWN OF EAST BLOOMFIBLD. 411 

Arthur F. Skeele, Charles S. Durfee and Charles C. Johnson, the latter 
being the present pastor, who was installed in 1889. 

The original members of this church were Zadoc Hunn, John Adams, 
Amos Bronson, Ephraim and Chloe Rew, Amos Leech, Joseph King, 
Ehud and Hannah Hopkins, Asa and Mary Hickox, Chloe, Abner and 
Abigail Adams, Lucy Bronson, Martha and Clarissa Gunn. The pres- 
ent membership of the church is 2 12 ; of the Sunday-school 200. 

The First Baptist Church in Bloomfield was organized in June, 1799, 
having an original membership of seventeen persons, as follows : Eli- 
jah Rose, Benj., Abijah and Roxy Stilwell, Pitts Hopkins, Enoch and 
Nancy Wilcox, Rachel Barnes, Anna Rose, Chester Doty, Eli and Lucy 
Lyon, Aaron and Otis Hicks, James and Betsey Case and Simon Sim- 
mons. The early meetings of the society were held at convenient 
places and not regularly, and it was not until 1803 that a church house 
was provided, and that an humble log house situate in the north part 
of the town of Bristol, north of the locality known as Baptist Hill. 
However, in 1805 the parent society was divided by the withdrawal of 
the members living in Bristol, and after a few more years of uncertain 
and varying life the old society ceased to exist, except on the records. 

In this connection we may also mention the existence of a Univer- 
salist church and society in Bloomfield, which had only a brief career. 
Their meeting-house was built about 1832, but was afterward sold to 
the M. E. society. 

The First Methodist Episcopal Church and society of East Bloom- 
field was organized May 12, 1834, with an original membership of 
twelve persons. Then hardly more than a missionary station, the few 
members succeeded in 1840 in building a small frame meeting-house, 
which stood near Mud Creek, Rev. John Parker was the pastor at that 
time. In 1861 a society and church organization was effected, and on 
the 9th of April it became a body corporate, Simeon B, Sears, Harlow 
Munson, George Wright, Benjamin D. Spring, Benj. F. Jenkins, Myron 
Mariner, Levi S. Beach, Chauncey Knowles and Nelson Parmele being 
the trustees elected. The society then purchased the old Universalist 
property at East Bloomfield village, and from that time has maintained 
a church home at that place. The present membership of the church 
is 145 ; of the Sunday-school 100. The pastors, in succession, since 



412 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

the reorganization, have been as follows: Jonathan Watts, A. F. Morey, 
Martin Wheeler, S. B. Dickinson, J. Edson, Andrew Shurtliff, R, D. 
Munger, Charles Hermans, J. C. Hitchcock, Henry Van Benschoten, S. 
A. Morse, G. W. Terry, Wni. Armstrong, T. S. Green, Wm Bradley, 
P. M. Harmon, J. M. Dobson, Edmund J. Gwynn. 

St. Peter's Church. The parish of St. Peter's in Bloomfield was es- 
tablished in 1830, and the first services were held in dwellings and the 
Universalist meeting-house, the latter being subsequently purchased by 
the society, but later, in 1859, being sold to the M. E. society. The 
society of St. Peter's then built a neat chapel, which was thereafter used 
for services. At present the church has no resident rector, but some 
of the earlier ones may be recalled by naming John Norton, Reese 
Chipman, Edmond Embery, Manning Stryker, Seth Davis, Edward 
Livermore, Alex. H. Rogers, Lewis L. Rogers and Henry M. Baum, 
who officiated in the order named. St. Peter's has about sixty com- 
municants, and a Sunday-school with about twenty pupils. 

St. Bridget's Church. The first masses of the Catholic church were 
said during the forties, though not until 185 i was the parish organized 
and church built, the first pastor being Edward O'Connor. In 1874 
the new edifice was begun, and completed and dedicated the next year. 
It is of brick, and in appearance is neat and attractive. Father O'Con- 
ner was succeeded by Father Byrnes, and the latter by Father Lee. At 
the present time the services are conducted by Father John J. Don- 
nelly, whose residence and leading parish is at Victor village. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SENECA. 

IN 1789 the Legislature passed an act creating Ontario county, and 
authorized the Court of Sessions to divide its territory into districts. 
This was done, and although we have no record of the event, it is well 
known that the district of Seneca included a large area of territory — 
much larger than did the original town of Seneca, organized in 1793. 



TOWN OF SENECA. 413 

The town organized in 1793 included township No. 9 and the south 
half of township No. 10, and also so much of the " gore" as was east 
of the same and between the old and new pre-emption lines 

Within the bounds of the original town of Seneca there took place 
many of the most interesting events of early history in Western New 
York, for within these limits was the home village and favorite hunting 
and fishing grounds of one branch of the famed Senecas of the Iroquois. 
Old " Kanadesaga," their village, was within the town, and here dwelt 
their famous king. Also within the same limits was the historic burial 
mound of the Senecas, and around all these there still clings a wealth 
of memories dear to the student of archeology. Previous to their set- 
tlement at this place, the Senecas had been located at the White 
Springs and at Burrell or Slate Rock Creek, both of which are in the 
limits of the old town of Seneca In June, 1750, when Bishop Cam- 
merhofif and Rev. David Zeisberger, the Moravian missionaries, were 
on a journey to the western town of the Senecas, the}- passed through 
this region and along the site of the White Springs, where they were 
informed a former village of the Senecas had been, and which they 
called " Ganechstage," and on which there was at this time but few 
huts This settlement had been broken up in 1732 by a plague of the 
small pox, with which an Indian had become infected at Albany. 
Taking a wrong path, the missionaries went southwesterl}', passing 
" through a beautiful, fruitful valley," and came to the site of " New 
Ganechstage." On their return they again came this way, and at 
" New Ganechsatage " they were hospitably entertained by " Gajin- 
quechto " and his wife. This is but a dialectical variation of" Sayen- 
queraghta," and is the same person who in later yeans was the "smoke 
bearer " at Kanadesaga. The " sachem's " wife pointed out the way to 
them and they journeyed on, passing old " Ganechsatage," reaching a 
spring. The location of New Ganechstage was in the present town of 
Seneca, on the farm of J. Wilson and Newton A. Read, lot 32. Other 
village sites were on the Rippey farm, lot 2)^ ; farm of W. P. Rupert, 
lot 36; Haslett farm, lot 37. It was from here that they were gath- 
ered and formed the " new settlement village," as has been stated in 
another chapter. 

However, in 1872 Seneca was deprived of the greater and more in- 
teresting part of its history, for in the year named the town of Geneva 



414 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

was created and included within its boundaries nearly all the old inter- 
esting localities formerly of Seneca. The town so set off comprised all 
that part of the old town which was in the gore, and also the eastern 
tier of lots in townships 9 and 10. Therefore, the subject of Ihis chapter 
must be the town of Seneca as constituted after the separate organiz- 
ation of Geneva as an independent civil division of Ontario county ; 
and as all that remains to be told in this connection relates to its early 
settlement and organization, we may properly begin with the advent of 
the pioneers into the region, referring only incidentally to the settle- 
ments at Kanadesaga and Geneva As the places last mentioned were 
for several vears previous to the erection of this county the center of 
operations in the entire western country, settlement naturally began 
there, but after the survey of the Phelps and Gorham purchase, 
pioneers at once sought to purchase the towns, or portions of them, 
and settlement thus followed in due time. 

Township number 10 of range i, of which a part is included within 
Seneca, was purchased by a party of twenty New Englanders, and 
under this proprietorship the settlement of the town was begun. One 
of the purchasers was Captain Joshua Whitney, who first examined and 
explored the lands of the purchase in 1789, and became -a permanent 
settler therein in 1790, He was a man of influence, large means, and 
much experience; had been a soldier during the Revolution, and had 
gained his title in that service. He had at first 1,052 acres in the town, 
which amount he doubled later on. We may also state that the Whit- 
ney family was represented by other early settlers in the town, all of 
whom constituted a fair contingent of the number entitled to be called 
pioneers. 

Among the. other early settlers and pioneers of Seneca, whose names 
as heads of families or single men seeking homes in the new country 
are equally worthy of mention, were Anson Dodge, Abraham Burk- 
holder, Peter Van Gelder, Zora Densmore, John Berry, George Ack- 
ley or Eckley, Ammi Whitney, Robert Carson, Leonard Isenhour (built 
grist and saw mills as early as 1800), Peter Wyncoop, William Esty, 
Thomas Tallman and others, the date of whose settlement was prior to 
1800, and that of many of them before 1795. There were also the 
families named Clemons, Parker, Harris, Fiero, Charlton, Childs, Tor- 



TOWN OF SENECA. 415 

rence, Rogers, McPherson, Culver, Latta, Darrow, and the McCauleys, 
Hallidays, Buttons, Onderdonks, the Ringers (John and Jacob) and 
others now forgotten, whose names are equally worthy of mention as 
early settlers in this rich agricultural region. 

In the same manner we may also recall the names of other pioneers, 
among whom were Thomas Ottley, Nathan Whitney, Eben Burt, Isaac 
Amsden, Peter Gray, Matthew Rippey, David McMaster, Abram Post, 
Israel Webster, Simeon Amsden, Joel Whitney, Hugh Fulton and 
Gameliel Brockway, all of whom with others named and yet to be 
named, were located in the town of Seneca as early as the year 1800. 
There were also William Rippey, Joseph Fulton, Edward Rice, Philip 
Gregory, John Dixon, Seba Squier, Jacob Reed, Thomas Densmore, 
Solomon Gates, Colonel Wilder, David Barron, all pioneers, nearly all 
of whom had families, and all of whom contributed to the prominent 
position Seneca early occupied among the towns of the county. 

The Stanley family, of whom Seth Stanley was the pioneer head, 
settled in the town in 1796, and the locality afterwards became known 
as Stanley's Corners, while the still later station and railroad junction 
are known as " Stanley's." On the old Geneva and Rushville turnpike 
at an early day settled pioneers Peter Diedrich, George Simpson, Will 
iam Fiero and George Rippey; and elsewhere in the town were Salma 
Stanley, Thomas McCauley, Matthew Rippey, Peter Blackmore, Mr. 
Harford, John McCulIough, Captain Wm. McPherson, Whitney Squier, 
Jonathan Reed, the Phillips family, Squire Parks, James Rice, James 
Means, Leonard and William Smith, Chauncey Barden, Alfred Squier, 
Aaron Black, the Careys. John Wood, John Rippey, Robert Parks, 
Timothy Miner, James Black, Aden Squier, Edward Burrall, Samuel 
Wheadon and others, the dates and precise location of whose settle- 
ment cannot now be accurately determined. 

In this connection also we may name among the early settlers John 
Hooper, Foster Sinclair, the Dorman family, Adam Turnbull, Richard 
Bell, Wm. Foster, William Brown, John Scoon, Aaron Black, Mr. 
Stockoe, Jonathan Phillips, George Conrad, Thomas Vartie, Edward 
Hall (the pioneer for whom Hall's Cornerswasnamed), Sherman Lee, 
Wm. Wilson, the Cooleys, the Robinsons and Robsons, James Beattie, 
George Crozier, the Straughtons and the Wilsons, Rufus Smith, Robert 



416 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Moody, Valentine Perkins, David Miller, Mr. Clark, the prominent 
Barden family, Daniel Sutherland, Sylvester Smith, Levi Gland, John 
Thompson and others. 

From the large number of names of early settlers above mentioned 
it will be seen that the settlement of this town must have been very 
rapid, and when we consider that none of those named were from the 
part of the town recently set off to Geneva, the conclusion must be 
natural and correct that Seneca was settled and improved as early as 
any district or town in the county. In 1800 the population of the 
whole county was only 15,218, yet the assertion is made that of the 
number the then town of Seneca had at least 2,000. In fact, until 
Geneva was set off, Seneca was by far the largest town in the county. 
In 1810 the population was 3,431 ; in 1830 it was 6,161 ; in 1840 it 
was 7,073 ; in 1850 it was 8,505 ; in i860 it was 8,448 ; in 1870 it was 
9,188; and in 1880, by reason of the erection of Geneva, the local 
population was only 2,877; ^^ 1890 it was 2,690. 

In 1793 tlie population of the town was deemed sufficiently great to 
warrant its complete organization by the election of officers, conse- 
quently a town meeting was held at " the house of Joshua Fairbanks, 
Innkeeper," on the first Tuesday in April, 1793. At this time the first 
town officers were elected, as follows: Supervisor, Ezra Patterson; 
town clerk, Thomas Sisson ; assessors, Oliver Whitmore, James Rice, 
Phineas Pierce; commissioners of highways, Patrick Burnet, Samuel 
Wheadon, Peter Bartle, jr. ; collector, Sanford Williams ; overseers of 
the poor, Jonathan Oaks, David Smith ; constables, Charles Harris, 
Stephen Sisson, Whelds Whitmore; overseers of highwaj's, Nathan 
Whitney, Oliver Humphrey, Jerome Loomis, Jeremiah Butler, Benj. 
Tuttle, Wm. Smith, jr., David Benton, Benjamin Dixon ; fence viewers, 
Amos Jenks, John Reed, Joseph Kilbourn, Seba Squiers, Caleb Culver; 
poundmasters, Peter Bartle, jr., David Smith ; sealer of weights and 
measures, Peter Bartle, sr. ; surveyor of lumber, Jeremiah Butler. 

Among the first proceedings of the town authorities were those relat- 
ing to the la3'ing out of highways, among them, and one of the very 
first, being one of historical importance, inasmuch as it was evidently 
laid out on the old Indian trail which led southeast from the foot of Sen- 
eca street, and afterwards in a westerly direction until it reached the 



TOWN OF SENECA. 417 

west line of the town. The western part of this was where the turnpike 
from the old pre emption road was laid out later on. 

The officers elected in 1793 and mentioned above were chosen, the 
reader will of course understand, from the town of Seneca, as at that 
time constituted, therefore including all that is now the town of Geneva. 
The center of population at that time, and for many years afterward, 
was at Geneva, and here all trade and barter was carried on ; therefore 
it was usual that the town meetings should be held at the village, the 
first at Joshua Fairbanks' " Inn "; the second at " the house of Elark 
Jennings, Inn Keeper," the third at the house of Ezra Patterson ; the 
fourth at Benjamin Tuttle's house ; the fifth at the house of Epenetus 
Hart, adjoining Powell's Hotel ; the sixth and seventh at Powell's Ho- 
tel, and so on to the end of the list. In this connection it is interesting 
to note the succession of supervisors of the old tovvn of Seneca from its 
organization to the present time, which succession is as follows , 

Ezra Patterson 1793 ; Ambrose Hull, 1794-95 ; Timothy Allen, 
1796; Ezra Patterson, 1797-98; Samuel Colt, 1799; Ezra Patterson, 
1800-1801 ; Samuel Wheadon, jr., 1802; Ezra Patterson, 1803-04; 
Septimus Evans, 1805-14; John M. Cullougli, 1815 ; Septimus Evans, 
1816-17; Nathan Reed, 1818-28. The records of town officers be- 
tween the years 1828 and 1838 cannot be found. Abraham A. Post, 
1838-42; Philo Bronson, 1843; Abraham A. Post, 1844-47; John L. 
Dox, 1848-49; Chas. S. Brother, 1850-51 ; Lucius Warner, 1852-54; 
James M. Soverhill, 1855-56; John Whitwell, 1857-58; Perez H. 
Field, 1859-60; Joseph Hutchinson, 1861-62 ; George W. Nicholas, 
1863-68; Samuel Southworth, 1869-70; John Post, 1871-72; Seth 
Stanley, 1873; Edward S. Dixon, 1874; Seth Stanley, 1875; Robert 
Moody, 1876-81 ; Levi A. Page, 1882-89; H. Joel Rice, 1890-93. 

Present Town Officers — H. Joel Rice, supervisor ; Mathew D. Law- 
rence, town clerk ; Harmon VV. Onderdonk, Orson S. Robinson, W. H. 
Whitney, assessors; E. S. Dixon, Eben E. Thatcher, Wm. H. Barden, 
W. D. Robinson, justices of the peace ; Albert M. Knapp, John B. Esty, 
Hamilton Rippey, excise commissioners; John H. Carr, Frank L. Pars- 
hall, C. E. Onderdonk. commissioners of highways; overseer of the poor, 
James Woods. 
53 



418 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Returing again briefly to the period of old times, we find the pioneers 
of Seneca engaged in the laudable enterprise of raising a fund for the 
purpose of building a bridge across Flint Creek at Castleton, to form a 
part of the main thoroughfare from the town to the county seat. The 
subscribers to this fund, with the amount of their respective subscrip- 
tions, in pounds, were as follows : Sanford Williams, 8 ; Oliver Whit- 
more, 3 ; Nathan Whitney, 6 ; Solomon Gates, 3 ; Hugh Maxwell, 2 ; 
Samuel Warner, 3 ; Warner Crittenden, 3 ; Ebenezer Bunt, 3 ; Solomon 
Warner, 3 ; Joel Whitney, 3 ; Oliver Whitmore, sen., i ; Luke Whit- 
more, I ; Elijah Wilder, 3 

Villages and Hamlets. — In this department of this work it is not pro- 
posed to make any extended reference to the Indian occupation of any 
of the towns of the county, nevertheless, in this connection it is not in- 
appropriate to allude to the old Seneca villages which formerly existed 
in this town, in the north part thereof, one of them on lot 56, and the 
other on lot 58; but where they were first located and inhabited by 
the Senecas, and the precise date of their disappearance we know not of 

The present villages and hamlets of Seneca are five in number, four 
of them being on the line of the commonly called Northern Central rail- 
road, while the fifth is in the eastern part of the town, and is accessible 
only by team or foot travel. 

Seneca Castle, the largest of the villages, and sometimes known as 
Castleton, is situated in the northwest part of the town, on Flint Creek, 
also on the railroad extending from Stanley to Sodus Bay. The orig- 
inal name of the village was Castleton, and the application of the name 
Seneca Castle was an afterthought. As a trading center this place has 
some prominence, but during the last half century it can hardly be said 
to have increased or lessened in business interests or population. The 
village has two church societies, each of which has a substantial church 
home. Of these we may make a brief record. 

The Presbyterian Church of Seneca Castle was a branch or ofi'-shoot 
of the mother church at Geneva, the latter having been organized in 
1798, and in connection therewith occasional services were conducted in 
this western part of the town, altthough it was not until 1828 that the 
Seneca Castle was fully organized. The early services here were held 
chiefly by Revs. Jedediah Chapman and Henry Axtell, the former the 



TOWN OF SENECA. 419 

first, and the latter the second pastor of the church at Geneva. The 
Castleton (such was the name then) Church was organized February 5, 
1828, with nineteen original members " inhabitants of the village of 
Castleton and its vicinity." On the 4th of March the trustees were 
chosen, and steps were at once taken to raise, means with which to erect 
a church home. This was quickly accomplished and the house was 
dedicated during the latter part of July, 1829. 

The pastors, in succession, of this church have been as follows: 
Stephen Porter, Oren Catlin, Stephen Porter (second pastorate), George 
C. Hyde, R. Russell (supply), B. B. Gray, Alex. Douglass (supply), A. 
H. Parmelee, H. H, Kellogg, James S. Moore, and Howard Cornell, the 
latter being the present pastor, whose service as such began in June, 
1893. The church has about eighty members, and a Sunday school 
with about ninety pupils. 

The Castleton Methodist Episcopal Chapel was the outgrowth of a 
series of revival meetings held by the Presbyterians of this locality dur- 
ing the years 1 830-3 1. The M, E. Class and church was organized 
soon after this time, and in 1842 the society erected a substantial brick 
edifice in the village. Its membership is about eighty, and the Sunday- 
school has about one hundred members. The present pastor is Rev. S. 
F. Beardslee. 

Flijit Creek is a small hamlet of about twenty dwelling-houses, one 
store, a post-office, a combined cider mill and wood working factory, 
the school of district No. 2, and a M. E. Church. The village is on the 
stream from which it is named, and is about midway between Seneca 
Castle and Stanley. A grist and saw-mill were in operation many years 
a few rods south of the village proper. 

The M. E. Church at Flint Creek, one of three societies of this de- 
nomination in this town, is of comparatively recent origin, and is sup- 
plied in its pastoral relation from Hopewell. The present pastor in 
charge is Rev. Cordello Herrick. 

Stanley, formerly Stanley's Corners, is second in size and greatest in 
business importance among the hamlets of Seneca. The village is sit- 
uated near the center of School District No. i. Here also the Northern 
Central railroad divides, one branch leading to the county seat and the 
other to Sodus Bay. During the year 1892 the long hoped for Middle- 



420 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

sex Valley road was completed and put in operation between Stanley 
and Naples; and during 1893 the work of construction on the same 
road between Stanley and Geneva is expected to be prosecuted. 

Although of considerable importance among the hamlets of Seneca, 
Stanley is only a small place, having two good stores (Hill & Coon, and 
James A. Pulver), a hotel, a grain elevator, a good district school, and 
two churches. 

St. Theresa's Roman Catholic parish was organized in 1875, and the 
church edifice was built in 1876. This parish is a joint station with 
Rushville, and includes about ninety families. The priests in charge 
have been Fathers James A. Connelly, Joseph Hendrick, Joseph J. 
Magin, D. W. Kavanaugh, J. H. Butler, James F. Dougherty, and John 
P. Hopkins, 

The Methodist Episcopal Church and society of Stanley are also of 
quite recent organization. The church and class work began many 
years ago, and the organization dul}' followed. There are now about 
thirly five members, and preparations are being made for the erection 
of a substantial church home in the village. The services are now con- 
ducted by Rev. O. D Davis, as supply, he being pastor of the church 
at Gorham village. 

Hairs Corners is a small though busy hamlet in the south part of the 
town, and being in the center of a large fruit and grain region, becomes 
a place of much importance during the harvest and shipping season. 
The village proper is about forty rods from the station. The mer- 
chants are William C. Mead (also postmaster) and George O. Rippey & 
Son. 

Seneca. — About a mile and one-half northeast of Hall's Corners is a 
little settlement and post office called Seneca. It has no industries of 
any importance, except the nursery of W. P. Rupert, yet around the 
old Presbyterian church at Seneca has been built up a quiet little set- 
tlement. 

This church was organized June 29, 1807, by a devoted little band of 
Christians, by whom it was resolved "That we form ourselves into a 
church, to be denominated the Associate Reformed Church of the Town 
of Seneca." In July following the work of organization was completed, 
and at the first communion service forty- five members were on the 



TOWN OF HOPEWELL. 421 

church roll. After much work the little society succeeded in raising a 
fund and erecting a church edifice, a plain though neat frame structure, 
which was used about twenty five years, and then, in 1838 and '39, was 
superseded by a larger and more pretentious building, which the so- 
ciety still occupies. This edifice was enlarged and improved in 1862, 
and again in 1868. 

In 1859 this church changed its ecclesiastical connection and became 
essentially Presbyterian in doctrine and teaching. Its present member- 
ship reaches the remarkable number of 350 persons, and within the 
bounds of the congregation there are maintained four Sunday-schools. 
The succession of pastors and supplies of this church has been as fol- 
lows: James Mears, Andrew Wilson (supplies), Thomas White (first 
pastor). William Nesbit, John D. Gibson, Samuel Topping, George 
Patton, A. B. Temple. The latter, Mr. Temple, became pastor in March, 
1873, and has ever since continued in that relation, a period of more 
than twenty years. 

Schools of the Town. — In traveling along the public thoroughfare of 
Seneca, the observer is at once attracted by the general beauty of his sur- 
roundings in every locality, but in respect to the public schools of the 
town his attention is at once called to their ever substantial appearance 
and pleasant situation. When the town was divided, in 1872, it became 
necessary to re-district the old town ; hence at that and at the present 
time its area is divided into thirteen districts, only two of which (Nos. 9 
and 10) are not provided with school-houses. In 1892 the school pop- 
ulation was 798, to instruct whom there were employed fourteen teach- 
ers at an expense of $3,961. The total amount of money raised for 
school purposes was $5,445. Of the school- houses six are frame and 
five of brick, and the total value of all school property in the town is 
estimated at $13,750. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF HOPEWELL. 

ON the 27th of January, 1789, a district or town, called " Easton," 
was formed, and included within its boundaries all that is now 
Gorham and Hopewell. On April 19, 1806, the name was changed to 



422 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

" Lincoln," and still later, April 6, 1807, to Gorham, being given the lat- 
ter name in allusion to and in honor of Nathaniel Gorham, one of the 
proprietors under the Massachusetts pre-emption purchase. In 1822, 
on March 29, Gorham was divided, and the north half was separately 
set off and named Hopewell. According to the Phelps and Gorham 
system of surveys, Hopewell is township 10, range 2, and contains, ap- 
proximately, thirty-six square miles of land. 

In common with the towns generally of Western New York, the 
pioneers of Hopewell (though under its original name) were mainly 
New Englanders, therefore Yankees, and fully imbued with the 
characteristic spirit of thrift, push and progressiveness which so strongly 
marks that element of American citizens. The pioneer settlement in 
this town began in 1789 and the year following, and must have pro- 
gressed with great rapidity, for in i830it had a total population of more 
than two thousand, a number of inhabitants not exceeded or even 
equaled at any subsequent census enumeration. 

In 1798 Oliver Phelps and General Israel Chapin proceeded to a point 
in town 10 range 2, about three miles northeast from Canandaigua, 
where they had a large tract of land, and on which they made some 
improvements which did much to invite and encourage settlement in the 
town ; the point has ever since been known as Chapinville ; and here in 
later years a thriving little hamlet grew up, became an early post vil- 
liage, and afterward a station on the Auburn and Rochester railroad. 

The current of water in the outlet flowing northerly from Canandaigua 
Lake has at first but a slight fall, and it is not until about five miles 
northeasterly from the lake, at a place on the outlet now called Little- 
ville, that sufficient power for a grist-mill could be obtained, and this 
place was chosen for the pioneer mill. It is on the north bounds of the 
town of Hopewell adjoining the town of Manchester and about a mile 
south from Shortsville. Here Oliver Phelps erected a grist-mill in 1791 
which was known as the Phelps Mill. Although but a crude and pigmy 
affair, it answered the purpose for some time, and the pioneer settlers 
came from long distances to get their grists ground. Samuel Day was 
engaged to run this mill, which had but one run of stone from which the 
flour was conveyed by a short spout to the bolt. Among the maps in 
the office of the State engineer of Albany is No. 341, " Map of Messrs. 



TOWN OF HOPEWELL. 423 

Phelps and Gorham's Purchase." This map is dated 1792 and on it is 
located a mill on the Canandaigua outlet, at the junction of the Indian 
path or trail from Geneva through Oaks' Corners with the trail from 
Canandaigua Lake to the region of Palmyra. This is the precise loca- 
tion of the Phelps or Day Mill. In 1800 this mill was owned" and 
operated by Edward Parker and run by him up to the time of his death, 
April 13, 1820, in the sixty- eighth year of his age. Afterward the 
place came into the possession of a company of " Fourieritcs," and in 
the fall of I S45 or spring of i 846, Norman C. Little came into possession, 
and in addition to the mill he kept a store. The place was called Little- 
ville after him, and continues to be known as such up to the present 
time. Being unsuccessful in business, after an occupancy of two or 
three years, the property was sold out by the sheriff, and Mr. Little 
moved to Saginaw, Mich., where he was afterwards found drowned in 
the river. There is another Littleville named after him, situated at the 
junction of the Conesus with the Genesee River, about one and a half 
miles south of Avon village, where a saw-mill was erected in 1796, a 
grist-mill in 1810, and soon followed by a distillery. About 1830 these 
came into possession of Norman C. Little who, in 1833, built a large 
store and had a considerable trade. About 1837 he sold out, but the 
place still retains the name of Littleville. 

When the Moravian missionaries, Bishop Cammerhoff and Rev. David 
Zeisberger, visited this region in 1750, after crossing Flint Creek they 
proceeded along on the main trail, and they say: " Towards evening 
we reached an Indian settlement where a city by the name of Onnachee 
is said to have stood, which is now uninhabited." As Onnaghee has 
been fully spoken of in another place it is only necessary here to give 
the location of the town, which has been identified as having been on lot 
20, on the farm of Darwin McClure, formerly owned by Cyrus Gates, 
and situated on the old turnpike about five and a half miles west 
of Flint Creek and about three miles southerly from Canandaigua 
village. It was about half a mile north of the turnpike and on the south 
side of Fall Brook. On the north side of the brook the ground is low 
and flat, but a short distance to the north and some twenty- five or thirty 
rods north of the Northern Central Railroad is a rise of ground of a 
sandy, gravelly soil, and on which was the Indian burial ground Here 



424 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

quantities of skeletons have in time past been uncovered and brought to 
light by the cultivation of the land, and very large numbers of kettles, 
tomahawks, with some guns and other Indian implements and relics 
have been found. Some twelve or fifteen rods to the east of the village 
there are two springs of soft water, and some fifty rods to the west is a 
small spring of sulphur water. About sixty rods east of the village is a 
large flat limestone rock, hollowed on top, evidently for pounding corn in. 

According to the best information now obtainable, the pioneers of 
Hopewell were Daniel Gates, Daniel Warner, Ezra Piatt, Samuel Day, 
George Chapin, Israel Chapin, jr., Frederick Follett, Thomas Sawyer, 
Benjamin Wells and Mr. Sweet, all of whom were from Massachusetts, 
while William Wyckoff, who was another pioneer, was from Pennsyl- 
vania. A son was born to Benjamin Wells and wife on February 4, 
1 79 1, and was named Benjamin Wells, jr. This was the first birth in 
the town. Calvin Bacon opened a school in 1792, which also was the 
first event of its kind in Hopewell. While it is generally conceded that 
the pioneers above mentioned were the earliest settlers of Hopewell, there 
were others who are equally worthy of notice in the same connection ; 
and while the majority of the pioneers were New Englanders, or Yankees, 
other localities contributed to the early population of this town Penn- 
sylvania and Maryland were represented by substantial natives who 
sought homes in this region, their coming being influenced by the agents 
of the London Associates, who caused highways to be made from Penn- 
sylvania to the Genesee country, and otherwise invited settlement in 
the whole region west of Seneca Lake. 

In addition to those already mentioned as first settlers in Hopewell, 
we may with propriety recall the names of others who are deserving of 
mention in the same relation, although the dates of settlements cannot 
be learned. Of many of these pioneer families and their descendants 
there will be found biographical sketches in a later department of this 
volume, wherefore in this chapter there need be given nothing more 
than a mention of the names of heads of families. Richard Jones was 
a Marylander, and came to Hopewell in 1805, and whose descendants 
are still living in the town. Nathaniel Lewis, Elam Smith, Vimri Dens- 
more, George LeVere, Robert Buchan, John Price, Daniel Le Vere, 
John Freshour, Israel, John and Stephen Thatcher, Major Elijah Mur- 



TOWN OF HOPEWELL. .125 

ray (a Revolutionary survivor), Elijah Ellis, John Russell, David W 
Beach, William Bodman, Erastus Leonard, Luther Porter, Robert Penn, 
Samuel Bush, Joshua Case, Oliver and William Babcock, John Ricker, 
Amos Knapp, Silas Benham, C. P. Bush, Daniel Warren, Shuball Clark, 
John Hart, John Faurot, George Chapin, Russell Warren, Dedrick 
Coarsen, Robert Davidson, Moses De Pew, John Gregg, James Moore, 
James Birdseye, Edward Root, Ezekiel Crane, John McCauley, David 
Aldrich, Amos, Amasa and James Gillett, Joseph Lee, Oliver Warren, 
Elam Crane, Ezra and Leonard Knapp, Thaddeus Benham, Elisha 
Higby, William Canfield, Andrew Bush, Elder Anson Shay. John 
Kellogg, Thomas Edmundson, Daniel Macumber, Captain Thomas 
Davis, Rufus Warner, Apollas Baker, John Church, Jonas Whitney, 
Asel and Constant Balcom, Eben and Eli Benham, Ezra Newton and 
others whose names are forgotton or lost by lapse of time. These also 
were pioneers of the town whose coming and after labors contributed 
much to the early prosperity of Hopewell, and many of them left chil- 
dren, the descendants of whom still reside in the town and are numbered 
among its best citizens. 

In addition to the many already mentioned, the names of other fam- 
ilies may also be recalled as among the early settlers in Hopewell. 
There were the surnames of Thomas, Derr, Spangle, Skinner, Cleve- 
land, Knapp, Marks, Sly, Purdy, Ketcham, Brundage, Bishop, Pem- 
broke, Woodin, Knickerbocker and others now lost to memory, all of 
whom settled in Hopewell at an early day, the descendants of some of 
whom are yet in the town and identified with its present history and 
progress. 

During the War of 1812 the young men of the town, as well as some 
of the older residents, were numbered among the enrolled militia, and 
as such rendered efficient service on the frontier, under command of 
General Porter. A full account of this service is detailed in a preced- 
ing chapter, to which the reader's attention is directed, and while no 
record exists to show the names of Hopewell men who performed serv- 
ice during that year, we may at least refer to the period, and know 
that some of the present residents of the town can connect their ances- 
tors with the events of the war. 

54 



426 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

A reference to the war of i8i2 naturally suggests at least a passing 
allusion to the still more important period of the war of 1861-65, and 
known as the late rebellion. In i860 the town of Hopewell had a 
population of less than 2,000 inhabitants, notwithstanding which during 
the war, it furnished volunteers and troops for all branches of the serv- 
ice to the extent of more than 200 men, or more than ten per cent, of 
the town's population at the time. The history and record of the vol- 
unteers of Ontario county is given in one of the general chapters of this 
volume, but the history of Hopewell would be incomplete without some 
reference to this period of the war. 

As has already been stated Hopewell attained its maximum popula- 
tion in 1830, or between 1820 and 1830. In 1822 the town was set off 
from Gorham and made a separate civil division of the county, and the 
first Federal census was made eight years later. The subsequent dimi- 
nution in population in the town is fairly shown by extracting from the 
census reports, and while the last sixty years have witnessed a falling oft 
of about 600 in the number of inhabitants, the fact occasions neither 
alarm nor apprehension, for the same causes contributed to it that have 
reduced the rural population throughout the Eastern and Middle States. 
However, let us look at the census records and note the changes in 
population in this town throughout these years. In 1830 the popula- 
tion was 2,202 ; in 1840 it was 1,976 ; in 1850 it was 1,923 ; in i860 it 
was 1,970; in 1870 it was 1,863 J i" 1880 it was 1,894; and in 1890 
it was 1,655. 

In the year 1825 the Board of Supervisors of the county purchased 
a farm of one hundred acres, situated in the southeast part of Hope- 
well, which was fitted up for a home for the county poor. The cost of 
the property was less than $2,000, but by subsequent management of 
the farm (now exceeding 200 acres) and the erection of necessary build- 
ings, many thousand dollars have been expended. Previous to 181 5 
the indigent poor of the county were maintained by the towns sepa- 
rately, in accordance with New England custom. Although this is not 
a town institution, but of tlie county, its location in Hopewell makes 
necessary a passing reference to it. The Ontario county poor-house 
and farm are among the most noted institutions of the county, and one 
in which every loyal citizen feels a just pride ; and it is a fact that no 



TOWN OF HOPEWELL. 427 

similar county in the State can lay claim to a like property which is 
conducted on more thorough and practical business principles than is 
this one. During the last five years the direct care of the inmates and 
the management of the farm has been entrusted to Ralph Wisner, as 
keeper, and much of the fame which this institution has acquired is due 
to the efforts of the keeper and his wife. 

On the 22d of March, 1822, the Legislature passed an act dividing 
the township of Gorham, and setting off the north half thereof, which 
was the original town No. 10, of range 2, and creating a new town 
called Hopewell. On the 17th day of April following, the electors held 
their first annual town meeting, at which time officers were elected as 
follows : Supervisor, Nathan Lewis ; town clerk, John Price ; assessors, 
Elisha Higby, George Brundage, James Birdseye ; highway commis- 
sioners, Joel S. Hart, Erastus Larned, William Canfield ; overseers of 
poor, Rufus Warner, Lemuel Babcock ; commissioners of schools, Wm. 
Buchan, Jason Angel, Joshua Case; inspectors of schools, Joseph Mer- 
rill, Wm Bodman, Joel Amsden ; constables, Timothy Dunham, Hiram 
Dillon, Wm. Larned, Jos. Parker; collector, Walter Wells. The first 
justices of the peace were Nathaniel Lewis, John Price,. Amos Jones and 
Elisha Higby. 

Although lying adjacent to the county seat, Hopewell has never at- 
tained a position of much importance among the towns of the county. 
The outlet has afforded an abundant water privilege to manufacturing 
enterprises, and during the early history of the town this power was 
employed to a considerable extent, and there has been maintained an 
industry of some sort on this stream ever since the settlement of the 
town. However, the proximity of Hopewell to the county village has 
operated to the disadvantage of the former, as enterprises have chosen 
Canandaigua as a place of operation rather than a remote locality. 

Chapinville is a small hamlet located in the northeast part of the 
town, about in the center of school district No. 4. This is one of the 
oldest settled localities in this part of the county, for here Captain 
Chapin and Oliver Phelps caused to be erected a mill at a very early 
day, and about the mill a settlement was at once begun. At a com- 
paratively recent period the Auburn and Rochester railroad was con- 
structed through the village, which had the effect to temporarily stim- 



428 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

nlate business in the locality, but within less than twenty years the 
hamlet had resumed its former condition. The important industry of 
the Chapinville vicinity at this time is the " Chapinville Wheel Com- 
pany," which was incorporated January 5, 1891, by Jacob Martin, Ed- 
ward D. Martin, David N. Salisbury, Edward C. Scudelbach, and Ad- 
dison D. Kelley and the object of which is the manufacture of wheels, 
gears and bodies of carriages and wagons. The capital stock of the 
company is $45,000. 

The First Society of the M. E. Church and congregation in Chapinville 
was incorporated May 24, 1865, but the society was organized at a 
much earlier date, in 1852, by James L. and Harriet P. Munson, Will- 
iam and Elizabeth Callister, George W. Caton, Jerusha Caldwell, Eliz- 
abeth Stead, Mary Jackson, and Margaret Redfield, as original mem- 
bers. However, we may state that Methodist meetings were held in 
this neighborhood at a day far earlier than indicated by the above dates. 
In 1853 the church edifice of this society was built. The first pastors 
were John Spink, D. S. Chase, Geo. W. Paddock, E, J. Hermans, A. 
F. Morey, and L. D. Chase, in the order named The present pastoral 
supply of the church is D. D. Davis, who also officiates in the same ca- 
pacity at Shortsville. 

Hopewell Center is a hamlet still older than Chapinville, and being 
situated away from any railroad is of perhaps less importance than the 
other village. In a way. however, the Center has much local impor- 
tance, and is the natural trading point for a large and productive agri- 
cultural district. The business enterprises of the Center are few, 
being the stores, hotels, shops and other adjuncts of hamlet existence. 
Here also is located the school of district No. 6, and the M. E. Church. 
The latter is known as the First Society of the M. E. Church in the 
town of Hopewell, and had its organization in 18 19, Silas Smith, Eben- 
ezer Benham and Ezra Newton being its first trustees. For a time, 
however, this society was discontinued, but was reorganized in 1841, 
and has since enjoyed a prosperous existence. It is now under the pas- 
toral care of Rev. S. F. Beardslee, who also supplies the pulpit of the 
M E. Church at Seneca Castle. 

In the southeast part of the town is the little hamlet called Lewis, a 
station on the Northern Central road, and a center of trade for a well- 



TOWN OF HOPEWELL. 429 

peopled region. Thi.s hamlet is in school district No. 8, the school- 
house and church being the most important of its local institutions. 
The latter is under the present pastoral care of Rev. Cordello Herrick, 
he also being pastor of the M. E Church at Flint Creek. The post- 
office here is called Hopewell, while the name Lewis applies to the rail- 
road station. 

The Wesleyan church of Hopewell is to be mentioned among the in- 
stitutions of Hopewell Center, although its members came from the town 
generally. The church was organized in 1843, by Rev. Ralph Bennett, 
and numbered in its membership some of the most substantial families 
of the town. Its earlier pastors were Revs. Bennett, H. M. Booth, Spoor, 
Ryder, Thompson, Brain, May, Slosson and others. 

Ennerdale is a station on the Northern Central Railroad, between 
Lewis and Canandaigua. The post-office here is called Bculah. Other 
than a convenient point in the midst of a fertile , farming region, this 
hamlet has no special importance. South of its locality and in the south 
part of the township was organized one of the pioneer church societies 
of the county. This was the Presbyterian church, the first meeting of 
which were held as early as 1803, although the organization was not 
completed until many years later. Rev. Jedediah Chapman was the or- 
ganizing minister and the society drew its members from both Hope- 
well and Gorham, the latter of which towns included the territory of the 
former at that time. At an early day this church had a large member- 
ship, but the organization of a church of the same denomination in Gor- 
ham, after Hopewell was set off, very much weakened the old society 
in the town last named. The Presbyterian church, parsonage and cem- 
etery were situated in district No. 9, about fifty rods north of the Gor- 
ham line. 

Schools. — In all matters pertaining to education the inhabitants of 
Hopewell have kept even step with the people of other towns of the 
county. Although the records are quite incomplete there is evidence 
which tends to show that schools were opened and maintained during 
the pioneer period, the first school being taught by Calvin Bacon in 
1702, and that Elesta Murray, Ahl Tracy and Nathaniel Lewis were 
among the earlier teachers in the little old school house which stood on 
the turnpike road leading from Geneva to the county seat. Directly 



430 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

north of the old site, and in the extreme north part of the town, was 
another pioneer school house, in which Walter Fitzgerald was a teacher. 
Chapinville, likewise an old settled locality, had its school in operation 
at an early day. The settlement of Hopewell was accomplished so rap- 
idly that the territory of the town was early divided and formed into 
school districts, and these have since been increased and rearranged to 
suit the convenience of the town's people. According to the present 
disposition of the town's area, there are twelve school districts, each of 
which has a good school building. The total value of school property 
in the town is $5,735- The number of children of school age in the 
town is four hundred and fifty one, as shown by the enumeration of 
1892, to instruct whom twelve teachers are employed at a cost, in the 
year mentioned, of $2,704. The total amount of moneys received for 
school purposes in 1892 was $3,5 19. 12. Of the school houses, nine are 
of frame, two of brick and one of stone material! 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BRISTOL. 

THIS town was formed in January, 1789, and originally included 
all which is now Bristol and South Bristol, or townships 8 and 
9 in the 4th range, as described according to the Phelps and Gorham 
surveys. In March, 1838, number 8, or South Bristol, was set off and 
separately organized. On March 23, 1848, a part of Bristol was 
annexed to Richmond, but on February 25, 1852, the strip was restored. 
The town derives its name from Bristol in Connecticut, from whence 
came many of its pioneer settlers. 

The settlement of this town began in 1788, at which time several 
brothers named Gooding came to the region, made an improvement on 
lot No. I, in the northeast corner of the town, sowed wheat and planted 
turnips, and then, with the exception of Elnathan Gooding, all returned 
east to spend the winter and prepare for an early return in the next 
spring Wherefore, the honor of being the pioneer of this town natu- 



TOWN OF BRISTOL. 431 

rally falls to Elnathan Gooding, whose long watch and wait appear to 
have been somewhat relieved by the presence and company of an 
Indian lad known as Jack Beary. In 1789 he returned to the town, 
accompanied with his family and brothers, and made a location in the 
vicinity of the improvement of the year before. Mr. Gooding was a 
veteran of the Revolution and a man of much influence in the new 
formed settlement. He was by trade a blacksmith, and his knowledge 
of that work made him especially serviceable to the pioneers. He was 
the first supervisor of the town. 

In 1788 George Codding and his family came to the town, also locat- 
ing in the northeast portion. Pioneer Codding had five sons in his 
party, and their coming greatly added to the little community. The 
boys were John, George, Farmer, Burt and William. Other settlers 
of the same vicinity, and about the same time or soon afterward, were 
Capt. Peter Pitts, William Pitts, Calvin Jacobs, John Smith, James 
Gooding, all of whom are believed to have been permanently located in 
the town as early as 1792, and some of them in 1789. Seth Simmons 
was a settler in the town in 1798. Alden Sears .'settled in 1792. 
Thomas Hunn opened a school in 1790, and in the same year pioneer 
Gameliel Wilder had a grist-mill in operation. Three years later, 1793, 
Stephen Sisson opened a store and kept a public house in the town. 
Cornelius McCrum is said to have been the first white child born in the 
town. 

In the preceding paragraphs we have named the first pioneers of the 
town, but great difficulties are encountered in learning the date of each 
settlement, while an attempt to preserve succession of settlement is 
wholly useless ; wherefore we may only recall the names of pioneers 
with date and general locality of settlement when ascertainable. Daniel 
Taylor settled in 1804, o" 'ot 4, and an early dealer of cattle, Faunce 
Codding, located on lot 5. Marcius Marsh settled on lot 5 in 1796 or 
'97. Abijah Spencer settled in 1789 on lot 6, and the place was occu- 
pied in 1797 by Dr. Thomas Vincent, who formerly lived in Geneva. 
On th^ same lot Hezekiah Hills settled in 1797. Burt Codding and 
John Whitmarsh were settlers on lot 7 in 1791. Ephraim Wilder 
located in 1793 on lot 14. and remained only one season and then 
moved to lot 10. He built a mill in the town in 18 10, and died in 1826. 



432 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Theopholis Short settled on lot ii in 1796, and was the first brick- 
maker in the town. Eleazer Hill settled on lot 13 in 1794. He 
organized a militia company in the town in 1812. John Taylor, settled 
in the town in 1797 on lot 13. Samuel Mallory settled on lot 14 in 
1797. In 1794 John Crow located on lot 15. John Trafton settled 
on the same lot in 1797. Oliver Mitchell settled early on lot 16. Alden 
Sears's settlement in 1792 was on lot 36. Aaron Wheeler came to the 
same locality in 1798, and Samuel Torrence in 1800. Aaron Hicks 
located on lot 37 in 1795. John Simmons settled on lot 38 in 1792. 
John Kent settled on lot 37 in 1795, and Seth Jones on lot 38 in 1802. 
The latter is remembered as a tavern-keeper at Baptist Hill as early as 
1 8 16 William Francis came to the town in 1800. Solomon Goodale 
came to the town in 1802, and was a Baptist minister. Luther Phillips 
settled in Bristol in 1803, and was an early shoemaker. Job Gooding 
located on lot 39 in 1794, and four years afterward Joshua Reed and 
Nathaniel Cud worth settled on the same lot. Samuel Andrews settled 
on lot 40 in 1791, and five years later Benjamin Andrews occupied a 
part of the same lot. Zephaniah Gooding came to Bristol in 1798 and 
located on lot 41, and in 1800 John Phillips settled on the same lot. 
Thomas Gooding came in 1802. David Simmons settled on lot 42 in 
1797, and in the same year also came Ephraim, Simeon, Benjamin, 
Raymond and Constance Simmons, all of the same family. Jeremiah 
Brown located on lot 45 in 1 800. Asa James came to lot 47 about 

1801. In 1805 Philip Simmons located on lot 50, and Capt. Amos 
Barber on lot 51 in 1796 or '97. 

In the same manner there may be recalled the names of other early 
settlers in Bristol, among them Nathan Fisher, who located near Bap- 
tist Hill about 1795. Abijah Warren settled in 1805. Rufus Whit- 
marsh came in [806 Jonas and Joseph Wilder came a little earlier. 

ft 

James Case came in 1800, and John Case in 1802. James Austin and 
Eliakim Walker were also early settlers, Daniel Smith was on lot 43 
in 1800, and Tisdell Walker on lot 42 in 1802. John Mason located 
on lot 44 in 1801. Sylvanus Jones and John Crandall were settlers in 

1802, and Azer Jackson and Elias Jackson in 1803. George Reed 
located on lot 52, and Ephraim Jones on lot 53 in 1805. 

Such was the pioneer settlement of township No. 9 in the 4th range, 
which is now and for more than a century has been known as Bristol. 



TOWN OF BRISTOL. 433 

Glancing over the names of pioneers there appear very many which are 
still famihar, and are represented by persons still resident in the county ; 
and cases are not wanting in which some of the descendants of these 
pioneer heads of families have attained high standing in professional 
and public life. It is a conceded fact, too, that Bristol has furnished 
some of the best and strongest men of Ontario county; men who have 
adorned the medical and legal professions, and others have reached an 
enviable position in political affairs. 

The early settlement of Bristol was indeed rapid, and in fact the 
town reached its maximum population in 1830. The census of that 
year gave it 2,952, but in 1838 South Bristol was taken off, hence, in 
1840, the number was reduced to 1,953. Since the last mentioned year 
the number of inhabitants has been steadily reduced, the result of the 
same causes that have operated to decrease the population in the 
majority of interior towns in this State, and as well all the Eastern 
States. In 1850 the population was 1,773 ; in i860 was 1,657; '" 1870 
was 1,551 ; in 1880 was 1,550; and in 1890 was 1,510. From this we 
discover that half a century witnessed a diminution of Bristol's popula- 
tion by more than 500. 

Organizatio7i. — The town of Bristol, as has been stated, was formed in 
1789, but it seems not to have been fully organized until 1797, the first 
meeting for that purpose being held on April 4. The justices of the 
peace — Gameliel Wilder and George Codding presided, and officers 
were elected as follows: Supervisor, William Gooding; town clerk, 
John Codding; assessors, F'aunce Codding, Nathan Allen and Nathaniel 
Fisher; commissioners of highways, James Gooding, Jabez Hicks and 
Moses Porter ; constables, Amos Barber, Nathan Allen and Alden 
Sears, jr. ; overseers of the poor, George Codding, jr., and Stephen 
Sisson ; overseers of highways, Eleazer Hills, Peter Ganyard, Theoph- 
ilus Allen, Elnathan Gooding, John Simmons and Amos Barber ; 
school commissioncis, Aaron Rice, Ephraim Wilder and Nathaniel 
Fisher; collectors, Amos Barber and Nathan Hatch. 

Although Bristol was early populated, its location in the county is 

such that the building up of large villages or trading centers has been 

an impossibility, and such as have been and are in existence, are for the 

accommodation of trade within the town. Mud Creek is the principal 

55 



434 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

water course of the town, having its source in South Bristol, whence it 
flows north into and across Bristol. Along this stream from the earliest 
settlement there has been both saw and grist-mills in operation, but the 
latter have outstripped the former in length of standing and usefulness. 
Mill Creek is a smaller stream, having its headwaters and course in the 
southwest part of the town, whence its flows into Richmond and dis- 
charges into the outlet of Honeoye Lake. 

Of the hamlets or centers of trade in Bristol, that commonly called 
Bristol Center is -perhaps the largest and most important, although 
Baptist Hill, or Bristol, may hold a supremacy in historical recollections. 
Ephraim Wilder was the pioneer in the Center neighborhood, he having 
located on lot 14 in 1793, where he built a log house, and afterward a 
frame dwelling, and kept public house, or tavern ; also he started a dis- 
tillery and otherwise laid the foundation for a village. Abijah Spencer 
and Major Jones were also early residents of this locality. In Landlord 
Wilder's hostelry Horace and Allen Hooker opened the first store of 
the Center, and were followed in the same line by one Bradbury, also 
George Gooding, the latter likewise keeping a hotel. The pioneer 
blacksmith was Learned Johnson, while the tanner of the village was 
Isaac Mason. Abijah Wan en also had an early tannery. Other 
former residents of the Center, all of whom were more or less associated 
with the early history of the town, were Zenas Briggs, Mr. Pool, 
Antony Low and one Warrells, the last mentioned being a cabinet- 
maker. The public buildings of the Center are the Methodist church 
and the school-house, while the Congregational church is located 
outside the village proper and about three-quarters of a mile to the 
northward. 

In the month of August, 1669, La Salle, accompanied by De Casson 
and Galinee, visited the Senecas. While the negotiations with the In- 
dians were pending the following event is recorded by Galinee. " In 
order to pass away the time, I went with M. de la Salle, under the 
escort of two Indians, about four leagues (ten miles) south of the vil- 
lage where we were staying, to see a very extraordinary spring. Issu- 
ing from a moderately high rock, it forms a small brook. The water is 
very clear but it has a bad odor, like that of the mineral marshes of 
Paris, when the mud on the bottom is stirred with the foot. I applied 



TOWN OF BRISTOL. 435 

a torch and the water immediately took fire and burned hke brandy, 
and was not extinguished until it rained. This flame is among the In- 
dians a sign of abundance or fertility according as it exhibits the con- 
trary qualities. There is no appearance of sulphur, saltpetre, or any 
other combustible material. The water has not even any taste, and I 
can neither ofifer nor imagine any better explanation than that it ac- 
quires this combustible property by passing over some aluminous land." 
In 1700 Col. Romer was sent by the Earl of Bellomont, governor of 
the province of New York, on a journey through the country of the 
Iroquois. In the instructions given him is the following: "You are 
to go and view a well or spring which is eight miles beyond the Sinek's 
furthest Castle, which they have told me blazes up in a flame when a 
light coale or fire-brand is put into it ; you will do well to taste the 
said water, and give me your opinion thereof, and bring with you some 
of it." This Burning Spring is located at Bristol Center, about eight 
miles from the foot of Canandaigua Lake, in a direct line south of 
Boughton Hill. The late N. W. Randall, in giving the writer a descrip- 
tion of this spring, said : "The spring is on the south side of a small 
brook which empties through a ravine into the west side of the Ganargua 
or Mud Creek. The banks opposite the spring are from eight to 
twenty feet high, the spring being on a level with the bed of the brook. 
By applying a match the water appears to burn, and is not easily ex- 
tinguished, except by a heavy rain or a high wind." 

The present business interests of Bristol Center are few, being the 
stores of Mrs. A. H. Case, who also is postmistress, Frank Simmons 
and Whitfield Burge ; also the grist-mill of Henry Codding. The ham- 
let contains about thirty dwellings, and has a population of about one 
hundred and fifty persons. 

The hamlet called Baptist Hill, the correct name of which, however, 
is Bristol, is located in the north part of the township in school district 
No. I. This place took the character of a village about 18 10, when 
Mr. Hunt opened a store. Later on he was followed in business by 
Joel Park, Dr. Jacob Gillett and others. Aaron Van Orman was the 
first blacksmith, and Luther Phillips the first tavern-keeper. Stephen 
Sisson built the first frame building here, which was used both for store 
and tavern. The present hotel-keeper is John Baker, and the mer- 



436 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

chants are Messrs. Wm, Doyle and Mr. Shelters, both of whom have 
general stores. Frank Hicks4ias a harness shop. The public proper- 
ties of Bristol are the Baptist and Universalist churches, the school of 
district No. i, and the cemetery, the latter a burial place of much note. 
Muttonville, as originally called, but Vincent of later designation, is, 
or at least was, a hamlet of some importance half a century ago. The 
name first mentioned was given the locality about 1845, when a tallow- 
chandlery was built there by Asahel Gooding. It is said that 30,000 
sheep were annually slaughtered here, the tallow from which was made 
into candles ; the hind quarters were sold at less than three cents per 
pound ; the skins were tanned by Abijah Warren and Isaac Mason ; 
and the remainder of the slain animals was fed to swine. However, the 
good old days of Muttonville have passed, its industries are all gone, 
and during the spring of 1892 the remnant of the hamlet was nearly all 
destroyed by fire. 

Bristol has been called the town of many churches, there having been 
no less then seven society organizations in the town since its first settle- 
ment. The oldest of these, and in fact one of the oldest in the county, 
is tliat known as the First Congregational Church of Bristol, which was 
organized in January, 1779, although Congregational services were held 
in the town as early as 1793, conducted by that earnest Christian 
worker, Rev. Zadoc Hunn ; and who was followed by Rev. John Smith. 
The first members were Isaac Hunn, George and Sarah Codding, 
Ephraim and Lydia Wilder, Nathaniel and Hannah Fisher, Chauncey and 
Polly Allen, Marcius and Amerilus Marsh, Wm. and Lydia Gooding, 
Samuel and Phebe Mallory, Selah Pitts, Mr. Foster, James Gooding, 
Alden Sears and Thomas Vincent. Rev. Joseph Grover was called to 
the pastorate, accepting and moving to the town in February, 1800, 
being the first of a long succession of pastors who have ministered to 
the spiritual wants of the people of Bristol. Other early pastors and 
supplies were Revs. Ezekiel Chapman, Aaron C. Collins, A. B. Law- 
rence, Edwin Bronson, Warren Day, S. C. Brown, Ebenezer Raymond, 
W. P. Jackson, Mr. Bryson, Mr. Jackson, E. A. Piatt, Hiram Harris, 
E. C. Winchester, Timothy Stowe, H. B. Pierpont and others in succes- 
sion. In 1823 this church was under the charge of the Ontario pres- 
bytery, but in 1844 it withdrew and became Congregational. The first 



TOWN OF BRISTOL. 437 

primitive meeting-house of this society is said to have been " the first 
edifice exclusively for the worship of God in the Genesee country " 
(Hotchkin.) It was built of logs and stood on lot five. The second 
edifice was erected in 1813-14, to which subsequent enlargements and 
repairs have resulted in a substantially new structure. It stands north 
of Bristol Center, about three-fourths of a mile. 

The Baptists, who have for nearly a century been numerically atid 
influentially strong in this town, and also in East Bloomfield, perfected 
their first church organization as early as 1799, and in 1803 built a 
meeting-house about one mile north of the hamlet of Bristol, more 
commonly called Bristol Hill. However, in 1805 the Bristol members 
of this society, which was known as the " First Baptist Church in 
Bloomfield," withdrew, and on February 7 organized the " First Bap- 
tist Church in Bristol," the latter numbering among its original mem- 
bers forty- two of the leading families of the town. This society built 
its first church home in 1 807, and the second in 1 8 14, both at the ham- 
let called Baptist Hill. A second Baptist church in Bristol was organ- 
ized in 1821. 

Methodist preaching began in Bristol as early as the year 1800, when 
Indian missionaries of the church came here and conducted public serv- 
ices for the inhabitants. This kind of service was continued through- 
out many subsequent years, and in 1806 there were enough Methodists 
in the town to form a class, which was reorganized and strengthened in 
181 5. In 1846 a complete church and society organization was 
effected, Ephraim and George Gooding, Abner and Alanson Reed, and 
Ward Tolman being the first trustees. The church property of this 
society is located at Bristol Center. 

The First Universalist Church of Bristol, having its edifice and seat 
of operations at Bristol Post-office, dates its actual organization back 
to the year 1 837, though its teaching and preaching in the town ante- 
dated that time by nearly twenty years. The early ministers of this 
denomination to labor in this locality were Oliver Ackley, Rev. Mor- 
ton, W. J. Reese, G. W. Montgomery, and William Queil, the latter 
being one of the earliest resident ministers. The first church edifice 
was built in 1836 of cobble stones, and in the year following a society 
organization was effected, and the complete church organization was 



438 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

delayed until February 2, 1872, the name "First Universalist Church 
of Bristol " being then adopted. The church edifice was built in 1861. 

In this connection mention may also be made of the Christian 
Church, the organization of which was completed, though meetings 
were held as early as 1824. The society passed out of existence about 
1850. 

Little is known of the early history of the schools of this town, the 
records extant throwing no valuable light on the subject, and the memory 
of the oldest inhabitants not running to the time of their establishment. 
However, it is a well authenticated fact that Thomas Hunn taught the 
first school in the town in 1790, and at that time the school history 
began, and from Hunn's primitive school the present excellent system 
is grown and developed. Generally referring to the schools of Bristol, 
it may be said that the town now comprises twelve school districts, 
each of which has a frame school- house. The total value of schools 
and sites is $7,275. In the town in 1892 were 354 children of school 
age, to whom instruction is offered at an annual expense of about 
$2,271 paid to teachers. The amount of school moneys received in 
1892 from all sources was $3,065. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OP^ SOUTH BRISTOL. 

ON the 8th day of March, 1838, township eight of range four 
was separated from the old town of Bristol and given a distinct 
organization under the name of South Bristol, and being not only one 
of the younger towns of Ontario county, but the smallest in point of 
population. The principal trading centers of this town are the ham- 
lets known as South Bristol, situate in the central part ; Bristol Springs, 
located about a mile and a quarter west from the lake shore, and in the 
eastern central portion of the town; Woodville, a boat -landing at the 
head of the lake ; aud Seneca Point, in the northeast part of the town, 
a summer resort of much popularity among the many similar locations 



TOWN OP SOUTH BRISTOL. 439 

on the shores of the lake. Boswell's Corners and Cold Spring are also 
names of settled hamlets, but neither is of any special importance. We 
may state, however, that on the formation of this town a part of num- 
ber eight in the third range was included within its boundaries, and 
except for this additional area South Bristol would have had no lake 
front. 

In 1788 Gameliel Wilder purchased township eight, range four, from 
Phelps and Gorham, taking title (except to several reserved tracts) in 
the name of Prince Bryan, the latter a land speculator, but who after- 
ward conveyed the town to Mr. Wilder, The reserved lands were sold 
to Captain Charles Williamson, and by him were subsequently trans- 
ferred to the Hornby estate, and as such were represented by the 
agency of John Greig, the prominent early lawyer of Canandaigua. On 
becoming proprietor of this vast tract Wilder prepared a plan for its 
division into lots, but not until 1794 was the survey made. 

In 1789 the pioneer settlement of the town began, the first honor in 
connection therewith naturally falling to Gameliel Wilder, although he 
was accompanied by quite a colony of pioneer Yankees. Besides 
Wilder were his sons, Daniel, Jonas, Joseph and Asa, Theophilus Allen 
and wife, Jonathan, John and Nathan Allen, Jeremiah Spicer, Aaron 
Rice, Jared Tuttle, Elisha Parish, and a few others whose names have 
not been preserved, as members of the colony. These families located 
in various sections of the town and at once set about clearing and im- 
proving their lands and building houses and other necessary buildings. 
In 1791 Gameliel Wilder built a grist-mill, and a saw-mill was about 
the same time put in operation by the worthy pioneer. Associated 
with the grist-mill was also the indispensable distillery. 

In the same manner may also be mentioned the names of other early 
settlers of South Bristol, among whom were Nathan Hatch, Pliny Hayes 
(wagon maker at an early day) and his brother. Hayes also operated 
the first carding-mill in town. Erastus Hill was an early settler, also 
an early schoolmaster. Nathan Hatch settled prior to 1800, David 
Gilbert was an early settler, as also was James Wilder, the pioneer 
blacksmith, and Warren Brown, Thomas Lee, Ephraim Brown, the 
wheelwright, the Kaufman family, Phineas Perkins, Deacon John 
Forbes, Richard Bishop, Abraham Roberts, Levi Austin and Mr. Fay 
are also to be mentioned in the same connection. 



440 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Pioneer Nathan Hatch settled before 1800. He had a large family 
of children, his sons being Nathan, George, John, Thomas, Charles, 
Lyman and Luman, whose coming added much to the town's popula- 
tion and enterprise. Other settlers were Aaron Spencer (1790), Nich- 
olas Burbee, Capt. Reuben Gilbert, Deacon Parmelee, " Lawyer" Butler, 
Mr. Reed, Gideon Beaman, James Corel, John Wood, Ezra Wood, 
Gains Randall, Deacon and Jonathan Forbes, Jeremiah Spicer, Luke 
Coye, Thomas Francisco, Ezra Parmele, Clark Worden, David Knicker- 
bocker, Mr. Maloy, John Perry, Thomas Standish, the Loveridge 
family, Amos Miner, jr., Phineas Lee, Lucius Lincoln, Thomas Lee, 
Richard Ingraham, Jonathan Green, Dr. David Williams, Anson 
Parrish, William Gates, John Fox, Harrison Salisbury, Pitts Walker, 
Jeremiah Spicer, Eleazer Parker, David Parker, Jonathan and Jacob 
Frost, Hazard Wilcox, Caleb McNair, William Dunn, John Lee, Erastus 
and Cyrus Hill, FrankHn Pierce, Benj. Wilcox. There were undoubt- 
edly other early settlers in the town whose names are equally worthy 
of mention, but through the inaccuracy and insufficiency of records 
cannot now be ascertained. However, of the early settlement of this 
town it is to be said that while the first inhabitants were as enterprising 
and industrious as those of other localities, they were possessed of less 
means, therefore were compelled to work harder to gain a permanent 
foothold and provide for their families. 

As has been stated, South Bristol was not set off until 1838, and its 
population, as shown by the census of 1840, was then about 1,400 In 
1840 it was 1,37s, since which time it has fluctuated constantly, as will 
be seen from the following statement taken from the census reports : 
Population in 1840, i,375 ; 1850, 1,120; i860, 1,216; 1870, 1,218; 
1880, 1,327; 1890, 1,225. It will be observed, however, that there 
has noi been the same proportionate decrease in population in this town 
as is noticeable in some others of the county, the falling off in South 
Bristol in fifty years being only 150. 

Referring again to some of the first events of the town, we may state 
that pioneer Gameliel Wilder built the first grist-mill, the first saw-mill, 
the first distillery, the first framed house, kept the first tavern, and was 
otherwise identified with local affairs so that he was the leading man of 
the town for many years. EH Allen, born (1791) of the marriage of 



TOWN OF SOUTH BRISTOL. 441 

Theophilus Allen and Eliza Parrish, was the first white child born in 
the town. Ephraim Brown built a grist mill in 1805, which was suc- 
ceeded by others on the same site for many years George Wilder 
kept the first store in town, it being near the locality known as Bos- 
well's Corners. The first school house was built of logs, and Joanna 
Forbes and Eliza Parrish are said to have been the first teachers. 

The western portion of South Bristol is devoted principally to general 
agricultural pursuits, and the land is of such a character and quality as 
to produce good returns to careful cultivation. During the last score 
or more of years, the lands in the eastern part of the town, which were 
formerly under general farm cultivation, have been turned into vine- 
yards, for which the locality and soil are peculiarly adapted, and the 
returns of which are far in excess of anything that could be realized 
from the average farm. In fact the lake shore lands throughout the 
north and south extent of South Bristol have been changed into an 
almost continuous series of vineyards, well attended and carefully culti- 
vated, while here and there, nestling comfortably in groves of forest 
trees, are numerous cottages, the summer homes of at least half a 
hundred business men and pleasure seekers. Within the town of 
Bristol, between the north line and the hamlet of Woodville, are dozens 
of landing-places, while at Seneca Point and Cook's Point are summer 
houses of some note. The hotel at Seneca Point is a large and well 
arranged building, owned by a company of shareholders, and is un- 
questionably the most popular resort on the lake. The summer house 
at Cook's Point is for summer boarders, and smaller and of less capacity 
than that last mentioned, but is a comfortable place and one well pat- 
ronized. 

Of the several hamlets of South Bristol, that known as Bristol 
Springs is the largest and of the greatest importance. The first settler 
of this vicinity was Frederick W. Holcomb, who located here in 18 12 
and made an improvement. The population of this hamlet never ex- 
ceeded 300, and its industries have been confined to saw and grist mills 
and the stores usual to such settlements. However, the village is 
prettily situated, and is in all respects a quiet and peaceable place of 
residence. The merchants of the village are A. M. Gardner, Frank 
Holcomb and Willis W. Holcomb, and there are also two blacksmith 

56 



442 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

shops and other light industries. A saw-mill has been in operation 
here for many years, also a feed mill, the present proprietor of both 
being B. T. Hawkins. An evaporater is also operated during the fruit 
season, its proprietor being John Ricketson. 

The Congregational Church, formerly one of the important institu- 
tions of the town, is now only a thing of memory and fast passing from 
recollection. It was organized in the latter part of 1796, and owed 
much of its early prosperity to pioneer Gameliel Wilder, Ephraim 
Wilder and other prominent persons. The church edifice was built in 
1814, on the Wilder farm, and was forty by fifty feet in dimensions. 
Mr. Wilder left a fund to help maintain the society, but even his gener- 
osity failed to maintain its permanency. The first pastor was Rev. 
John Rolph, followed later by Revs. Aaron Collins, Andrew Rawson, 
Benj. B. Smith and others. More than twenty years ago the old edifice 
was torn down, and the society passed out of existence. More recently, 
and within the last half score of years, a free church has been built, at the 
joint expense of members of various denominations. Here religious ser- 
vices are held by such clergymen as are appointed or invited to officiate. 
Sotith Bristol is the name of a small hamlet and post-office situated 
near the center of school district No. 8. It was at one time a busy set- 
tlement, and was the site of several milling industries and some trade. 
Its chief public buildings are the town- hall and the school-house. 

Woodville is in the southeast corner of the town, near the head- 
waters of navigation on Canandaigua lake. The leading business inter- 
ests here are the boat landing and wharf and the hotel 

Bosweirs Corners is a very small settlement near the central part of 
the town, and contains the store of William Heard, while in the vicinity 
is the saw- mill and flour-mill of Henry Loose. 

The town of Bristol is divided into twelve school districts, each hav- 
ing a good school- house, and the total value of school property in the 
town is $6,230 In 1892 the town had a population of 307 children of 
school age, to instruct whom twelve teachers were employed, and the 
total expense of maintenance was $2,821, of which $2,369 was paid to 
teachers. During the year mentioned the town received school moneys 
from all sources to the amount of $2,821.15. 

As has been stated, South Bristol was set off from the mother town 
by an act of the Legislature passed at the session of 1838. The first 



TOWN OF WEST BLOOMFIELD. 443 

town meeting was held in April following, at which time officers were 
chosen as follows: Supervisor, Franklin Crooker ; town clerk, S. Col- 
lins; justices of the peace, John Stetson, Philo Judson, G. Hays; asses- 
sors, David Coye, Cyrus Hill, Allen Brown; collector, Peter Cameron; 
overseers of the poor, Thos. Corel, M. Hayes ; commissioners of high- 
ways, Ephraim Randall, Silas Reynolds, Joseph A. Allen; commis- 
sioners of schools, J. S. Penoyer, H Pennell, S. P. Page ; constables. 
Gains Randall, David Parker. 

Supervisors of South Bristol. Franklin Crooker, 1838-39; Cyrus 
Hills, 1840; Simri Collins, 1841-42; James Parmely, 1843; John 
Stetson, 1844; Joseph A. Allen, 1845-47; Franklin Crooker, 1848; 
Joseph A. Allen, 1849; James Parmely, 1850-51; Joseph A. Allen, 
1852; James Parmely, 1853-54; David Coy, 1855-56; John Stetson, 
1857; Charles H. Sheldon, 1858-60; Ephraim Randall, 1861-62 ; Ed- 
win Brown, 1863; James Parmely, 1864-66: Joseph E. Fellows, 1867; 
Edwin Brown, 1868; Charles Hemenway, 1869; Edwin Brown, 1870; 
Chas. G. Hemenway, 1871-74; Elias Allen, 1875; Chas. G. Hemen- 
way, 1876; Geo. T. Standish, 1877; Wm. Templar, 1878; Geo. T. 
Standish, 1879-80; VVm. Templar, 1881 ; John Ricketson, 1882-83; 
Wm. Templar, 1884; Avery Ingraham, 1885-87; George B. Hemen- 
way, 1888-89; Edward Smyth, 1890-92; Elmer N. Coye, 1893. 

Present town officers : Supervisor, Elmer N. Coye ; town clerk, Fay- 
ette Ingraham ; assessors, D P. Allen, John F. Erdle, John S. Burn- 
ham ; justices of the peace, A. W. Hovey, Wm. H. Hicks, C. R. North, 
S. L. Smith: commissioner of highways, George W. Reed; overseer of 
the poor, John Heifer; collector. Miner H. Butler; constables, Charles 
S. Achison, Joseph Fox, jr., Thomas J. Corel, Miner H. Butler; com- 
missioners of excise, Chas. P. Johnson, Lyman A. Holcomb. 



CHAPTER XXVHI. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WEST BLOOMFIELD. 

ON February 11, 1833, that part of township number 10 of range 
5, which lay east of Honeoye Outlet, was set off from the old 
town of Bloomfield and given a separate organization under the name 



444 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

of West Bloomfield. In area this is the smallest, except Geneva, of the 
towns of Ontario county, but is a town of considerable importance 
from a commercial and industrial point of view. Township lO, range 
5, was purchased from the proprietary in 1789 by General Amos Hall, 
Robert Taft, Nathan Marvin and Ebenezer Curtis, all of vvhom were 
pioneers in the town as early as 1799. 

The actual settlement in West Bloomfield began in the spring of 
1789, when Peregrine Gardner came and made the first improvement, 
and was followed in the same year by Ebenezer Curtis and his family. 
Pioneer Gardner located in the central part of the town, on lot 10, and 
in the same vicinity he passed the remainder of his life. Lucinda, 
daughter of Mr. Gardner, was the first white child born in the town, 
this event taking place in 1791. Amos Hall settled west of Gardner, 
and was for many years an influential man in the county. In the be- 
ginning of the war of 18 12 he commanded the Ontario county militia, 
and performed good service on the frontier; but having no practical 
knowledge of military affairs, was superseded in command by a trained 
officer. He also was conspicuous in State politics, and held ofifices of 
trust and importance. He was a large landholder in this locality. 
General Hall died in West Bloomfield December 28, 1827, the father 
of six children, nearly all of whom likewise attained much prominence. 

Other pioneers and early settlers in this locality (the eastern central 
part of the town) were David Parsons (1796) the carpenter; Clark 
Peck, 1790; John Wendle, Reuben Lee, Deacon Daniel Handy (1796), 
Nathaniel Shepard (1805), Martin Minor; Nathaniel Eggleston, Mr. 
Stewart, Josiah Eggleston (shoemaker), Bayes Baker, Ami Fowler^ 
Phileman Hall, Daniel Curtis, William Lee. This locality also seems 
to have been the home of a number of early industries, as investiga- 
tions disclose the fact that about 18 16 Gen. Hall built a grist-mill on 
the creek, and on the site a mill was maintained for many years after- 
ward. Samuel Nichols started a distillery in 18 18; Jacob Ardle a saw- 
mill in 1825. An ashery was also in operation here at an early day. 

The pioneer of the northeast part of the town was Samuel Miller, 
whose settlement began in 1790, but who made an improvement on lot 
six in 1789. From this pioneer family the name Miller's Corners was 
derived. Other persons in this section were Josephus Fox, Thomas 



TOWN OF WEST BLOOMPIELD. 445 

Larkins, Benjamin Burlingame (1795), Charles Smith, Benj. Crowell 
(1802), Robert Simpson (1796). South and southeast of the center of 
the town was settled early, and among the pioneers here we may recall 
the names of Captain Robert Taft, Royal Wheelock, John Lute, James 
Harvey, Lot Raw, Daniel Riley, Payne Leach, Wm. Carringer, the Al- 
gur family, Benj., John, Samuel and Josiah, George Nichols, Aaron 
Norton, John Miner, William Paul and David McMaster. In the south- 
west quarter the pioneers were Capt. Otis Thompson, Jesse Taft, Mr. 
Bent, Job Williams, Jeremiah Simmons, Arnold and Whitley Mann, 
Mr. Chapman, Daniel Daniels, William Daniels and Watrous Peck. 

North of the locality last mentioned the pioneers were Colonel Jasper 
C. Sears and Ebenezer Curtis, the latter one of the proprietors, and 
whose settlement was made in 1789. In the same locality, also, the 
other early settlers were Julius Curtis, Joseph Gilbert, Palmer Peck, 
Jasper Marvin, Loren Waits, Sylvanus Thayer (who built the first grist- 
mill in the town), Uriah Webster (who had a saw-mill near Thayer's), 
Reynolds and Abner Peck. The locality just mentioned contains the 
hamlet of West Bloomfield, which in the early history of the town, was 
a place of great importance. In addition to the industries above noted, 
we may also mention Hutchinson's distillery, started in 1827, near the 
grist mill. Daniel Ashley was the head of a firm which started the 
first cotton-mill in this region, which later became a woolen factory. 
Elisha Eggleston ran a grist-mill here at an early day. 

The pioneers of the north and northeast portions of the town may be 
chiefly recalled by name, and among them were the Bull, Dixon, Hib- 
bard and Baker families, and also Daniel and Marvin Gates, Reuben 
and Beebe Parmele, Isaac Hall, Daniel and Titus Canfield, Jared 
Everts, and the Butlers, Hayeses and Madisons. In this part of the 
town is situated the busy little manufacturing hamlet of North Bloom- 
field, of which more will be written later on in this chapter. 

In West Bloomfield, unlike some other towns of the county, the his- 
tory of the villages is an essential part of the township itself, and 
among those which form a part of this chapter the most productive of 
recollections associated with the town at large is the hamlet bearing 
the name of the town. Pioneers Ebenezer Curtis and Jasper P. Sears 
(some authorities say John P. Sears) settled in this locality, the former 



446 HISTORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

in 1789 and the latter in 1790. A preceding paragrpah has recorded 
the names of other early settlers in this vicinity, prominent among 
whom was Jasper Marvin. In 18 10 Erastus Hunt had a general store, 
but still earlier Hendee & Company were in trade at the village. Lud- 
wick came later, as also did Augustus Hall, whose store was east of 
the village. John Dickson was the pioneer lawyer, and Doctors Fair- 
child and Hickox sold drugs and attended the sick. Dr. Lewis Hodge 
succeeded them. About 1820 Captain Arnold started a tannery, and 
two brothers Pillsbury opened a smith's shop. John Cooper made 
axes and other edged tools, Reuben Pierce was wagon -maker, and 
Pioneer Baker made chairs. W. D. Pillsbury started a foundry about 
1830. Other early business men were Edward Herrick, brass 
founder, and Josiah Wendell, merchant. However, to recall the names 
of all the proprietors of business enterprises which have from time to 
time been established in West Bloomfield village would be difficult to 
accomplish, and even then could have no special interest. The village 
is situated something more than a mile south of the railroad, and al- 
though a pretty hamlet, does not possess the interests which seventy- 
five and more years ago made it their seat of operation. Its popula- 
tion is about 350, and its present interests are confined to the stores of 
Leach & Company, and Rigney. The town -house was formerly the 
property of the Christian Church Society. 

The Congregational Church of West Bloomfield is one of the fixed 
institutions of the village and has a history almost as interesting as that 
of the town itself The " Society of Bloomfield," as it was originally 
called, had its beginning as early as the year 1796, and is therefore to 
be numbered among the first religious societies of Western New York. 
The first meetings were held under the charge of Pioneer Elisha Wade, 
and on August 16, 1799, an organization was perfected, having these 
members : Ebenezer Curtis, Samuel and Sarah Handy, Mary Hall, 
Daniel Canfield, Rachel Gilbert, Elizabeth Miner, Elizabeth Downs, 
Peregrine Gardner, Griffin Downs, Nathaniel and Sebra Butler, Reuben 
and Louisa Lee, Hannah Curtis, Rhoda Curtis, Phebe Hall, Comfort 
Marvin, and Phebe Richmond. The first pastor was James Hotchkin, 
who came as a supply in October, 1801, and who was installed pastor 
May 19, 1803. The early services of this church were held in the 



TOWN OF WEST BLOOMEIELD. 447 

school-house, to which building the society at first proposed to make 
an addition to be occupied for purposes of public worship, but objec- 
tions to this plan being interposed, a church edifice was finally deter- 
mined upon. This was in 1804, but not until 1806 was the work 
begun, and the building was not fully completed until several years 
afterward. 

In 1828 the church called Silas C Brown to the pastorate, whose in- 
stallation was almost immediately followed by a bitter controversy 
among the members, and the final result was the withdrawal of forty 
of them, who organized a new society and installed Mr. Brown as their 
pastor. They also built a house of worship in 1831, which was used 
until the opposing factions became reunited, and was afterward (1866) 
sold to the trustees of St. Joseph's R. C. Society. The reunion men- 
tion was effected in 1843, ^"d three years later the congregation had 
become so large that a new church was necessary. It was accordingly 
built — a large brick structure, costing about $5,000. This proved suf- 
ficient for the requirements of the society for thirty years, but in 1875 
a third edifice was begun and was completed within two years. The 
property of the society consists of church, chapel and parsonage, of a 
total value of about $18,000. 

The pastor and supplies of this church from its organization to the 
present time have been as follows : James H. Hotchkin, David Fuller, 
Ebeiiezer Fitch, Silas C. Brown. William P. Kendrick, Julius Steele, 
George Clark, George Bassett, C. R. Clark, Timothy Stowe, C. E. 
Fisher, George C. Overhiser, P. F. Sanborn, John Patchin, O. D. Craw- 
ford, S. B. Sherrill, and Annis F. Eastman, the last named being the 
present incumbent. The church at this time has a membership of 200, 
and the Sunday-school has 210 scholars. 

St. Joseph's Catholic Church at West Bloomfield was organized in 
1866, and included within its parish the Roman Catholic families of the 
town. In the same year the church purchased the frame church 
formerly erected by the withdrawing element of the Congregational 
Society. Father William Hughes was for many years pastor of St. 
Joseph's. The present pastor is Father Simon Fitzsimons. 

The Christian Church of West Bloomfield was organized in October, 
1818, and held its early meetings in school- houses. In 1825 a church 



448 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

edifice was built about a mile south of West Bloomfield village, where 
it stood until 1848, and was then moved to the corner lot in the village. 
Rev. David Millard was the active organizer of this church and society, 
and he stood in the relation of pastor almost throughout its existence. 
In 1868 he moved to Michigan, and was succeeded in the pastorate by 
Revs. Havens, Sibley, and David E. Millard, who labored to maintain 
the organization of the society, but failing, its was finally dissolved, 
and the edifice was purchased by the town and used for its meetings. 

North Bloomfield is the name of a small hamlet and post-office sta- 
tion south of the line of the Canandaigua and Batavia branch of the 
Central road. This has been an iniportant manufacturing center for 
many years, and unlike many other portions of the county, its inter- 
ests and enterprises here have been maintained and even increased 
with passing years, and it is a fact that to-day the little hamlet of 
North Bloomfield is the most important manufacturing center in west- 
ern Ontario county. 

The pioneer of this part of the town was Daniel Gates, who made 
a settlement in 1790, and was followed in 1794 by Marvin Gates, who 
was a pioneer in the lumbering business. At this point, about 1795, 
Samuel Miller and one Crites built a saw- mill on Honeoye outlet, 
which old mill subsequently passed through various ownerships and 
stood for many years, John Blake was an early distiller of spirits near 
the old grist mill of Squire and Jacob Smith. The Squire built a 
cloth or fulling-mill for his son Eldrick, the building afterward being 
made into a grist mil and operated by Amos Gates. Near it Francis 
Smith established a distillery, for it must be understood that the 
pioneer grist mill and the distillery of the same period were hand in 
hand enterprises. James Smith opened a store at an early day. This 
leads to the remark that the Smiths were people of much consequence 
in the early history of this locality, and from the number and extent 
of their interests, the point at one time was known as Smithtown. 
Other early business men here were Goodrich, succeeded by Joseph 
Chambers; Horace Chambers, Robert Huntington, hotel -keeper ; 
Isaac Hall, who had a forge and furnace. The industries and business 
interests of this region extend along the outlet on both sides, and, as a 
result, a village of importance has grown up, much of which is located 
on the west or Lima side of the stream. 



TOWN OF WEST BLOOMFIELD. 449 

The present interests which have an abiding place on the North 
Bloomfield side of the outlet are the general store of Charles S. Cham- 
bers & Company, the grist-mill of Amos Lotee, the flouring mills of 
Aaron Mather, the saw-mill, stave, heading and barrel factory of A. 
B. Collins & Company, the factory of C. H. Fairchild, millwright and 
manufacturer of mill flights ; the wagon repair shop of Wallace Buck, 
and other small industries which are incidental to a manufacturing 
community. These diversified and somewhat extensive interests re- 
quire protection, hence " The North Bloomfield Fire Department " 
was organized, and was incorporated in October, 1886. Its jurisdiction 
extends to the west side of the outlet, and in fact it is an organization 
of the vicinity rather than of North Bloomfield alone. 

Miller's Corners, as known .for many years, but more recently 
designated as " Miller Corners," was named in honor and memory of 
Samuel Miller, whose first improvement was made in 1789, and whose 
residence here began in 1790. Pioneer Miller was a blacksmith and 
established a primitive shop in the town soon after coming here. Thus 
he founded a settlement, though having no such intention at the time. 
However, it was not until the completion of the railroad (1853) that 
this hamlet acquired any prominence, although a post-office was estab- 
lished here in 1849, and to it was given the name " Taylorville," in 
allusion to the surname of the then president, Gen. Zach. Taylor. 
The name of Miller's Corners was adopted in 1869. The business in- 
terests of Miller Corners are substantially embraced by the general 
stores of Johnson and Croft respectively, and the public institutions 
are the Methodist Church and the school of District No. 3. It may be 
added, however, that the Old Cemetery and Rural Cemetery have 
their location within the hamlet proper, and in connection therewith 
may be mentioned. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church of West Bloomfield, as an original 
organization, belongs to the town rather than the village of Miller's 
Corners The society was formed February 7. 1 831, and held its first 
meetings in West Bloomfield, in the school house, and occasionally in 
Mr. Miller's barn. The church edifice was built in 1832. However, 
as most of the members resided at the Corners or its vicinity, the so- 
ciety was disbanded, and afterwards reorganized as a society of Miller's 

57 



450 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Corners, to which place the meeting-house was removed, and was super- 
seded by a more substantial structure in 1840. Present pastor, Rev. E. 
W Parks. Although the pastorate is not always supplied by a resident 
minister, the society is nevertheless large and prosperous. 

Schools. — As early as 1796 a school was opened at West Bloomfield, 
and before 18 12 the enterprising inhabitants of the town founded an 
academy. Prior to 1800 a school was started at Miller's Corners, and 
in 1812 a school-house was erected. Other early schools were in dis- 
trict No. 7, also No 8, and elsewhere in the town, all of which tends to 
show that even during the infancy of the township the educational in- 
terests were the subject of care and attention on the part of the people. 
According to the present arrangement, the territory of the town is di- 
vided into nine school districts, only one of which (No. 8) has no school 
building. In 1892 the number of children of school age was 407, to 
instruct whom fourteen teachers were employed at an expense during 
the year of $2,521.50. The amount of moneys received for school 
purposes was $3,354-53- There are six frame school houses, also one 
of stone (No, 3). 

As has been stated in this chapter, the town of West Bloomfield was 
set off February 11, 1833, and was separately organized at the first 
town meeting held on the first Tuesday in April following, at which 
time these officers were elected : Reynold Peck, supervisor ; H. B. Hall, 
town clerk ; Stephen Blake, David Paul and Wheeler Griffin, assessors ; 
Isaac W. Phillips, collector ; Stephen Hendee and Sylvester Kellogg, 
overseers of the poor; Sidney Huntington, Enoch Hall and Elias D. 
Wright, justices of the peace. 

Succession of Supervisors — Reynold Peck, 1833-39, 1843-44, 1847- 
48; Bazaleel C. Taft, 1840-42 ; Jasper C. Peck, 1845 I John Dickson, 
1846; Solon Peck, 1849-50; Charles Webb, 185 i; Melancton Gates, 
1852; Daniel S. Baker, 1853-54; Thos. R. Peck, 1855; Elisha F. 
Leech, 1856-64; Joseph C. Shelton, 1865-66 ; Hiram T. Parmele, 1867- 
70; Jasper P. Thompson, 1871 ; Reynold M. Peck, 1872; Walter J. 
Dixon, 1873 74; Harvey A. Metcalf, 1875-77; James H. Baker, 1878; 
Carlton S. Miller, 1879-S0; Oscar H. Huntington, 1881 ; Carlton S. 
Miller, 1882-83; Edwin E. Bond, 1884-85; John P. Eaton, 1886; 
Reynold M. Peck, 1887-88; Edwin E. Bond, 1889 ; Patrick O'Leary, 
1890-91 ; Newton W. Dibble, 1892; William T. Case, 1893. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 451 

Present Town Officers — William T. Case, supervisor ; M. H. Shepard, 
town clerk ; C. M. Hendee, H. B. Webb, G. I. Rose, L. A. Taylor, 
justices of the peace ; H. B. Marble, E A. Chapin, John Seymour, as- 
sessors ; Ira Clemons, commissioner of highways ; E. A. Chapin, over- 
seer of the poor ; W. H. Welch, collector ; A. M. Lyman, William 
Webb, Wm. H. Welch, constables; Henry P. Hewitt, Sears B. Wood, 
Henry C. Brown, inspectors of election ; James Elton, commissioner of 
excise. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF RICHMOND. 

THIS town was organized in 1796, under the act of January 27, 
1789, and first called Pittstown, in honor of its pioneer Captain 
Peter Pitts The name was changed to Honeoye, April 6, 1808, and to 
Richmond, April 11, 1815. A part of Canadice was annexed April 30, 
1836, and parts of Bristol and South Bristol in 1848 ; but the latter 
were restored in 1852. The town consists of a nearly square portion of 
land lying near the foot of Honeoye Lake, and a narrow strip extend- 
ing along the east shore of that lake and its inlet to the south border of 
the county. This strip was added to the town in consequence of its 
position, high ridges separating it from the business centers of both 
Canadice and South Bristol. 

Negotiations for the purchase of a large tract of land in the Genesee 
country were begun as early as the year 1787, but not until Phelps and 
Gorham perfected their title were the arrangements completed. A party 
was sent into this region to examine the lands, and subsequently the 
Dighton Company was formed, the agents of which purchased 46,080 
acres, a part of which extended over the present town of Richmond, 
then known, however, as number 9 in range 5. The title to the land 
was taken by Calvin Jacobs and John Smith, who, after its survey and 
allotment, conveyed to the respective owners. This survey was made 
in 1789 by Capt, Peter Pitts and his son William ; Deacon and George 



452 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Codding, father and son ; and Calvin Jacobs and John Smith. Captain 
Pitts became the possessor of 3,000 acres of land near the foot of Hone- 
oye Lake, upon which the first improvement was made in 1790 by 
Gideon and William Pitts. In December of the same year Captain 
Pitts and John Codding and their families became permanent settlers of 
the town, occupying during the following winter the log house built by 
Captain Pitts's sons, Gideon and William. Later on this primitive 
structure was replaced with a substantial framed dwelling, supposed by 
many to have been the famed " Long House," in which the redoubtable 
pioneer entertained those distinguished traitors Louis Philippe and 
Duke de Liancourt, their host and entertainer being Capt. Peter Pitts. 

Referring further to the pioneer and early settlers of this town, there 
may be recalled the names of others equally worthy of mention. In 
this connection there may be recalled Elisha Pratt, who lived with Cap- 
tain Pitts; Eber Sibley, Edward Hazen, Edward Taylor, Silas Whit- 
ney, John Pennell, Ebenezer Farrer, Jonathan Rhodes, the date of 
whose settlement is not accurately preserved. .In the center of the 
town the early residents were Noah Ashley, Joseph and Elias Gilbert, 
David, William, Sanford and Heman Crooks, Philip Reed and his sons 
John P., Silas, Wheeler, William and Philip; Whiting Marsh, John and 
Eleazer Freney, Deacon Harmon, Isaac Bishop, Rhoderick Steele, Cyrus 
Wells, Isaac and Alden Adams, Daniel H. Goodsell, Orsamus Risden, 
and possibly others. In the northeast part of the town the early settlers 
were Lemuel and Cyrus Chipman, Asa Dennison and Levi Blackmer, 
David Aiken, Thomas Wilson, Mr. Bentley, Wm. Baker, Aaron and 
John Abbey, Seth Tubbs, David Crawford, Moses, Peter and Nathaniel 
Allen, James Garlinghouse, Joseph Garlinghouse, Cyrus Wells, Sylves- 
ter Curtis, Mr. Boyd, Mr. Jenkins, Hugh Gregg, George Fox, Abram 
Wiley, Gideon Gates, David Pierpont, Caldwell. Other settlers in the 
town were Joshua Phillips, Nathan Hicks, Elijah Wheeler, Pierce Cham- 
berlain, Asa Dennison, Levi Blackmer, Roswell Turner, Calvin Ward, 
Philip Reed, Colonel Lyman Hawes, Geo. McClure, Amos and John 
Dixon, Oliver Lyon, Wm. Warner, Parley Brown, Parley Drury, Luther 
Stanley, Mr. Frisbie, James McCrossen, Rufus Bullock, Caleb and 
Thomas Briggs, James Green, Stephen Frost, Gates Pemberton, Caleb 
Smith, Nelson Skinner, John Norton, James Parker, Abijah Wright, 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 453 

Wm. Arnold, Amos Jones, Jesse Stephens, A. S. Bushnell, Philip Short 
Walter Stephens, Caleb Arnold, Abel Short, Artemas Briggs, John 
Beecher and Gilbert Kinyon. 

The early settlers of that part of the town which extends south to 
the county line were Hugh Hamilton, George Gordon, William Layne, 
David Knapp, John Parker, Edmund Downs, Wm Judevine, Job Wood 
Jacob Flanders, Colonel John Green, the Skinner family, the Vinals, 
James Moore, Daniel Smith, Aaron J. Hunt, Andrew Bray, Jacob 
Bowers. 

The persons above mentioned, many of whom were heads of families, 
were the pioneers and early settlers of Richmond, but in naming tliem 
no effort has been made to fix date of settlement, place of residence in 
the town, or to recall any events in connection with their family life, or 
services in the town. However, in another department of this work 
will be found detailed mention of many of these pioneers and their 
descendants, many of whom have largely contributed to the prosperity 
of the town. From the number of names mentioned it will be seen that 
the early settlement of the town was quite rapid, although prior to 1800 
the inhabitants were few and scattered. However, in 1796 it was 
deemed advisable to complete the town organization, and a meeting 
therefor was held on April 5, at which time these officers were chosen ; 
Supervisor, Lemuel Chipman; town clerk, Gideon Pitts; assessors, Philip 
Reed, Wm. Pitts, Solomon Woodruff; constable and collector, Jonas 
Belknap ; commissioners of highways, Solomon Woodruff, Gideon Pitts, 
Elijah Parker; fence viewers, Stiles Parker; Roswell Turner; pound- 
master, Edward Hazen ; pathmasters, Peter Pitts, Cyrus Chipman, Sol- 
omon Woodruff, Aaron Hunt, Roswell Turner; overseers of the poor, 
Peter Pitts, Philip Reed; commissioners of schools, Philip Reed, Cyrus 
Chipman, Jonas Belknap. 

In this connection we furnish the names of the supervisors of Rich- 
mond who have from time to time represented the town in the county 
legislature as follows: Lemuel Chipman, 1786-1800,1806, 1814, 1821 ; 
Philip Reed, 1801-4; Gideon Pitts, 1805, 1807-1809, 1818-20; Noah 
Ashley, 18 10, 1813, 1815 ; James Herendeen, 181 1 ; Peter Allen, 181 2 ; 
Noah Ashley, 1812, to fill vacancy; Amos Mead, 1816-17; Issacher 
Frost, 1822-23, 1828; Nathaniel Allen, 1824, 1826; John Dixon, 



454 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

1825; Philip Short, 1827; Jonathan Mason, 1829; Hiram Pitts, 1830- 
34; Gilbert Wilson, 1835-38; Wm. F. Reed, 1839-40; Hiram Ashley, 
1841-43 ; Robert L. Rose, 1844-45; Zach. Longyor, 1846; David A. 
Pierpont, 1847-48, 1852, 1855; Thomas Barkley, 1849-50; Lyman 
Haws,i85i; David L. Hamilton, 1853-54 ; Zoroaster Paul, 1856 ; Wm. 
F. Reed, 1857-58; Willard Doolittle, 1859-60; Evelyn Pierce, 1861- 
68; Spencer D. Short, 1868-72 ; Chas. E. Reed, 1873-76; Marion P. 
Worthy, 1887-80; Frederick L.Ashley, 1881-82; John A. Reed, 
1883-86; Edwin W. Gilbert, 1887-88; David A. Pierpont, 1889-91; 
Charles E. Reed, 1892-93. 

The Richmond contribution to the Ontario county troops who served 
in the War of 18 12-15, so far as can be ascertained, comprised these 
militiamen: Peter Allen, who commanded a regiment; Captains Elijah 
Clark, Josiah Morehouse, Joel S. Hart, Caleb Harrington ; Salma Stan- 
ley, Abraham Dox, John Brown, John Bogart, James Bogart; Paymas- 
ter Nathaniel Allen ; Major James Henderson ; Lieutenant Joshua Phil- 
lips, and Tilness Bently, Eli Crooks, Henry Hazen, Paul W. Hazen, 
Thomas Bentley, Riley Crooks, Robert Crawfor, John Wheeler, Syl- 
vester Wheeler, Benj. Leslie, Benj. Downing, David Knapp, Richard 
Wright, Pitts Phillips, Wm. Lane, John Flanders, Samuel Bently, Ly- 
man Cauda, Vincent Conklin, Darius French, Leonard Pemberton, 
Elijah Risden, Elijah Sibley, Cyrus Booth 

The greatest number of inhabitants ever attained by the town was 
about the year 1840, there then being a population of 1,927. Ten years 
before the number was 1,876. In 1850 it decreased to 1,852; in i860 
to 1,650 ; in 1870 to 1,622 ; in 1880 it was increased to 1,772, and dur- 
ing the next ten years decreased to 1,511, as shown by the census 
reports. 

The town of Richmond from its early settlement period has pos- 
sessed a number of small villages, none of which has attained to the 
character of a corporation The largest and most important of these 
hamlets is Honeoye, a pretty little village located on the outlet of 
Honeoye Lake, about half a mile from the main body of the latter. The 
land in this vicinity to the vast extent of 3,000 acres, was originally 
owned by pioneer Captain Pitts, though the proprietorship of the vil- 
lage seems to have been credited to Artemas Briggs. The pioneer in- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 455 

terests here were the tannery of Moses Risden, succeeded by Daniel Phil- 
lips ; Gideon Pitts, Mr. Way and Abner Mather were the first black- 
smiths ; Gideon Pitts also built a saw- mill and grist-mill, the latter 
being on the site now occupied by the roller process mill of John Quick. 
In 181 5 R. Davids opened a tavern, who was followed in the same oc- 
cupation by Samuel G. Crooks and Smith Henry. In 1817 John Brown 
and Linus Giddings put in operation a fulling and cloth mill, which 
Joseph Blount owned later on. Hiram Pitts and Joseph Savill built the 
first woolen factory, and in 1822 John Brown started in trade. Erastus 
Hill, R. Waldron and Hawks & Whipple followed still later. Other, 
and perhaps later, merchants and business men of the village were as 
follows: Isaac G. Hazen, dealer; M. M. Gregory, hardware; Lyman 
Pierce and E. Pierce, ashery ; Isaac Seward, tanner and shoemaker; 
Cornelius Hollenbeck, tanner; Oliver Adams, tanner and shoemaker; 
Mr. Tubbs, cabinet maker ; Artemas Briggs, Ephraim Turner, John 
Pennell, Gideon Pitts and Erastus Hill, distillers. The present business 
interests of Honeoye village are the machine shops of Wm. Parks ; the 
planing-mill of Caleb Arnold ; the shops of Thos. McKey, Geo W. 
Patterson and Frank Hoagland ; Baun's photograph gallery; W. H. 
Bartlett's shoe and wagon shops; T. R. Reed's market; Mrs. Stout's 
hotel ; Julian Tonset's and Geo. McBride's harness shops, and the stores 
of Frank Watrous, Ira M. Deyo (also postmaster), Rowley Knapp, Ed- 
win W. Gilbert, M. A. Franklin, Litzendorf & Eldredge and Thomas & 
Plimpton. 

The public properties at Honeoye are the school house and the Con- 
gregational and St. Mary's Roman Catholic churches. The First Con- 
gregational Church at Honeoye was organized in November, 1854, by 
Rev. Cyrus i'itts, assisted by Rev. Fisher, with less than ten original 
members, most of whom were formerly connected with the mother 
Congregational Society of the town. The church was built in 1861, 
and stands at the corner of Main and North streets. The succession of 
pastors is as follows : Revs. Cyrus Pitts, R. W. Payne, Milton Buttoff", 
Isaac N. Ely and S. Mills Day, the latter being the present pastor. 

St. Mary's Catholic Church at Honeoye is of recent organization and 
is under the pastoral charge of Rev. J. W. Hendrick. 

The First Methodist Protestant Church and Society was organized in 
1832, and in the same year a church edifice was built. In 1869 the 



456 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

building was destroyed by fire, an accident that so crippled the society 
that it soon afterward passed out of existence. 

Richmond Center is a small hamlet situated near the center of the 
town, the early occupants of which have been mentioned in this chap- 
ter, but the place at this time has no business interests worthy of men- 
tion. It is the location, however, of the original Congregational Church 
of the town, organized November 4. 1802, and including in its mem- 
bership a number of the prominent pioneer families of the vicinity. In 
1804 the society purchased land of David Crooks to be used as a bury- 
ing ground and also a site for a meeting-house. About 18 10 the Pres- 
byterian form of government was adopted, but in 1843 the society re- 
turned to Congregationalism. The large edifice was built in 18 17- 18, 
and the parsonage in 1835. Among the early supplies and pastors of 
this church were Revs. Joseph Grover, Jacob Cram, Abijah Warren, 
Samuel Fuller, Aaron C. CoUins, Warren Day, Orange Lyman, H. B. 
Pierpont, Jacob Burbank, L. W. Billington, Lyman Manly, Milton But- 
toff. This society is not now in active existence. 

Richmond Mills is a small village situate in the western part of the 
town, on the outlet of Hemlock Lake. This was originally the locality 
of the settlement made by pioneer Asa Dennison, who came to the town 
in 1795, and for whom the cross roads was given the name of Denni- 
son's Corners. The pioneer built a tavern at the Corners, and in con- 
nection with it fitted up a large ball-room. He kept public house here 
sixty years. The present business interests here are the store of A. B. 
Hosford, who is also postmaster ; A. W. Townsend's saw and stave mill, 
and Caleb Clow's blacksmith shop. 

Allen's Hill is located in the northest part of the town in the locality 
in which Moses Allen and his sons, Peter and Nathaniel, settled in 1796 
and 1797. From this family the hamlet receives its name, although as 
a business or manufacturing center the village has never gained any 
prominence. Here are located the Protestant Episcopal and Metl odist 
Episcopal churches, the school of district No. 2, the store of Charles 
Simmons (who is also postmaster) and the blacksmith shop of Noah 
T. Lambert. 

The Protestant Episcopal Church (St. Paul's) was organized in the 
town in April, 181 3, and during the next two years an edifice was built. 



TOWN OF CANADICE. 457 

The parish organization has always been maintained though the church 
has experienced many vicissitudes. Its membership is small and there 
is no resident or regular rector in the parish. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Richmond which is located at 
Allen's Hill was organized about sixty years ago, and reorganized in 
January, 1859. The first church edifice was in the eastern part of the 
town, but after the reorganization a larger and more suitable struct- 
ure was built at Allen's Hill, and was dedicated July 6, 1861. The 
present pastor of this church is Rev. D. C. Nye. 

The only church society which has had an active existence in Rich- 
mond was the Baptist, organized about 1808, and which built a church 
house in 1832. The society was dissolved many years ago. 

Referring briefly to the educational interests of Richmond, it may be 
stated that the town has ten school districts, eleven frame school- 
houses, which are maintained at an annual expense of about $4,000. 
The total value of school buildings and sites in the town is estimated at 
$11,825. The number of children of school age in the town in 1892 
was 424. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CANADICE. 

UNDER the act of January 27, 1789, a large district of territory in 
Ontario county was given an organization and named "Pittstown." 
This organization was perfected in 1796, and in April, 1806, the name 
was changed to " Honeoye." Another change was made in April, 
18 1 5, and the town then became known as " Richmond." Within the 
boundaries of this town, under its various early names, and down to 
1829, was included all that now comprises the town of Canadice. 

The town of Canadice was formed under its present name as a dis- 
tinct civil division of the county on the 15th of April, 1829, although it 
was not until the next year that the organization was made complete. 
Its original territory, however, has been reduced by the annexation of 

58 



458 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

a part (lying east of Honeoye Lake) to Richmond, which was done in 
1836. 

In some material respects this town differs from the others of the 
county. On its east and west boundaries are lakes of a small size, but 
of some note in connection with the early history of the region. These 
are respectively the bodies of water known as Honeoye and Hemlock 
Lakes, while lying wholly within the town is the smaller, yet hardly 
less historic, Canadice Lake. From the latter name the town itself is 
derived, it being an Indian appellation, said to have been rendered 
Skan-a dice. Honeoye Lake is the most historic of the three which 
touch the town, and by reference to an earlier chapter, the reader will 
learn the interesting events connected with its early history, and also 
that of the locality. 

Canadice occupies a position in the southwestern part of the county, 
and is more remote and inaccessible from the county seat than any 
other of the towns. Notwithstanding all this, the town enjoys a certain 
prominence in Ontario county which is not common to the whole shire, 
and its people are noted for their hospitality," generosity, thrift, temper- 
ate and moral habits. However, on these it does not become us to 
dwell, but rather we may turn briefly to the pioneers who first settled 
in this former wilderness region, and then note the growth and develop- 
ment of the town through succeeding years. It is well to state, how- 
ever, that the early settlement of this town was made when its territory 
formed a part of the mother town, and known under the various names 
of Pittstown, Honeoye and Richmond. When Canadice was formed 
and organized, 1829, pioneership had ceased, and the town then had its 
greatest population of 1,386 inhabitants, a number neither before nor 
afterward equaled. 

Pioneers and Early Settlers. — The pioneer settlement of Canadice 
was not different from that of other towns of the county, unless, per- 
haps, it was not begun so early and did not progress so rapidly. It 
seems, too, from such meager records as are extant, that the pioneers 
of this region were at a disadvantage, and at the time their operations 
began, the lots of the town had not been regularly surveyed and staked. 
Therefore the first comers settled by guess, but if not on the right 
location they were not afterward disturbed in their possession, but were 



TOWN OF CANADICE. 459 

permitted to enjoy their lands without molestation. But, we may well 
ask, what can be said of the pioneers of Canadice, and who were they ? 
If the reader will turn to another portion of this work, there will be 
found many personal and family sketches of the people, some of them 
descendants of pioneer stock, who have been and still are residents of 
this town. In view of this and the further fact that the pioneer history 
of the town has been so fully written in years past, it does not seem 
necessary that more than the briefest reference be made here to those 
who made the first improvements in this special region. 

Drawing information from all reliable sources, it is learned that the 
settlement of Canadice was begun in or about the year 1795, when 
Aaron Hunt made an improvement, and who was accompanied by 
Jacob Holdren, the latter afterward gaining much prominence as a 
builder of mills at an early day. 

In 1804 three Yankees from Vermont, Gideon and John Walker and 
Josiah Jackman, came to the town, built cabins and made improve- 
ments, and then returned east for the winter. The next spring they 
brought their families to the region and became permanent settlers at 
the foot of Canadice Lake. John is said to have built the first frame 
house in the town, in 181 3. John Wilson and Simeon Stevens were 
also early settlers, whose coming was induced by that of the Vermonters 
just mentioned. 

Ezekiel and Frederick Wilson and Ebenezer Kimball and their 
families came to the town in 1807, locating in the neighborhood that 
has always been called " Canadice Hollow." Kimball was the head of 
a large family. John Phillips was also an early settler in the same 
locality. Seth Knowles, David Badgro, Reuben Gilbert, Justus Grout 
(also a Vermonter), Butler Lewis, John Leggatt, James and Jesse Pen- 
field (the latter a famous fiddler), were also settlers in 1808, or about 
that year. Later comers, yet all pioneers, were William Gould (also a 
Vermonter and Revolutionary soldier), Sylvanus Stacey, Abram Stacey, 
James Button, Ebenezer Ingraham and his sons Abel and Andrew, 
John Alger (another early mill builder), John Willson. Ezra Davis 
was a pioneer of 1808, a cabinet maker, and also the town undertaker 
for a time. 

In the same pioneer connection we may also mention the names of 
other heads of families, among them James Anderson, John Richard- 



46U HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

son (1810), Elmer Chilson (1810), Jesse Ballard, Samuel Bentley, Cor- 
nelius Johnson, Hiram and Samuel Hogans (all 1809), Albert Finch 
and Luther Gould (18 10). About this same period, too, there came to 
Canadice, or the territory afterward so named, Moses Hartwell, Samuel 
Wilson, Bartlett Clark, Timothy Parker, Nathan Beers, Darius Finch, 
Tobias Finch, Robert Wilson, John Winch, S. B. Spencer, Wm. Gould, 
C. Bailey, John Darling, Harry Armstrong, Homer Blake, John Edgett 
and Harry Jones. Later, and within a few years, others came and 
made improvements, among whom there can be recalled the names of 
Wm. Utley, Cornelius Holden, James Hull, Elisha Hewitt, John 
Wheeler, Preston Thayer (1820), Joseph S. Spencer, James Bowker, 
Norman and David Butler (18 15), Isaac Sergeant, Jehiel Spicer (18 12), 
Reuben Cole, John Cole, David Tibbals (18 18), Hezekiah Cole, Wm. 
Burns, William Sullivan, Deacon Benoni Hogans (18 12), James Hyde, 
Amos Thornton (18 13), Shadrach Ward, James Bemis, Henry Arm- 
strong, John Kelley (18 13), Daniel Knowles, Peter Welch, Hiram and 
Samuel Hogans, John Green, Reuben Mann, George and James Adams, 
Jonathan Chaplin, Elijah Parker, James Adams, Wm. Clare, Jacob 
Cannon, Thos. Peabody, Asa Bushnell, Abram McKee, Ralph Stan- 
wood, Robert Baldwin, Green Waite. 

Following this time, settlement became quite rapid and it was not 
many years later before the desirable lands of the town were all occu- 
pied. In 1 8 14 there was a considerable influx of pioneers, among 
whom may be mentioned Ebenezer and Samuel Knapp, James Seeley, 
Jedediah Howland, Eli Darling, Dr. Williams, John Reeves, Jabez 
Hicks, James Bennett, Charles Hyde, Amos Jones, John Bourn, Rufus 
Garey, Alden Wheelock, Benjamin Jersey, Andrew Wemett; and in 
the next year (18 15) there came Benjamin, Philip and Peter Snyder, 
Jonathan Waters and Captain Granby. Still other names of early 
settlers may be recorded, and we mention Alvin Anderson, John Ray, 
Elisha Prior, E. Weed, Rev. Silas Reynolds, Abel Eastman, Matthew 
Standish, Luke Johnson, Abram D. Patterson, Daniel Peabody, Joshua 
Herrick, Reuben Gilbert, David Phillips, Levi Walling, Robert Callister, 
John Simmons, Isaac and Robert Smith, Joseph Lobdell, Jesse Stewart, 
Thomas Johnson, Amos Peck, Jenks Bagley, Enoch Macomber, Orange 
Potter, Ephraim Tucker, Nathaniel Bearmore, Justus Davis, Andrew 



TOWN OF CANADICE. 461 

Hampton, Jonas Quick, Benjamin Conklin, Daniel Beardsley, Andrew 
Beckwith, Abiather Phillips, Asa Farrar, James and Henry Hewitt, 
James Hampton, and others whose names are equally worthy of 
mention, but among the many have undoubtedly been lost. 

Notwithstanding the troublous period of the War of 1812-15, settle- 
ment in Canadice continued throughout those years almost without in- 
terruption, and many of the militia men from the town did duty on the 
frontier. In a preceding paragraph the fact is stated that in 1830 Cana- 
dice contained its maximum population ; in proof of which we here note 
the fluctuations of population from that until the present time. The 
town was set off from Richmond in 1829, and the census of 1830 
showed the number of inhabitants as 1,386; in 1840, 1,341; in 1850, 
1,075 ; i860, 1,026; 1870, 905 ; 1880, 895 ; and 1890, 730. From this 
it will be seen that Canadice to day has little more than half as many 
inhabitants as it contained sixty years ago. 

Military. — The martial spirit of the people of Canadice was clearly 
shown during the War of 1812-15, in which the town contributed a full 
quota of available militia, there being numbered among them David 
Badgro, Jesse Brown, Albert Finch, Luther Gould, Captain Grandy, 
Justus Grout, Laban Howland, Cornelius Johnson, James and John 
Kelly, Ira Kimball, Joseph King, Morris North, Daniel Norton, Jonas 
Quick, Silas Reynolds, Amasa and Jonathan Richardson, Robert, 
Samuel and William Smith, Ora and Ira Spencer, George Struble, David 
Tibbals, Benjamin and Green Waite, Andrew Ward and Frederick 
Westbrook. 

During the War of 1861-65 the town showed a spirit of patriotism 
and loyalty fully equal to its old time record, for during that period it 
furnished a total of nearly ninety men, or about one per cent, of its 
whole population at that time. 

Church History. — Of the many church and religious organizations 
which have from time to time been formed and found an abiding place 
in Canadice but one is now in existence. During the early history of 
the locality the people found time to attend to spiritual as well as tem- 
poral matters, and although they had no regular organization their 
primitive gatherings were none the less sacred or worthy. Rev. Eben- 
ezer Ingraham frequently held meetings as early as 1809 in the log 



462 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

school-house, and three years later Elder Wright conducted a success- 
ful revival. Other early ministers held frequent services, and in 1828 
the Presbyterian church of Richmond formed a branch society in the 
south part of the town, which, in 1832, became known as the Canadice 
Presbyterian Church. Its meetings were held in school-houses and 
other convenient places, but no church home was ever provided for it. 
The society was weak and gradually passed out of existence. 

The Regular Baptist Church of Canadice, commonly called Close 
Communion Baptist, was organized in the town about 1835, and num- 
bered among its first members James Hyde, Ezra Smith, Daniel Purse), 
Robert Armstrong and their wives, and John and Edmund Pursel, 
Arnold Green and Elias Welch. The organization was accomplished 
at the Bush school- house, and while the society prospered for a time, it 
afterward declined, and, having no place of meeting of its own, gradu- 
ally passed out of existence. 

In March, 1845, a Wesleyan Methodist Society was formed in Cana- 
dice, and, like some preceding it, flourished for a time and then ceased 
to exist. Of the same character and final ending was a Congregational 
society which once had an organization in Canadice. 

The Christian Church of Canadice and Springwater was the out- 
growth of early meetings in the towns named, but not until 1830 was 
any organization effected. Six years later a church edifice was built, 
and dedicated in December, 1837. I" ^^71 the building was repaired, 
but after ten years more the membership and congregation became so 
much reduced that regular services were abandoned. The early minis- 
ters of this church in Canadice were Revs. Munroe, Hendricks, Ruthe- 
ford, Fancher, Haines, Rice, Stearns, Newell, Chambers, Welton, 
Morehouse, Lamont and Hebard. 

The Methodist Church and society alone has found a permanent 
foothold in this town, and indeed this may be said to be the mother 
church of Canadice, as the first religious gatherings were of that de- 
nomination. The class was formed in 18 17, and the early meetings 
were held in school-houses and occasionally in barns. The first trustees 
were elected in 1831, and two years later the church edifice was built 
and dedicated. Among the early ministers of this denomination were 
Elder Ingraham and Revs. Bartlett, Clark, Spicer, Reynolds and 



TOWN OF CANADICE. 463 

Walker. The church is located at Canadice Corners, and is now under 
the pastoral charge of Rev. Walter Dynes. 

Town Organization. — Canadice was set off from Richmond in 1829, 
and the first town meeting was held April 6, 1830, at which time the 
officers were elected. At that time the town was well populated, and 
a list of names of the first town officers would only be a repetition of 
names already mentioned. However, it is appropriate that we here 
append the succession of supervisors of the town from the year of 
organization as follows: Reuben Hamilton, 1830-32; John Winch, 
1833; Andrew Ward, 1834; John Shank, 1835-36; Hiram Colegrove, 
1837-40 ; Robert Armstrong, 1841 ; Hiram Colegrove, 1842-43 ; 1845- 
46; 1852-54; Mark L. Ray, 1844; Joseph S. Secor, 1847; Maurice 
Brown, 1848-50; Z. C. Andrus, 1851; Nathaniel G. Austin, 1855; 
Jonas C. Putnam, 1856; Walling Armstrong, 1857-62; Alanson W. 
Austin, 1863-65; George Andrus, 1866-69; Amasa T. Winch, 1870- 
'jG; Oscar F. Ray, 1877-79; Caleb B. Hyde, 1880-81; Horatio H. 
Hickok, 1882; D. Willard Beam, 1883; Albert H. Tibbals, 1884-85; 
B. H Burch, 1886-87; Thomas Eldridge, 1888-89; Caleb B. Hyde, 
1890-91 ; Lorenzo Winch, 1892-93. 

Canadice Corners is the only business center in the town, and the 
business interests here comprise the general store of R. R. Crooks and 
two or three small shops. In the southeast part of the town is the 
steam mill of Stillman Bros., where are made barrels, staves and lumber. 
The only water-power of the town was that at the foot of Canadice 
Lake, but quite recently all operations at this point have been sus- 
pended, and the property and water franchise and privilege have been 
purchased by the Rochester Water Works for the purpose of increasing 
the city water supply. 

Schools. — The first school in this town was taught by Betsey Walker, 
sister to Gideon and John Walker, the pioneers. The first school on 
Kimball Hill was built in 1812, and the earliest teachers were Belinda 
Jackson, Eliza Wilds and Almira Hubbard. In the northeast part of 
the town the first school-house was built in 18 1 2, and Abigail Root 
was the first teacher. Under the school system now and for many 
years past employed, the town is now divided into twelve school dis- 
tricts. Of these districts Nos. 4, 10 and 12 are joint with other towns 



464 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

and have no school- house within their Hmits. The. school population 
is 222, and employment is given to sixteen teachers. The total value 
of school property in the town is $4,800. During the last current year 
the total school tax of the town was $857.97, and from all sources there 
was raised for school purposes the sum of $2,014.91, of which $1,679 
was paid to teachers. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

NATHANIEL WOODHULL HOWELL. 

Nathaniel Woodhull Howell was born in Blooming Grove, Orange 
county, N. Y., on the ist of January, 1770. His father was Hezekiah 
Howell (whose ancestors came from Marsh Gibbons, Bucks county, Eng- 
land, to Boston, Mass., in 1639), who was born in Blooming Grove, Orange 
county, N. Y., in 1741. His mother was Juliana Woodhull, of Mastic, 
Long Island, and born in 1736. 

In 1783 Judge Howell was sent from his father's home to a grammar 
school in Goshen, Orange county, N. Y., where he pursued a prepar- 
atory English, classical and mathematical education till May, 1787, when 
he entered the Junior class six months advanced in Princeton College, 
where he graduated with honor in September of the ensuing year. 
From the spring of 1789 for more than three years he had the charge 
of an academy in the village of Montgomery, N. Y. During this time 
he had informally begun the study of the law, but in the autumn of 1792 
he entered the office of Josiah O. Hoffman, of New York city, where he 
diligently pursued the preparatory course, till he was licensed as an at- 
torney of the Supreme Court in October, 1794. He began his profes- 
sional practice in Tioga county, and for a time determined on settling 
there, but afterwards having occasion to attend the Court of Common 
Pleas held in Canandaigua (then called Canandarquar), Ontario county, 
where he tried the first jury cause which had ever been tried in that 
county, he was so attracted by the beauty and the society of the place, 
that he came to reside in that village in May, 1796. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 465 

In 1799 he was appointed by the Council of Appointment, on the 
nomination of Governor Jay, assistant attorney general for the Western 
counties of New York State, the duties of which ofifice he continued to 
discharge until his resignation in 1802. In 1819 he was appointed by 
the same council, on the nomination of Governor De Witt Clinton, first 
judge of the county of Ontario, which office he held for thirteen years. 
He was an early representative in the State Legislature, and in 1813 to 
1 8 14 he represented in the Congress of the United States the double 
district, composed of Ontario and the five counties west of it In 1827 
he received from Hamilton College the honorary degree of LL.D. 

"Among Judge Howell's intellectual qualities, perhaps the most obvi- 
ous and remarkable was his great clearness, both of thought and ex- 
pression. It characterized the workings of his mind on all subjects and 
on all occasions. He was singularly prompt and firm, both in his in- 
tellectual and moral action. When he was called to judge or act, his 
opinions and resolutions were taken up and held with a strong gra.'^p, 
so as to be made most efficient. He was distinguished in the eyes of 
all who knew him for high minded integrity. By this is meant not 
merely that he was an honest man in pecuniary dealings, but that he 
was at the furthest remove from all fraud, double dealing, or hypocrisy. 
His integrity was not only incorruptible, but unimpeachable. Judge 
Howell's religious character was entirely in harmony with the promi- 
nent traits before mentioned. He did not confound religion with any 
superficial observances, nor with mere morality. His views of Christian 
truth were evangelical and clear. He married on March 17, 1798, 
Sally, daughter of Gen. Israel Chapin, who had been appointed super- 
intendent of Indian afi^airs by General Washington. She died in 1808, 
leaving two children, Juliana and Alexander Hamilton Howell. Judge 
Howell's second wife was Fanny, daughter of Seth Coleman. She died 
February 9, 1842, leaving several children. The last nineteen years of 
Judge Howell's life were spent in the retirement of home. During this 
time, as before, he had met with severe bereavements, but recognized in 
them the divine discipline. He retained to the last the powers of his 
mind. In his domestic habits, and religious duties, he continued to pre- 
sent a picture of healthful serene old age, such as is seldom witnessed. 
On the 15th of October, 1852, Judge Nathaniel W. Howell's life of more 
than eighty-one years peacefully ended," 
59 



466 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON HOWELL. 

Alexander Hamilton Howell, the second child and eldest son of 
Nathaniel WoodhuU and Sally Chapin Howell, was born in Canandaigua 
on the 30th day of September, 1805. He died at his home in that 
village on May 8, 1893, falling but a few months short of completing 
his eighty-eight years — years begun when Canandaigua streets were 
but blazed paths and trails, and closed in the full development of 
modern civilization. At an age when later day parents hesitate sending 
their too young children even to the kindergarten, his father sent him, 
but eight years old, to the then noted Banselles school in New York 
city, where he remained many homesick months, and later to a school 
in Schenectady. At the former he became a proficient French scholar, 
and at the latter laid the foundations in Latin and Greek, fitting himself 
for college. In 1822 he entered Hamilton College, where he remained 
until his Junior year was nearly completed, when he withdrew and 
entered Union, graduating thence in 1826. Returning at once to his 
native town, he commenced the study of the law in his father's office 
(Howell & Greig) and was admitted to practice in the year 1829, enter- 
ing into partnership with Mark H. Sibley. On the 15 th of July, 1830, 
he was married to Emily, daughter of Amasa and Mary Phelps Jack- 
son, who was a loving, helpful consort to him, and who, with their only 
child and daughter, made him a home which was a home indeed. Mrs. 
Howell died 25th December, 1887 ; the daughter still survives. Shortly 
after his marriage he was induced by specious promises to relinquish 
the practice of the law and remove to New York city, engaging in 
mercantile business, which proved better in promise than in reality. 
His bent of mind, early and later education, were all toward the law or 
kindred work, and in 1842 he returned to Canandaigua and associated 
himself with Emory B. Pottle, once more at work in his chosen field. 
In 1843 he was elected county clerk of Ontario county, holding the 
office most acceptably to all for two terms. His latest and longest 
work was the management of some local estates, and in which he was 
engaged until he gave up all work and rested. In the spring of 1872 
he went abroad, and after a brief trip to France, spent several months 
in Scotland, returning home in the fall, having visited in a peculiarly 
pleasant manner many people of rank and seen all places of note and 



fetOGtiAPHICAL. 467 

interest, his letters home being pubh'shed, to the instruction and enter- 
tainment of his family and friends. While possessing attributes of 
manhood complete and perfect, there were two points of character in 
Mi. Howell which stood out with unmistakable prominence. The one 
was a stern, unshrinking and incorruptible integrity ; the other, supreme 
gentleness — the first his father's gift, the last his mother's. 

As the sun got low in his life and its slanting rays touched only the 
whitened head, it found him waiting in gentleness, patience and cheer- 
fulness, and reaping the reward his own home tenderness had earned. 
And so into the life of Canandaigua he came, and so he lived and died, 
winning love and respect by every act of his life, and when he died we 
laid them on his memory. 

" Integer vitae scelerisque purusy 



THOMAS MORRIS HOWELL. 

The ancestors of the subject of this sketch were English, lived in 
Buckinghamshire, and sent their first representative to America while 
members of the first Pilgrim band still lived in Massachusetts. Edward 
Howell came to this country in 1639 and settled on Long Island, where 
that branch of the family lived until late in the eighteenth century, 
when Hezekiah H., grandfather of Thomas M., removed to Blooming 
Grove, N. Y. His name is found as sheriff of Orange county in 1785, 
indicating that he was a man of some prominence. Among his children 
was a son, Nathaniel W., who settled in Canandaigua in 1796 and be- 
came one of the foremost and honored citizens of the town and county. 
He was elected to the Assembly in 1804 for Genesee and Ontario 
counties, serving one term. He was sent to the Thirteenth Congress 
from the 21st District, 1813-14. He was a member of the commission 
appointed by the Supreme Court under a law passed April 15, 18 17, 
to appraise the property of the Western Inland Lock Navigation Com- 
pany, preparatory to building the Erie Canal. Elected county judge 
of the Common Pleas, he assumed the office March 13, 18 19, and con- 
tinued in the position nearly fifteen years. His death occurred in 
Canandaigua, October 15, 185 i. 



408 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Thomas Morris Howell, son of Nathaniel W., was born in Canan- 
daigua, December 7, 181 1. After a preparatory course in the academy 
here, lie entered Amherst College in 1828 and graduated from that 
institution three years later. He at once took up the study of law in 
the office of Willson & Lester, and in 1834 was admitted to the bar. 
He began practice at first with his father, but after making a prospect- 
ing tour through the Western States and determining on Canandaigua 
as his future home, he formed a partnership with Walter Hubbell, then 
one of the distinguished lawyers of Western New York. Through the 
prestige of his older partner, and his own native ability, Mr. Howell 
soon found himself a sharer in a very large practice. This was par- 
ticularly true as to criminal business, for the successful prosecution of 
which Mr. Howell was eminently qualified and for which he had a de- 
cided taste. He soon gained a reputation which extended beyond his 
own county for his skill and success in this branch of his profession. 
This was one factor that led to his appointment as district attorney, 
which responsible office he assumed in May, 1840, and held until 1847, 
discharging its duties with vigor, fearlessness and ability. Under the 
provisions of the new constitution he was succeeded in 1847 by Bar- 
zillai Slosson, who was the opposing candidate for election. Mr. Howell 
was a Democrat in politics and lived in a district which was largely 
Whig and later Republican, but the estimation in which he was held 
by his constituents is clearly shown by his frequent nominations for 
high office. In 1854 he received the nomination for member of Con- 
gress in the 26th District; in 1853 was nominated for the high office 
of judge of the Supreme Court for the 7th District; in 1855 was the 
Democratic nominee for first judge of the county, and again in 1859. 
On all of these occasions he was unable, even with his strong popularity, 
to overcome the opposing majority, though he often reduced it mate- 
rially. In the political field Mr. Howell performed effective work for 
his party. He was an impressive speaker, and his commanding per- 
sonal appearance added to the effective persuasiveness of his language 
upon any topic. He was repeatedly sent as a delegate to town and 
county conventions, and in 1856 was a delegate to the National Con- 
vention which nominated James Buchanan for the presidency. After 
Mr. Buchanan's election, Mr. Howell's name was urgently pressed as 




^/?--^i^2^ ^ "y^ 



BIOGRAPITICAL. 469 

candidate for the high office of United States district attorney, but the 
position was given to one who adhered to what was known as the 
"soft" Democracy. In 1849 Mr. Howell was made United States 
commissioner for the Northern District of New York, and held the 
office until his death. 

In 1 87 1, with the creation of the office of police justice in Canan- 
daigua, the place was tendered to Mr. Howell, and during the succeed- 
ing four years he discharged its duties to the eminent satisfaction of the 
community and the terror of evil doers of every stripe. Mr. Howell 
honored his ancestry in his patriotism, and at the outbreak of the Civil 
War he came forward as a " War Demociat," and his allegiance to his 
country's cause during the great struggle never wavered. 

For the prosperity and advancement of his native village Mr. Howell 
was ever ready to devote his best efforts. His public spirit in this re- 
spect was alert, active and self-sacrificing, and many local improvements 
may be partially or wholly credited to him. He laid out Howell street 
through his lands, built the Atwater block, and otherwise contributed 
to the prosperity of the place. He was called to deliver the oration at 
the laying of the corner stone of the present court-house. He was an 
able and fluent writer, contributing freely to the local press, partic- 
ularly upon early and Indian history, upon which he was a recognized 
authority. 

Mr. Howell regularly attended the Congregational Church, and was 
formerly a teacher and superintendent of its Sunday-school. Socially 
his was an attractive personality and his friends were almost innumerable. 
He was married. May 16, 1838, to Louisa Young, daughter of Hon. 
Samuel Young, of Saratoga, N. Y. She died November 7, 188 1. Their 
eldest daughter married John R. Hazard, and died August 20, 1891. 
Their second daughter married B. B. Foster, of Brooklyn. Mr. Howell 
died October 27, 1892. 



THE GRANGER FAMILY. 

The name of Granger is a conspicuous one in the civil and political 
history of this State and nation, while its lustre has been for more than 
three-quarters of a century reflected upon the county of which this 



470 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

volume gives the history. Two of the family held for many years one 
of the most honorable and responsible offices under the national gov- 
ernment, as well as numerous other official positions in the State 
government, while three who honored Canandaigua with their residence 
were graduates of one of the foremost institutions of learning in this 
country, were illustrious members of the legal profession, and all were 
men of culture, refinement, integrity and the other good qualities that 
constitute the American citizen in his best estate. 

The family is of English descent, their ancestor, Launcelot Granger, 
having come to this country from England in 1652 and settled at New- 
bury, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Thence he removed to Suf- 
field, Conn., in 1674, ^"d here Gideon Granger was born July 19, 1767, 
the first of the name to make his home in Canandaigua. We are not 
famiHar with the details of his early life, except that he was given 
opportunity to obtain a liberal education, of which he availed himself, 
graduating from Yale College in 1787, at the age of twenty. He entered 
upon the study of the law soon afterward, and rose to distinction in the 
bar of his native State. He was a man of public spirit, and imbued with 
the Jefifersonian principles of free government. He was. early and deeply 
impressed with the importance of the most energetic work for the ad- 
vancement of the public school system, and was one of the foremost 
laborers for the establishment of the public school fund in Connecticut, 
giving liberally himself towards its foundation, and being often called 
its father. While still a young man his reputation had reached the 
national capital, and in 1801, when he was thirty-five years of age, he 
vvas called by President Jefferson to take a position in his cabinet as 
postmaster-general. For thirteen years he filled that honorable and 
responsible office, during which period he was instrumental in the rapid 
development of the great postal system of the country. His adminis- 
tration of the office continued through both of Mr. Jefferson's terms as 
president, and most of Mr. Madison's. On his retirement from Wash- 
ington in 1 8 14, he settled in Canandaigua, whither his reputation had 
preceded him, and where he was at once accorded the station to which 
his abilities entitled him. In 1820 he was elected to the State Senate, 
and in that body served two years. He promptly took a leading posi- 
tion as a legislator, and became conspicuous in co-operation with 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 47I 

Governor De Witt Clinton in promoting the great system of internal 
improvements of which the Erie Canal was the most important feature. 
In i<S2i he retired from public life, and died on the 31st day of Decem- 
ber, 1822, at the comparatively early age of fifty five years, leaving a 
record of a career distinguished for its purity, its spotless integrity, and 
its devotion to the public good. 

Francis Granger, second son of Gideon Granger, was born in Sufifield, 
Conn., on the ist day of December 1792, and in 181 1. at the age of 
nineteen years, was graduated with honor from Yale College. He fol- 
lowed the example of his distinguished father by studying for the bar, 
and soon after the removal of the family to Canandaigua took up the 
practice of his profession in that village. He promptly entered public 
life and for many years the suffrages of his constituents placed him in 
positions of honor and responsibility, where his natural and acquired 
qualifications enabled him to occupy the foremost rank. A man of 
striking and commanding personality, polished manners, and courteous 
and dignified bearing, he soon drew to himself a host of warm friends 
and admirers, who lost no opportunity of demonstrating their confidence 
and esteem by conferring upon him such public honors as were at their 
disposal. In 1826 he was elected to the State Legislature, where he 
served by re-elections in 1828, 1830 and 1832. In that legislative 
body his winning personality, persuasive eloquence, sound judg- 
ment and practical ability gave him a commanding influence and 
won for him friends throughout the State. Twice (in 1830 and 1832) 
he was nominated for governor of the State, and was defeated by an 
insignificant Democrat majority. Under the then existing conditions 
of the great political parties, these defeats were in every sense a reason 
for congratualation to him and his political friends. In 1836 he re- 
ceived the nomination for the vice- presidency of the nation, in the 
campaign of Gen Harrison for the presidency, but the success of his 
party was destined to further postponement, as recorded in the political 
history of the country. In 1835 he was nominated and elected to Con- 
gress, where he served with distinguished ability and influence until 
1 841, when he resigned to accept the high station so long and honor- 
ably filled by his father, the postmaster- generalship. General Harrison 
having been elected to the presidency. The duties of this oflficc he dis 



472 HISTORV OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

charged until the memorable disruption of the cabinet under President 
Tyler. Declining a foreign mission which had been tendered him, he 
was again pressed to accept the nomination for Congress, but liis deter- 
mination to retire from public life had become fixed and in the succeed- 
ing years he resisted all persuasion to again accept political preferment. 
He, however, occasionally presided at meetings of his political friends 
when interests of more than common importance were at issue. It was 
during his political career that the branch of the Whig party which be- 
came known as the "Silver Grays" received its peculiar title in a con- 
vention of which he was the chairman, from his flowing locks of gray 
hair. 

During the troubled era of 1861-65, when the very foundations of the 
Union were threatened, Mr. Granger was a staunch supporter of the 
government. He was induced through the solicitation of many friends 
to go to Washington as one of the so called Peace Convention in 1861, 
in which he bore a conspicuous part in the proceedings held to avert 
the threatened war. 

It has been written of him that "he was a man of great native intel- 
ligence, of quick wit, of warm heart, of popular manners, of imposing 
personal appearance, and of impressive speech, both in public and in 
private. Few persons have had more friends in all parts of the coun- 
try. Webster and C\a.y, Preston and Crittenden, Edward Everett, Ab- 
bott Lawrence, and many more of all parties and sections, were on 
terms of intimacy with him, to which they admitted few others. His 
nature was peculiarly attractive to young and old, and he seemed in- 
capable of making an enemy of any one. Singularly happy in his own 
temperament, he made everybody happy around him. His sunny dis- 
position was never quenched or clouded, either by disappointment or 
old age, and when he was at last called to die under circumstances full 
of sadness, he uttered no word of impatience or repining, but threw 
himself with quiet resignation and perfect trust upon the mercies of his 
God He died in Canandaigua on the 28th of August, 1868, in the 
seventy-sixth year of his age. 

Gideon Granger, son of Francis Granger, was born in Canandaigua, 
N. Y., on the 30th of August, 1821. His early life was surrounded by 
all the refinements of a beautiful home, and the most liberal npportuni- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 473 

ties for gaining a thorough education. Like his father and his grand- 
father, he was a graduate of Yale College, where he took his degree in 
1843. Like them, too, he studied for the legal profession, and had he 
been so inclined, might without doubt have taken a foremost position 
at the bar. Born with a heart in sympathy with suffering of all kinds, 
he gave much of his professional skill and time to the service of the 
poor and needy. This was true also of the labor of his life outside of 
his profession ; the empty hand or the troubled mind never sought his 
aid in vain. Prevented by ill-health from serving his country in the 
field, he acted as chairman of the war committee for raising troops dur- 
ing the great struggle for the support of the Union, laboring faithfully 
to fill the depleted ranks of the army, and to care for the families left 
behind. The widows and orphans of those who fell on the field he 
made his especial care, and his strength and substance were given out 
freely for their relief The revival of the Agricultural Society of the 
county was also largely due to his activity and interest. Indeed, 
wherever and whenever a public good could be advanced, a charitable 
deed done, or a gentle word spoken, Gideon Granger was ever foremost, 
in every act of his daily life following the example of the Saviour, to 
to whose cause he had consecrated himself. 

He died in Canandaigua, September 3, 1868, aged forty-seven years, 
five days after his father, Francis Granger. 

John Albert Granger, third son of Gideon (Yale 1787) and Mindwell 
(Pease) Granger, was born in Suf^eld, Conn., on the iith day of Sep- 
tember, 1795, and died in Canandaigua, N, Y., on the 26th day of May, 
1870. 

Originally intended for the navy, his early education, commenced in 
Sufifield and there continued until the removal of the family to Wash- 
ington, D. C, was along lines of instruction which, when the idea of 
the sea was abandoned, found him without the classical training re- 
quired for a college course. He spent some years under the tutorage 
of" Parson" Gay, of Fairfield, Conn., a noted instructor in those days, 
from whose hands he entered a business career at an early age. Some 
years were spent in Washington during the period of his father's con- 
nection with the cabinets of Jefferson and Madison (1801-1814), and at 
the time of the family leaving that city he went in advance to Whites- 
60 



474 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

town, N. Y., (now Whitesboro), which place his father had decided on 
as their future home. They had barely settled there, however, before 
a business connection with the Hon. Oliver Phelps, of the Phelps and 
Gorham Purchase, induced their further removal to and permanent set- 
tlement in Canandaigua, which was ever after the family home. He 
assisted his father largely in the building of the Granger homestead 
there and drew from the Genesee country most of the timber which 
constituted its frame. 

In 1820 Mr. Granger married Julia Ann Williams, daughter of Dr. 
William Augustus Williams (Yale 1780), and Elizabeth Chapin, daugh- 
ter of Gen. Israel Chapin, the United States agent to the Indians and 
commissioner of Indian affairs in the new county. His wife died in 
1822, leaving two daughters: Delia, who married Alexander Jeffrey, 
and died in 1847; and Julia, who married Sanders Irving, nephew of 
Washington Irving, still survives (1893). 

In 1829 he married Harriet, daughter of Amasa and Mary (Phelps) 
Jackson and granddaughter of the Hon. Oliver Phelps before referred to. 

Mrs. Granger died in 1868, having had two children: Harriet Mind- 
well Granger, who married Caleb Brinton, of Westchester, Pa , and died 
in i860; and John Albert Granger (Yale 1855), who married Annie, 
daughter of Edwin D. Townsend, of Palmyra, N. Y,, and is still living 

(1893)- 

About the time of his first marriage Mr. Granger settled in the Gen- 
esee country at Moscow, Livingston count}', where he lived with but 
few neighbors except the Indians, with whom he became very friendly 
and was adopted into their tribe. Here he lived until the death of his 
wife left him with two children of such tender years that the simple 
care of them required services he could not obtain so far from neigh- 
bors, and he therefore returned to Canandaigua. For a few years he 
was engaged in the mercantile business, and later acted as agent in the 
purchase of wool for some Boston houses, but about the year 1840 he 
retired from active business and devoted himself to the management of 
landed interests inherited from his father. This he continued until his 
death, and in it found full employment. 

At this period he became interested in and identified with the 
National Guard of the State, rising from subaltern to become major- 
general commanding the division. 




^' 



^ •^^La^ 



SrOGtiAPHlCAL. 475 

His love for such service was very great, and he was not only a very 
zealous officer but a very liberal one, paying out of his own pocket — 
and largely too — very many of the expenses incident to the advance- 
ment of his command. 

He was a strikingly handsome man, a superb horseman, and on 
the days of the annual parade and inspection made, with a brilliant 
staff and well drilled regiments, a display which would do credit to 
these days of Upton and State camps. 

There was that in the character of Mr. Granger which won esteem at 
the outset, and so nourished it that it soon became love and affection. 
Generous and hospitable, almost to a fault it might be said, his hand 
was ever open, and his table ever spread to one in want. No halting, 
trembling hand of the unfortunate, groping in the dark, amid cares and 
anxieties, but found his helping grasp with aid and brotherhood. 

Save here and there an election to some unimportant local office 
he never sought or cared for political preferment. He loved his home 
and his home loved him, and he passed in and out always with a tender, 
loving greeting, born in a warm heart and fostered by countless kind- 
nesses to all. 

His home life was but his outer life intensified. The same genial 
courtliness and gentle courtesies were extended to all. The coat made 
no difference to him. His heart was full of cordial greetings he could 
not hide, nor did he seek to, and when the time came that he sickened 
and passed weary months in pain and steady sinking, the neighborhood, 
and village even, took on the shadow, crept into it, as it were, to share it 
with the family, and all made common sorrow and common mourning 
when he passed away. 

He was a "just man, made perfect" when his time had come, and 
many a hand was raised in benison, and many a voice whispered bene- 
dictions at the end. 



CORYDON WHEAT. 

Among the pioneers of the town of Phelps in Ontario county, was 
Benjamin Wheat, who came from Conway, Conn., in 1795, and pur- 
chased from Phelps and Gorham a farm which embraced one hundred 



476 History of Ontario county. 

and sixty acres of land just north of the site of the village of Orleans, 
for which he paid $1.25 per acre. He had a son, also named Benjamin, 
who followed in the footsteps of his father, as far as his life work was 
concerned, remaining on the farm. He was born April i, 1781, and 
on the 30th of January, 1805, was married to Luany Sprague. Their 
son, Corydon Wheat, the subject of this sdetch, was born June 4, 1824, 
at the homestead, Orleans, Ontario county. His ancestry on his moth- 
er's side was distinguished in the early history of the country, and is 
traced back to the Sprague who came over in the Mayflower. His 
grandfather was Ebenezer Sprague, who lived in Connecticut at the 
time of the Revolutionary War, and after twice having his dwellings 
burned by the British, he started westward in 1780. He had on the 
17th of January, 1775, taken for his wife Mary Chamberlin. In about 
the year 1790 he aided in building on the site of the city of Rochester 
the first grist-mill in this part of the State ; but that location was then 
considered unhealthy, and in 1793 he sold out his mill interest and re- 
moved to Chapinville in this county. He received one hundred dollars 
in the sale of his property and for that he was offered eighty acres of 
land lying in what is now the heart of the city of Rochester. His 
daughter, Luany Sprague, who married Benjamin Wheat, was born Feb- 
ruary 24, 1784. 

When Benjamin Wheat came into Ontario county, the land was a 
wilderness of forest, but under the zealous labors of the pioneers it soon 
took a different aspect and sufficient of it was cleared to produce under 
cultivation the grain and vegetables for the growing families. Corydon 
Wheat's father built in 18 14 the first brick house in that part of the 
country, and the old homestead is still standing. Though a well to-do 
farmer, Benjamin Wheat was not able to give his son the best of edu- 
cational advantages, though they were better than were enjoyed by the 
majority of young men at that time. After attending the common 
schools he was sent to the Lima Seminary in 1840, aud studied there 
two or three years until the institution was burned. He then went to 
Michigan and entered a store of his brother-in-law as a clerk. It had 
been his intention to adopt the legal profession, and after the seminary 
was rebuilt, he returned to it with a view of completing his course, and 
then taking up the study of law. But his brief experience in mercan- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 47^ 

tile business in the West had developed his taste and adaptability for 
that vocation. Coming to Geneva in 1845, just as he reached his ma- 
jority, he thereafter was an important factor in the business life of the 
place until his death, and in many other respects occupied a prominent 
position in the community. His first occupation in Geneva was as a 
clerk in the dry goods store of Piatt & Sons, after which he was em- 
ployed in a similar capacity with C. C. Seeley. He then organized the 
dry goods firm of Wheat & Simms (Enoch Simms), which was succeeded 
by Mr. Wheat alone. For a number of years he successfully conducted 
the business alone; but finally sold it out and soon afterward purchased 
the crockery business of Lauren W. Lacy, his father-in-law. This he 
continued to about the year 1870, when he sold it to Charles Kipp and 
retired from active business, except as his time and attention were de- 
manded by the various positions which he held. 

As a citizen of Geneva, Mr. Wheat took a deep and active inrerest 
in all public matters that seemed likely to promote the growth and 
prosperity of the community. He was a director in both the Geneva 
and Southwestern and the Geneva and ithaca Railroad companies, and 
was conspicuous in the movement which led to establishing the first 
named road. He was at first a director in the Geneva Optical Com- 
pany, and for a number of years previous to its being merged in the 
Standard Optical Company he held the office of president of the com- 
pany. He was a director in the Geneva Gas Company and in the First 
National Bank. He was conspicuously instrumental in establishing 
the beautiful Glenwood Cemetery and aided in laying it out. His asso- 
ciates in every one of these positions ever found him the same energetic 
and genial co-worker, whose reliable judgment and willingness to bear 
more than his share of the burdens were unfailing, while his courtesy 
and geniality, and his staunch integrity, commanded the respect and 
admiration of all who knew him. In the educational affairs of the 
place Mr. Wheat was one of the most active and interested workers, 
and was a member of the Board of Education for about thirty years, 
giving freely of his time and energies for the advancement of the cause 
and the improvement of the local schools. He was not a politician in 
any sense, though he entertained strong convictions upon all impor- 
tant public questions. In the days of the Know-nothing movement he 



478 HTStORY OF 0^fTARIO COUNTY. 

became actively interested in that party, who made him their nominee 
for member of assembly, but he afterwards identified himself with the 
Republican organization. He was in this field, as in all other respects, 
a self-reliant and independent thinker ; had read extensively on scien- 
tific, literary and historical subjects, and maintained his ideas and con- 
clusions on such and kindred topics with forcible speech and courteous 
persistence on all proper occasions. Mr. Wheat was active in religious 
affairs, and was at different times connected with the Methodist, the 
Presbyterian, and finally with Trinity Episcopal Church. In the Sun- 
day-school work in these churches he was especially interested, and 
accomplished much for their welfare. 

Mr. Wheat was a prominent Free Mason, uniting with the order some 
time before i860, and progressed step by step. In 1857 he was master 
of Ark Lodge and one of its best presiding officers He subsequently 
advanced to high standing in the order. Mr. Wheat accumulated a 
fortune in Geneva, much of which was invested in real estate, which 
greatly appreciated in value. His life was one of great activity and 
usefulness, and when the time came for him to cast aside its burdens, 
he did it with calm faith in his future and in the enjoyment of the deep- 
est respect of the community. This is shown to some extent in the 
various memorials and resolutions that were adopted by the different 
bodies with which he was connected. In a memorial placed upon the 
records of the Board of Education, it was said of him: "The recent death 
of Mr. Corydon Wheat closed a term of service on the Board of Educa- 
tion of more than thirty years. During all that long period it is the 
testimony of those who were associated with him that he was a faithful 
public servant, and he retained to the last his interest in the public 
schools. . . . In all of the growth of the schools in Geneva Mr. 
Wheat has been thoroughly identified. He was quick to appreciate 
any improvement in the methods of teaching and ready to adopt it, 
and he had during his administration the satisfaction of seeing most of 
those changes which have made our schools the pride and glory of our 
country. In addition to this ability as an officer, Mr. Wheat lent to 
school occasions a peculiar grace by his rare eloquence. He had the 
ability which very few possess of charming into quiet and attention the 
restive schoolboy and making him listen as long as he desired. In his 



BIOGEAPHiCAL. 479 

death this Board has suffered a profound loss, and we desire as a body- 
to place upon record this simple tribute to his memory." 

The directors of the First National Bank of Geneva also testified to 
their respect and admiration for Mr. Wheat, saying among other things : 
" While we bow with humble submission to his behests, we sorrow that 
we have lost the genial presence, the wise and conservative counsels, 
and sound judgment of our co director for the past many years. His 
name is indissolubly connected with the organization of the First Na- 
tional Bank now nearly a quarter of a century ago, and he has been one 
of its directors since that time We accord tu him a generous measure 
of praise for our success in the management of our institution." 

On the 1st of September, 1852, Mr. Wheat was married to Emilie 
A., daughter of Lauren Walton Lacy. They had four children, only 
one of whom, Henry Axtell Wheat, of Geneva, is now living. Corydon 
Wheat died December 24, 1890. 

Lauren Walton Lacy was born at Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y., 
July 2, 181 1. His father was Edward Lacy, who was formerly from 
Reading, Conn. The family name was originally De Lacy. They were 
of Huguenot origin. His mother was Huldah Heath, whose home was 
in Sharon, Conn. She, too, was a descendant of the Sprague who came 
over in the Mayflower. They were parents of eight children, of whom the 
subject of this sketch was the seventh. Lauren W. Lacy started in mer- 
cantile business in Schenectady, N. Y., in 1838, and removed to Geneva 
in 1846, where he started the first crockery store in the place. This 
business he successfully conducted until 1862, when he sold out to his 
son-in-law, Corydon Wheat, as before stated. Mr. Lacy has been a 
member of the Dutch Reformed Church of Geneva for many years, and 
throughout his life in this place has held the esteem of his fellow citizens. 
He was married on the 7th of January, 1832, to Eliza Cook, who was 
the youngest daughter of Joseph Cook, of Galway, Saratoga county, 
N. Y. She died in April, 1878. Their children were Orville Brayton, 
who died at the age of three years; and Emilie A., who married Cory- 
don Wheat. 

The old Lacy and Cook homesteads, one of them ninety and the 
other nearly one hundred years old, are still in a good state of preser- 
vation. Mr. Lacy is living in Geneva, at the age of eighty- three years. 



480 IIISTORV OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ANDREW PEIRCE. 

Conspicuous among the men of more or less prominence who, though 
not born in Ontario county, have in the past become to some extent 
identified with its interests, is the subject of this notice. Andrew Peirce 
was a native of New Hampshire, and was born in Dover on the 31st of 
July, 1 8 14. His early life and his ancestry foreshadowed his future, 
and his first business experiences gave indication of the most significant 
traits of his character. His paternal grandfather was born in Dover in 
1 76 1, and early in his life removed to Gloucester, Mass., where in 1792 
he purchased land. In 1806 he sold his real estate and returned to 
Dover. He was a descendant in the sixth generation from John Peirce, 
of Norwich, Norfolk county, England, who came to this country in 
1637 and settled in Watertown, Mass. His father was born in Glouces- 
ter in 1792, but after 1806 resided in Dover until his death. He 
was engaged in navigation in early years, and built two packets to run 
between Dover and Boston, one of which he commanded. He was also 
interested in the construction, ownership and management of the steam 
mill in Dover. He held the office of State senator and other positions 
of trust, and was a man of sound judgment in all business matters, with 
a practical mind and remarkable energy in the prosecution of all his 
undertakings. His moral character was above reproach — traits which 
were transmitted to his son. 

The mother of Andrew Peirce was Betsey Wentworth, born in 1791, 
and his maternal grandfather was Col. John Wentworth (a descendant 
of Elder Wm. Wentworth from near Alford, England, and one of the 
thirty-five signers at Exeter, N. H., for a combination government, 
July 4, 1637), an officer in the Revolutionary army, serving at one period 
under Washington. He was a member of the New Hampshire State 
Legislature three years, and colonel of the Second Regiment in 1789. 

At the early age of twelve years Andrew Peirce was employed as a 
clerk in a Dover store, where he remained about two years, after which 
he attended a short time at the Strafford Academy. Another short 
period of clerkship followed, and also a second period at the academy. 
When he had reached the age of sixteen years he was imbued with 
an ardent desire to become a man of business, and to begin his career 
at once. At this youthful age he was taken by his father to Boston on 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 481 

one of his vessels, and against the prevalent predictions of neighbors 
and well intentioned friends, purchased a small stock of goods on four 
months' credit, and became responsible for the payment. 

If the father had any misgivings as to the results of what he had done, 
the fact is not known, and his confidence in his young son was not mis- 
placed. He promptly exhibited business ability of an unusual order, 
while his manly and winning qualities gained him friends and a large 
trade. The business dated from April 22, 1831, and four years later 
when he had reached the age of twenty, his establishment had greatly 
increased, while his credit was thoroughly established wherever he had 
become known. His trade had taken on a wholesale character, which 
extended into several adjoining States. 

On the nth of April, 1834, Mr. Peirce married Rebecca W. Dun- 
naway, of Gloucester, Mass. Up to this time the business had been 
conducted in the name of his father, but now it was taken under his 
own name after his turning over to his father one-half of the profits al- 
ready made. The business was at once still further extended and in 
1837 1^^ built a brick store. In the next year his father was taken 
by him as a partner, but withdrew two years later and his place 
was taken by a brother, Thomas W. Peirce. This connection con- 
tinued two years. Another brother and two other men were at 
times associated in the business, none of whom paid in any money 
and all of whom drew profits from it. During his business career 
in Dover he also joined with his father in a considerable shipping busi- 
ness, vessels being sent to Thomaston, Me., to New York and Philadel- 
phia, and later to southern ports. In the latter direction they were pio- 
neers in shipping to Texas, before that Territory became a State. They 
also furnished the iron for the first railroad there. Several vessels were 
built for them especially for this industry, one of which (a brig) was 
under charter to the United States government during the Mexican War 
and was wrecked near Vera Cruz. As his capital increased he acquired 
an interest in the steam mill at Dover; built several houses, and pur- 
chased, repaired and enlarged the Rogers wharf and buildings on Co- 
checo River, which were used for landing and storing their goods. 

We have already said that the early business life of Mr. Peirce indi- 
cated and developed his principal characteristics, and the foregoing 
61 



482 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

must not only verify that statement, but also show the trend of his na- 
tive qualifications, the ambition which prompted him, and the personal 
attributes which enabled him thus early in life to extend his business re- 
lations far beyond the confines of his native town. He was not and 
never would be content with small things in the practical affairs of life, 
and we shall show in the course of this sketch that while he was thus 
driven onward by his ambition and by the genius which led him im- 
peratively to the consideration and active prosecution of large undertak- 
ings, the factor of personal gain, in and for itself, was one of the least in 
his thoughts. It never entered into the range of possibilities with him 
that any honorable and permanent business success could be achieved, 
that was not founded upon the staunchest integrity. No man can be so 
great or so sure of his personal powers that he can carry on any under- 
taking of magnitude standing wholly alone; he must in many ways 
lean upon and be associated with others. Without the unbounded con- 
fidence of all such, progress is impossible except of a transient charac- 
ter. Mr. Peirce, long before he became extensively known in the 
business world at large, had inspired just that confidence which enables 
one to command men rather than resign to the command of others. His 
word in any transaction was as good as his bond. As he became bet- 
ter known to the public his political influence was sought and he became 
prominent and active in the councils of his party — the Democratic. He 
was repeatedly sent as delegate to county and State conventions, and 
once was chosen delegate to the Democratic National Convention, held 
in Baltimore. Still he had little inclination for the often devious ways 
of politics, while his manifold cares of a business character prevented 
him from accepting proffered office. 

In 1843 Mr. Peirce succeeded by active effort and through the sub- 
scription by himself and his father to about one-fifth of its capital stock 
in successfully organizing the Dover Bank, under the individual liabil- 
ity act, to succeed one whose charter was about to expire. A few years 
later, the banking facilities of the place still being inadequate, he pro- 
cured a charter and organized the Langdon Bank, of which he was 
elected president. He was also largely instrumental in organizing a 
five cent savings bank. In these financial institutions he was conspic- 
uous as a manager and director. He was one of the stockholders and 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 4§3 

active managers of the Cocheco Railroad Company, and aided greatly 
by his means and otherwise in the construction of the road. After its 
completion he had entire charge of its operating department for several 
years, and finally figured prominently in the arrangements for leasing it 
to the Boston and Maine Company. 

At the beginning of the year 185 i Mr. Peirce determined to enlarge 
the scope of his business operations and to this end removed to Boston 
and entered the firm of Peirce & Bacon, in which his brother Thomas 
W. and George Bacon were interested. Beginning as extensive whole- 
sale grocers and commission merchants with large southern connections, 
particularly in Texas, they soon gave up the trade in groceries and con- 
fined themselves wholly to commission operations. For several years 
it is probable that they handled as much or more cotton than any other 
northern firm. They purchased and built ten or twelve vessels which 
plied between New York and Galveston, and at times chartered many 
others and owned large interests in two ships for foreign trade in con- 
nection with their export business. The breaking out of the war in 
1 86 1 paralyzed their vast interests and caused the firm heavy losses, but 
not sufficient to seriously cripple them. On June 6, 1861, he married 
Mary Frances Gilman, of Nashua, N. H. At the close of the war their 
business was resumed, but after about a year the firm was dissolved. 

It will be readily understood that in the business world of Boston Mr. 
Peirce now occupied a conspicuous position. He was known to the 
leading men of that city as well as to many others in various parts of 
the country, as a broad-minded and practically successful man of affairs, 
with a character upon which there was not a shadow ; a man of action 
rather than of speech, for he was noted for ability to express himself 
upon any subject with which he was ' at all familiar in few words that 
were always fraught with his meaning ; a man whose aggressiveness 
and energy were such as to carry him to the consummation of any un- 
dertaking to which he turned his hand. It was, therefore, a natural 
consequence that when the Boston and Maine Railroad, in 1856—7, 
seemed to be suffering through more or less weakness in its management, 
Mr. Peirce was called upon by a number of the leading men who were 
interested in the company and asked to take the presidency. He had 
already been elected a reform director, in which office his efforts for the 



484 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

more efficient and successful management of the affairs of the company 
had resulted to the entire satisfaction of the managers. Although 
the salary attached to the presidency was a very large one, they offered 
to increase it to equal his business profits, but he declined. 

Mr. Peirce had become largely interested as a bondholder in the South- 
ern Pacific Railroad, with a few other prominent Boston men (together 
commonly known as the Boston Party). After the failure of General 
Fremont and others in the construction of this road, Mr. Peirce went to 
St. Louis in 1868, representing the Boston Party as general manager of 
the road and of its further construction. They were to control the At- 
lantic and Pacific charter should the railway be extended to Springfield 
within a specified time, which was accomplished. Under his manage- 
ment it was built from Arlington, Mo., to Vinita, Indian Territory, a 
distance of 237 miles. This was a part of what became known as the 
St. Louis and San Francisco Railway. When locating the road he went 
on horseback or walked every mile of the way many times. The con- 
struction of the road from Rolla to Springfield was an Herculean task ; 
the country through which it passed was broken and very rough, and 
under the most economic managements parts of the line cost $65,000 
per mile. The Missouri Pacific road was leased to the Boston Party in 
1870 or 1 87 1, Mr. Peirce remaining at the head and holding the office 
of president, which placed about nine hundred miles of road under the 
one management — the most extensive at that time of any railroad com- 
bination in the country. Under Mr. Peirce's administration more than 
a million dollars were expended on the track of the Missouri Pacific, 
thus placing it in first-class condition. The time came when it was de- 
termined to separate these roads, and Mr. Peirce turned the Missouri 
Pacific over to Commodore Cornelius K. Garrison, by whom it was trans- 
ferred to Jay Gould. Mr. Peirce organized the St. Louis and San Fran- 
cisco corporation as before stated, and under his successful management 
it became a profitable property. In 1872 the company had an office in 
New York and he removed there. He retired from the presidency in 1 877. 
In this direct connection it is proper to quote from a western paper the 
following comments upon the valuable services of Mr. Peirce: " How 
much did he do for Missouri ? No one can estimate the value of his ser- 
vices. Directly after the Civil War the country was poor. There was little 



feiOGRAPHICAL. * 485 

money to be found to be put into railroad construction. Since then it 
has been easier to procure money to build twenty miles of railroad than 
one mile then. When others had failed Mr. Peirce succeeded. He 
made of the Missouri Pacific a first-class railroad. He made of the 
South Pacific (now the St. Louis and San PVancisco) a first-class rail- 
road and thereby enhanced the value of property in Southwest Missouri 
millions of dollars. By his work, indefatigably and zealously pursued, 
he made it possible for new towns and cities to be built all over the 
Southwest. As evidence of this witness Rolla, Lebanon, Marshfield, 
Springfield, Billings, Aurora, Verona, Peirce City, Ritchie, Seneca and 
Vinita, All these cities and towns, now the centers of wealth, of thriv- 
ing and intelligent communities, are monuments to his great energv, 
skill and unfaltering perseverance. Whether in St. Louis or Wall street, 
his advice was sought by business men who were engaged in large en- 
terprises. They all recognized in him a man of clear principles, large 
experience and unerring judgment. He furnished largely the means 
that enabled his brother, the late Thomas W. Peirce, to continue the con- 
struction of the Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad in Texas, at times 
when he was embarrassed, now constituting a part of the Southern Pacific 
system. The results of his labor were beneficial not only to Missouri, 
but to Texas and the whole Southwest. He was in every sense a self- 
made man. He was a superb type of the New England character very 
rare in this day." 

In February, 1877, ^^''- Peirce took his family to Clifton Springs, N. 
Y., for the benefit of his wife's health. His own health being somewhat 
impaired, the following summer he resigned his office and intended to 
make that place a temporary abode or home. Here his health was re- 
stored, as also was that of his wife in the course of time. When he arrived 
at the Sanitarium that institution was not enjoying the great prosperity 
that now attends it, and the physical features surrounding it were such 
as to arouse in the practical mind of Mr. Peirce an ardent desire to see 
them placed in a more beautiful and better sanitary condition. His 
natural generous impulses led him to enter with deep sympathy into 
the plan of Dr. Foster for the relief of affiicted humanity and he prompt- 
ly brought to bear his large practical experience in business affairs and 
his still indomitable energy for the improvement of the institution which 



486 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

he was making his temporary home. The somewhat dilapidated sur- 
roundings of the springs in front of the Sanitarium building were trans- 
formed into a scene of beauty, as it stands to- day, by the erection of a 
beautiful pavilion at a cost of between six and seven thousand dollars ; 
and this was followed by the expenditure of some nine thousand dollars 
more in filling up unsightly and low grounds, making roadways, and filling 
up about twenty-five acres of land, making walks, setting trees, building 
the present masonry in the bed of a part of the stream, and in many 
other ways that need not be detailed, bringing about the present beauti- 
ful landscape presented when one approaches the place. In this task 
Mr. Peirce simply continued his native propensity for securing the best 
results by taking the helm in his own hands, and day after day he arose 
at early hours, and personally directed the work he had taken in hand, 
which occupied him for about two years. He was made a trustee of the 
institution and chairman of the executive committee, and by his wise 
counsel endeared himself to his associate officers. His benevolence and 
desire to do good also found other channels for exercise at Clifton Springs, 
and the Peirce Library, connected with the Young Men's Christain As- 
sociation, was largely due to gifts from him. He also took a practical 
interest in local institutions in the village. Through his influence the 
Central R. R. Co. built a new station. The following resolution was 
adopted as giving expression to the appreciation of. the Clifton Springs 
Sanitarium Company for the work of Mr. Peirce in connection with the 
institution: 

"The trustees of the Clifton Springs Sanitarium Company desire to 
put on record their high appreciation of the very valuable services ren- 
dered to the Sanitarium by Mr. Andrew Peirce during the last two 
years, by his generous donation of upwards of fifteen thousand dollars, 
and by his careful supervision, good taste and strict economy in expend- 
iture for repairs and improvements in and on the buildings and grounds 
of the institution." 

While Mr. Peirce never made a public profession of religion, his faith 
in an All-wise Creator was strong and abiding and governed the course 
of his life. 

It seems proper in every sense to close this brief sketch of the life and 
character of Mr. Peirce with the following extracts from a paper which 
was read at the conclusion of the funeral services . 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 487 

" He was a man of remarkable characteristics, cool and clear-headed, 
full of nerve, with rare business tact, with indomitable energy, and a 
persistent will, with the courage of his convictions and with confidence 
in his own judgments, he was fitted to lead in great business enter- 
prises and to master herculean difficulties. He was high-minded, high- 
spirited, just, truthful, honorable. There was nothing mean or craven 
in his nature. From the testimony of those who knew him before he 
came to Clifton Springs, I feel prepared to say that wherever he has 
lived his name has been synonymous with incorruptible integrity. Mr. 
Peirce was very kind hearted and sympathetic. The misfortunes and 
sorrows of others enlisted his ready sympathy and generosity. His 
quiet, unostentatious acts of kindness were numerous. His large hope- 
fulness led him to take a cheerful view of life. He was never disheart- 
ened by the dark things of God's providence, but thought that God 
ruled and whatever might come would be for the best. In business 
affairs he was often trustful to a fault, which in his later years involved 
him in some unfortunate business complications. In the last months of 
his life he frequently conversed very calmly and trustfully about dying, 
arranged every detail, and feeling prepared to go whenever the Lord 
might call upon him." 

Mr. Peirce's death took place December 19, 1891, at his home in 
Clifton Springs. 



HENRY B. GIBSON. 

This distinguished early citizen of Canandaigua was born in Reading, 
Penn., April 13, 1783. His father was John Gibson, of Irish ancestry, 
who removed to Saratoga, N. Y., when Henry B. was nine years of age. 
The son's education was principally obtained in Saratoga, a career at 
the bar having been designed for him by his parents ; but his studies 
developed an unusual natural aptitude for mathematics and an inclina- 
tion towards commercial life which finally determined his occupations 
for lite. He accordingly left home at sixteen years of age for Coopers- 
town, where he entered the employ of the leading merchant of the place, 
Judge Cooper, fatherof James Fenimore Cooper, the famous noveli.st, who 
was Mr. Gibson's lifelong friend. After a period in the capacity of clerk, 



488 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

he sought a broader field by removal to Utica about i8o8 with Mr. 
Hugh Cunningham, one of the early merchants of that village. This 
connection continued only a short time, when Mr. Gibson accepted em- 
ployment in the county clerk's office under Francis A. Bloodgood, un- 
til i8i2, when he was appointed teller in the Bank of Utica. This 
position he soon resigned, owing to some minor disagreement with the 
cashier, Washington Hunt. Mr. Gibson had already and thus early in 
his life set his mind fully and with characteristic determination upon 
becoming a successful man of business, and he clearly saw the road that 
must inevitably be traveled to that goal. His passing years were noted 
for unflagging industry, exceeding frugality for one at his time of life, 
and those personal habits of temperance in all things which he practiced 
to the end of his life. His small savings he early made to contribute to 
his earnings by loaning them in small amounts, evincing in such trans- 
actions the germs of the great business sagacity he afterwards dis- 
played. 

In the year i802 Watts Sherman, who afterwards became Mr. Gib- 
son's partner in law, formed a partnership in mercantile business in 
Utica with Arnold Wells (as we learn from a history of that city lately 
edited by Dr. M. M. Bagg). Mr. Sherman was one of the pioneers of 
Utica, locating therein 1795, and for a time working as a cabinet-maker, 
but afterwards becoming a merchant. He was from Newport, R. I., 
and descended from an old and prominent family. Mr. Sherman was 
more ambitious for advancement than his partner and they soon sepa- 
rated, Mr. Sherman largely extending his operations. He was one of 
the most prominent men in founding the first glass works there, with 
the factory at Vernon and was one of the directors of the company. 
Under date of May, 18 13, he informed the public that he had taken in- 
to partnership Henry B. Gibson and Alexander Seymour, under the 
firm name of Sherman, Gibson & Co The junior member of this firm 
remained and carried on the business in Utica, while Mr. Sherman and 
Mr. Gibson went to New York city and established a wholesale house. 
Meanwhile and on December 9, 18 12, only a few months prior to the 
formation of the business partnership just described, Mr. Gibson formed 
a still more intimate relation with the family of his partner by marrying 
his daughter, Miss Sarah. Mr. Gibson's business operations in New 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 489 

York continued until 1819, and with remarkable success for that period. 
At the end of that time he found himself the possessor of about $30,000, 
a considerable fortune in those early years when the millionaires of the 
country were very few in number. In the year 1813 the Ontario Bank 
was founded in Canandaigua, with many of the leading men of that 
section included in its direction. It had started under apparently favor- 
able auspices; had erected in 18 13 a large and imposing bank building, 
still standing on Main street, and entered into competition for the bank- 
ing business of what is now Western New York. But its affairs did not 
prosper as had been anticipated and it was determined to change to some 
extent the management. Mr. Gibson's reputation as a skillful and pru- 
dent financier had preceded him to Ontario county, and indeed was 
more or less known through his New York commercial connect'ons 
throughout the State. The result was that he was invited to accept 
the cashiership of this bank, which he did and entered upon his duties 
in 1820. It is more than probable that his acceptance of this office in 
a bank located in a rural community, where the actual payment for his 
services could not possibly approach in amount what he might reason- 
ably hope to gain in business in the metropolis, was prompted to a 
large extent by his predilection for that highest of all commercial occu- 
pation, the conduct of a bank and the possibilities thereby opened for 
the exhibition of financial skill and large financial transactions. Mr. 
Gibson attacked the task before him of placing the affairs of the Ontario 
Bank upon a foundation that would commend it to the business com- 
munity and secure the confidence of depositors, with the utmost vigor 
and all of his accustomed industry. That he was from the first and 
during all of his long c:nnection with the institution eminently success- 
ful, is only another evidence of his thorough fitness for such a post and 
his consummate ability as a financier ; while his personal characteristics 
were such as to win for him in all business circles the utmost confidence. 
This unbounded confidence was of such a character that in the minds 
of many he came to be considered a special favorite of fortune, and it 
was a common expression that every operation in which he took an in- 
terest could not fail. The calmer judgment of later years defined the 
elements of his success more clearly and it was seen that success followed 
his undertakings wholly because he had the judgment, foresight and 

62 



490 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

sagacity to see from the beginning the sure results of following certain 
well known business methods ; that he was successful because he de- 
served to be on account of his industry, shrewdness, integrity and rigid 
adherence to the principles of temperance, the latter being always kept 
in view by him. His bank became one of the best known and most 
successful in the interior of the State, while through it and his other 
extensive operations he amassed one of the largest fortunes of the time 
outside of the great business centers of the country. 

It was written of Mr. Gibson at the time of his death by one who 
knew him intimately, that " his character was so strongly marked as to 
impress his individuality upon all who knew him. His great aim was 
to succeed in business by an honorable course. His fortune was won 
by those qualities which bring success in any avocation. His manage- 
ment of the Ontario Bank was uniformly prosperous, and it was his 
boast that it was so because he devoted himself solely to banking and 
not to outside speculation. He was not a cold and crafty man in any 
sense, but was ardent in his temperament, inpulsive in his kindness as 
well as in his displeasure, artless and open in his intercourse and was 
never betrayed into ostentation or arrogance. He was singularly quick 
in his perceptions and leaped to conclusions. He was rigid in temper- 
ance and regular in all of his habits, and his commercial integrity was 
beyond suspicion." 

Mr. Gibson's benevolence was of a practical character and his respect 
for and belief in the beneficence of all religious organizations led him to 
ready contribution to their support. With politics, excepting as they 
influenced the prosperity of the community, he seldom interfered, and 
never wished for nor accepted purely political preferment. He held the 
office of county clerk from 1843 to 1849. He felt a deep interest in 
the early railroads and gave them practical aid ; was president of the 
Auburn and Rochester Road and after the consolidation which brought 
into existence the New York Central he held the office of director. He 
was a man who in many ways left a marked impress upon the commu- 
nity and inspired in many instances which can never be definitely speci- 
fied an example to the young that could not fail to be salutary. It was 
well said of Mr. Gibson by one who knew him intimately "That in his 
management of the bank he was never seduced to receive hazardous 



Biographical. 491 

paper by any prospect of unusual gain." His death took place in Can- 
andaigua on the 20th of November, 1863. Mrs. Gibson died June 28, 
1 88 1. They had nine children, three of whom were sons; one of the 
latter died in infancy. His daughter, Catharine O. Gibson, married in 
1838 Henry Livingston Lansing, and is the only one of the nine chil- 
dren now (1893) surviving. She resides in the old Ontario Bank build- 
ing in Canandaigua, which has been converted into a residence. 



HENRY LIVINGSTON LANSING. 

Henry Livingston Lansing, a native of Rorrie, N. Y. The father of 
the subject of our sketch, Barent B. Lansing, was a native of Herkimer 
county, N. Y., and was the son of Colonel Gerrit G. Lansing, an officer 
in the War of the Revolution, and who served gallantly in the " forlorn 
hope " at the battle of Yorktown, Va., attached to Colonel .Alexander 
Hamilton's command. Colonel Lansing married a daughter of Edward 
Antill, who was a granddaughter of Lewis Morris, esq., the first govern- 
or of New Jersey, at the city of Albany, N. Y., in the year 1786. 
Edward Antill was also an officer in the War of the Revolution, being 
the lieutenant colonel of a regiment, the origin and condition of which 
was different from any other in the service, it being unattached to the 
quota of any State, was raised and recruited in Canada, and made up 
entirely of Canadians, and was known and called " Congress's Own." 
Colonel Lansing had by his wife, Mary Antill, three sons, Richard R., 
Barent B., and Edward Antill. The second son, Barent Bleecker, was 
born at Oriskany, N. Y., in the year 1793, and in the year 181 5 mar- 
ried Sarah, daughter of Arthur Breese, esq. At an early age he was 
clerk for William G. Tracy, esq., at Whitesboro', and after that engaged 
in business with James Piatt, esq., of Utica, N. Y. This partnership 
lasted only a short time and subsequently Mr. Lansing accepted an 
offer and became cashier of the Bank of Belleville, N. J., and from there 
he was called to thecashiership of the Oneida Bank, Utica, which place 
he held until his death in 1853. Mr. Lansing died at the house of his 
daughter, Mrs. Charles W. Morse, the wife of the eldest son of Prof. S. 
F. B. Morse, at Brooklyn. His remains were taken to Utica for inter- 



492 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ment and were buried from the Presbyterian Church. The stores were 
generally closed on the day of his funeral as a voluntary tribute of 
respect for one who had many friends and no enemies. Mr. Lansing 
had a loving and affectionate nature and was distinguished for honesty 
and truthfulness. He was the father of five children: Arthur B., 
Henry Livingston, Henry Seymour, Manette Antill, and Barent B. 
The second son and subject of our sketch, Henry Livingston, was born 
in Rome, N. Y., in the year i8i8. He was educated for a business 
career, and on leaving school engaged in the mercantile business at 
Utica. In 1836 he accepted an offer of a clerkship in the Ontario Bank 
at Canandaigua, N. Y., an institution in which his paternal and mater- 
nal grandfathers were large stockholders, and in the year 1838 married 
Catherine Olivia, daughter of Henry B. Gibson, cashier and manager 
of that bank. Mr. Lansing remained in the bank with his father- in law 
for a number of years, and then went with his family to Detroit, Mich,, 
where he accepted the cashiership of the bank called " The Michigan 
Insurance." Remaining only a year or so in this bank Mr. Lansing 
was called to the cashiership of the Oliver Lee & Company Bank, Buf- 
falo, N. Y., which institution he remained in as cashier, and afterwards 
as president, until the bank was forced, in the great panic of 1857, to 
shut its doors. Some time after the failure of the bank Mr. Lansing 
accepted the office of treasurer and secretary of the Buffalo and Erie 
Railroad, with its office at Buffalo. This position he held for a number 
of years, filling the office with great acceptability to the directors of the 
company. Resigning his office, Mr. Lansing, about the year 1873, pur- 
chased a charming country place at Niagara, Ontario, and there he 
passed his summers until the time of his death in 1889. Mr. Lansing 
was essentially a domestic man, he was fond of his home and devoted 
to his family. He was ever led to seek the highest happiness in his 
own domestic circle and possessed in a high degree those social qual- 
ities which belong to the refined and cultured gentleman. In a certain 
sense Mr. Lansing was the fruit of hereditary culture ; his father and 
grandfather on the paternal and maternal side were bon vivants and 
connoisseurs. He prided himself upon his accurate judgment and dis- 
crimination in the choice of and selection of fine wines, and was an epi- 
cure in the best sense of the word, a lover of life's good things. In one 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 403 

particular, in which business men are too generally negligent, Mr. 
Lansing excelled ; he had cultivated the art of letter writing until his 
epistolary style became of rare excellence. He could express himself 
in the readiest and neatest way with great apparent ease, his letters 
were bubbling over in sentiment, expressed with great felicity and 
beauty, as all who ever received them will bear testimony. Mr. Lansing 
was extremely fond of the sylvan sports, was an exceedingly good shot 
and an expert fisherman. In the years long gone by, in order to in- 
dulge in the latter sport, he was compelled to make his own flies, and 
it was that accomplished gentleman and skillful sportsman, Alexander 
Jeffrey, of Lexington, Ky., but who at that time lived at Canandaigua, 
who taught him how to make and use them, and it was this same gen- 
tleman who taught Seth Green, of Rochester, N. Y., who became the 
State's most expert fisherman, all he knew about angling Mr. Lansing 
was a most delightful companion and enjoyed good company, but it had 
to be the best in order to afford him any pleasure. He was extremely 
fond of poetry and had no end of quotations upon his tongue's end, and 
possessed the unusual faculty of being able to repeat from memory 
whole pieces, no matter how long they were, provided they awakened 
a responsive chord. Mr. Lansing, coming as he did from a military 
family, very naturally inherited military tastes, and shortly after the 
outbreak of the Civil War was appointed by the governor of New York 
chairman of the Senatorial Committee of his Senatorial District, which 
was composed of the following very prominent citizens of Buffalo: 
Nathan K. Hall, Stephen G. Austin, Jacob Beyer, John Ganson, Philip 
Dorsheimer, and Alexander W. Harvey. At this time Mr. Lansing 
was brigadier- general of one of the brigades attached to the Eighth 
Division of the State militia. Mr. Lansing served faithfully upon this 
committee and through its efforts Colonel Chapin's regiment, the 
One Hundred and Sixteenth New York Volunteers, and McMahon's 
Irish regiment, the Corcoran Guards, were organized, recruited and 
sent to the front, where they did most excellent service. Mr. Lansing 
departed this life, after a tedious illness which he bore with great forti- 
tude, at Canandaigua, on the morning of the 30th of September, 1889, 
and left him surviving a widow and two sons, Livingston and Watts 
Sherman Lansing. He was buried at Forestlawn Cemetery, Buffalo, 
N. Y. 



494 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

HARVEY JEWETT, M.D. 

Harvey Jewett, M.D., was born in Langdon, N. H., November 19, 
1809. He died at Canandaigua, N. Y., September 5, 1888. His 
father was Eleazer Jewett and his mother, Submit Porter, both natives 
of Connecticut. Dr. Jewett was educated in the pubHc schools of New 
Hampshire until he was fifteen years old, when, upon the death of his 
mother, he took up his residence in the family of his eldest brother. Dr. 
Lester Jewett, in Seneca, Ontario county, New York. After further 
study under the supervision of his brother, he entered Hobart College, 
at Geneva, N. Y., riding on horseback from Seneca to that institution, 
a distance of about ten miles, and returning each day. He remained 
in college a year and a half, when he assumed the duties of a school 
teacher in Ontario county, and at the same time prosecuted the study 
of medicine with his brother. He attended lectures at the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons, Fairfield, Herkimer county, New York, in 
1831-32, and received a diploma from that school in the same year. 

Dr. Jewett began the practice of his calling immediately upon gradu- 
ating, at Allen's Hill, in Ontario county. He subsequently received 
the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Buffalo Medical 
College in 185 i, and was appointed a curator of that institution, which 
position he held to the time of his death. 

In 1835 l^s was married to Mary M. Dixson, daughter of John Dix- 
son, of Richmond, Ontario county, who died September 30, 1878. 
The children born of this marriage were Mary M., who died in 1864, 
aged twenty-three years ; Alice A., who survived her father three years 
and died March 14, 1891, and John H., who at present resides at Can- 
andaigua and succeeds to the practice of his father. 

After an extensive and laborious country practice at Allen's Hill for 
twenty years, Dr. Jewett took up his residence in Canandaigua in 
1852, where he passed the remaining years of his life. 

Dr. Jewett was for twenty-seven years consulting physician at Brig- 
ham Hall, a private asylum for the insane at Canandaigua, and for 
several months following the tragical and untimely death of its superin- 
tendent, Dr. George Cook, by the hands of a patient, he had sole charge 
of that establishment. He was also, at the time of his death and for a 
series of years previously, one of the trustees of the Canandaigua Academy 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 495 

and of the Ontario Orphan Asylum. He served for a long time as phy- 
sician to the latter institution, to be succeeded, upon his resignation of 
that office, by his son, in the same capacity. He contributed to the 
organization of the Wood Library Association, in Canandaigua, and 
was chosen its second president. He was elected to the presidency of 
the Medical Association of Western New York in 1875, ^"d to the 
Medical Society of the State of New York in 1882. 

The address of Dr. Jewett before the latter society at its seventy- 
seventh annual meeting in Albany, the 7th of February, 1883, entitled 
" Some of the Perils to Life from Preventable Diseases," was published 
in the Medical News of Philadelphia and afterwards in the transactions 
of the society, and elicited much favorable comment. 

In 1853, in the Buffalo Medical Journal, Dr. Jewett published an 
article on "The Influence of Tobacco in Producing Sciatica." 

In the same year and in the same journal he recorded the second 
reported case of the cure of ununited fracture by subcutaneous perfora- 
tion and drilling of the bone, after the method of Dr. Brainard, of 
Chicago. 

The transactions of the Medical Society of the State of New York 
for 1869 contained a paper by him on Apocynum Cannabinum in 
dropsical affections. His success in the use of this drug by a special 
method drew the attention of the profession of the United States and 
brought letters of inquiry and corroboration from nearly every State 
in the Union. 

Dr. Jewett had a large and varied acquaintance with general surgery, 
and his operations were boldly performed and yielded more than the 
usual measure of success which attends that branch of practice. In his 
earlier experience he devoted much attention to the operation for 
cataract, and if he had lived in a large city, with opportunities multi- 
plying on his hands, it is probable that he would have drifted into an 
exclusive practice, in which his remarkable anatomical knowledge and 
manual dexterity would have advanced him to deserved prominence 
in that line. 

Dr. Jewett's tastes and sensibilities were of a gentle and refined 
order. He loved the quiet walks of life rather than the ways of strife 
and variance. His religious convictions, like his convictions on other 



496 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

subjects, were strong and abiding, and his daily deportment was an 
exemplification of the faith which he professed, which displayed good 
will to man in the loftiest as well as the lowliest illustration of that 
principle. 

His end was as peaceful as his life. On the evening of September 4, 
1888, after a day of usual professional activity he retired to rest. On 
the morning of September 5 his lifeless body was found in bed, the end 
having come without a struggle, but most unexpected to all. 



GEORGE BRADLEY ANDERSON, 

The leading dry goods merchant of Canandaigua, was born in that 
town on the l8th of April, 1841. His father was James Anderson, a 
native of Scotland, and one of the early settlers of Canandaigua. His 
mother was a woman of Southern birth, and from this excellent parent- 
age the son inherited those sterling qualities which have enabled him 
to reach an enviable degree of success. He obtained in the common 
schools and the Rushville Academy a good English education, and de- 
termined upon mercantile business as his life work. After a period as 
clerk he became in 1865 a member of the firm of Squires, Anderson & 
Co. in Canandaigua, which partnership continued for five years. It may 
as well be said right here that the cardinal principle of his business 
career has been integrity in every business relation ; and he is a firm 
believer that in no other manner can any worthy and permanent suc- 
cess be attained. This fact and some natural foresight and that sagac- 
ity which prompts men to do the right thing at the right time, have 
contributed largely to his prosperity. When the business was first es- 
tablished, the science and practice of liberal advertising was almost un- 
known in small towns. Mr. Anderson was one of the first to grasp the 
full advantages of a liberal use of the columns of newspapers and other 
approved avenues for that purpose, and to this day, after nearly thirty 
years of active business life, this element of success receives his most 
careful personal attention. Believing, moreover, that every person, 
high or low, rich or poor, is entitled to the same kind of treatment at 
the hands of the tradesman, he early adopted what has been known as 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 497 

the " One Price System," and was the pioneer in that feature of trade 
in Canandaigua. In 1880 the partnership alluded to was broken by the 
retirement of Mr. Anderson, and his opening a store in the Hubbell 
block, which he successfully conducted as it then existed for about five 
years. He then bought the remainder of a stock of goods of Moore 
Brothers and removed to their former store No. 224 Main street, where 
he continued nine years, when to the consternation of his friends he 
leased the McKechnie Block store, and taking immediate possession, 
paid rent on both stores for a year. It was a shrewd business move, 
and those who at first doubted its wisdom saw the venture entirely suc- 
cessful. 

This is an example of his boldness in business operations. He be- 
lieves that when he has once resolved to adopt a certain measure, the 
wise course is to make the most of it, at whatever cost. At the present 
time Mr. Anderson is at the head of one of the largest and best equipped 
dry goods houses in the interior of the State, and carries a stock of 
goods that is greater in value and more comprehensive in character than 
many much more pretentious city establishments. The example of Mr. 
Anderson's long business career to young men, and of the principles 
upon which his success has been built up, his persistent adherence to 
one line of industry, and his fair treatment of his patrons on all oc- 
casions, is one that will bear patient study and emulation. 

In the political affairs of Canandaigua, its educational, religious, and 
social circles, Mr. Anderson has always shown a proper public spirit 
and earnest desire for the welfare of the community. He has mingled 
little in political contests, but has given consistent and continuous sup- 
port to the Republican party. During the war period he gave freely of 
time and money in aid of the government, and was prominent in the 
local efforts to furnish the several quotas of the town for the army. The 
academy and other schools of Canandaigua have found in him a faithful 
and generous helper, and his efforts have always tended to the advance- 
ment of the community towards better educational facilities, better gov- 
ernment, and more elevated morality. He and his family are active 
members of the Congregational Church, to the support of which, and 
the general up building of religious sentiment and practical Christianity, 
they have consistently given encouragement. 

63 



498 HISTOR\^ OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

The marriage of Mr. Anderson to Charlotte A. Leland, of Seneca 
Falls, took place in 1872. They have three sons: Fred L., Charles W., 
and G. Elmer. 



EDWIN HICKS. 

Among the pioneers of the town of Bristol, Ontario county, was 
Aaron Hicks, a native of Massachusetts, whence he emigrated to the 
" Western Country " in 1795. He followed farming all his life, per- 
forming his modest part in laying the foundations of what has become 
a numerous and prosperous community. He was born in the town of 
Dighton, Bristol county, Mass., on December 12, 1788. His ancestors 
were of English extraction and among the earliest emigrants who settled 
Massachusetts colony. He died April 9, 1872. On the 1st day of June, 
18 12, he was married to Hannah Cornell, who was born on the 17th of 
January, 1 795. She was a lineal descendant of Thomas Cornell, who 
was one of the earliest settlers of Massachusetts and resided in Boston 
as early as 1638. She died April 2, 1874. Of this marriage were born 
ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the ninth. 

Edwin Hicks was born on the homestead in the town of Bristol, On- 
tario county, N. Y., February 14, 1830, and there his early years were 
passed in alternate attendance at the district school and labor on his 
father's farm. He was a persistent student and was given such advant- 
ages as were possible under the circumstances to obtain a good English 
education. Between the year of his leaving school and 1850 he taught 
school several years in different parts of his native county, an occupation 
which gave him further opportunity for study. In 1850 he took the 
first step towards the consummation of his early- formed plans for 
adopting the legal profession as his life-work by entering the law office 
of Seward, Blatchford & Morgan, of Auburn, N. Y., where he remained 
one year, finishing his legal study with Benjamin F. Harwood, in Dans- 
ville, N. Y. He was admitted to the bar in March, 1854, and on the 
1st of January following began practice in Canandaigua. For nearly 
forty years Mr. Hicks has now (1893) been a prominent member of the 
bar of his county, his practice being at all times extensive and includ- 
ing cases of importance. He has, moreover, received from his fellow 




c^ cz^ 



Biographical. 499 

citizens many evidences of their confidence in his abihty and respect 
for his character. 

The Republican party was on the eve of its organization when Mr. 
Hicks entered upon the practice of his profession in Canandaigua. 
He was in full sympathy with its principles, and has never wavered in 
his loyalty thereto. He has given unstintedly of his services for the 
interest of his party and his voice has been heard in public in nearly 
every campaign since the party was organized. Mr. Hicks was made 
vice-president of the first Republican club organized in Canandaigua, 
which was among the earliest in the county. That he early took a 
prominent position in his profession is shown by his appointment in 
1857 ^s district attorney to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of 
Thomas O. Perkins. In 1863 he was elected to that office and held it 
four consecutive terms, winning his elections over popular candidates 
of the opposing party and by majorities reaching in one instance i,6oo. 
As district attorney Mr. Hicks prosecuted the criminal business of the 
county with vigor, efficiency and integrity. It is remembered that in 
one term he tried fourteen cases, twelve of which were for felony, and 
secured conviction in every case. Among them were several of more 
than ordinary importance, notably that of the people against Munson 
for burglary in East Bloomfield, in which the accused was sent to State 
prison. He prosecuted the case of the people against Eighmey, in- 
dicted for murder, the prisoner being convicted and huug — the first case 
of capital punishment in Ontario county. In March, 1876, he was en- 
gaged for the prosecution in the somewhat celebrated trial of George 
E. Crozier for the murder of his wife at Benton, in Yates county, in 
which the prisoner was convicted. In his civil law business Mr. Hicks 
has been entrusted with many cases where important interests were at 
stake, and has met with a gratifying degree of success. 

In his political career he has been repeatedly chosen to represent his 
party in important State and other conventions and deservedly honored 
by his fellow citizens with public office. In 1874 he was nominated for 
the office of State senator for the 26th District, then' composed of the 
counties of Ontario, Seneca and Yates, which for four years had been 
represented by a Democrat, but was defeated by Stephen H. Hammond, 
of Geneva, by a majority of 318. Again nominated for the same office in 



oOO HISTORV OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

1877, he defeated his former opponent by a majority of 381. In the 
Senate he was placed on the judiciary committee, was chairman of the 
committee on hterature, a member of the committee on pubhc expend- 
itures and the committee on salt. In the session of 1878 he was ap- 
pointed with Senators Edick and Hughes a special committee for the 
revision of the civil and criminal codes, a work of great responsibility and 
importance. Their report was made to the Legislature in 1879. The 
senatorial career of Mr. Hicks was honorable to himself and wholly 
satisfactory to his constituents. 

Retiring from his service in the Senate, Mr. Hicks returned to his 
law practice, and has since been constantly and successfully engaged. 
In his personal intercourse with acquaintances and friends, and in all of 
his business relations, he has gained that confidence and esteem that 
are always accorded the public spirited citizen. Genial and courteous 
to all, with a disposition prone to good will and kindness, Mr. Hicks 
occupies an enviable social station. 

On the 1 6th of October, 1855, Mr. Hicks was married to Mary 
Elizabeth Jones, of Bristol, Ontario county, N. Y. Of this marriage 
one child was born July 9, 1859, Charles Winter Hicks, who at the age 
of twenty was admitted to the bar, and now holds the responsible posi- 
tion of chief clerk of the freight department of the Southern California 
Railroad, at Los Angeles, Cal. Mrs. Hicks died June 18, 1864. On the 
24th of June, 1869, Mr, Hicks was again married to Sara J. Clark, of 
Belleville, Jefferson county, N. Y. Of this marriage were born two 
children: Jessie Cornell Hicks, August 17, 1873, who graduated with 
credit at the late commencement of Granger Place School, Canandai- 
gua, class of '93, and Kenneth Clark Hicks, February 16, 1875, now in 
his junior year at Colgate University. 



GEORGE H. PHILLIPS. 

George H. Phillips was born in the town of Brunswick, Rensselaer 
county, N. Y., September 7, 1816. At the age of eighteen he left his 
father's farm, went to Troy, N. Y., and learned the carpenter trade of 
Ira Wood, whose daughter, Laura G., he afterward married. After a 





^X^^/^,%^ 



BiOGRAPIIICAL. 5ol 

few years he became a partner of Mr. Wood, and later on conducted 
the business alone. 

In 1852 Mr. Phillips identified himself with the stove firm of Davy, 
Anthony & Phillips, remaining in the same business, but with different 
partners, until 1868, when he retired and founded the stove business of 
G. H. Phillips & Co., admitting into partnership John M. Howk and 
Walter A. Clark. 

In 1885 the firm of Phillips & Clark removed from Troy to Geneva, 
N. Y , where it was incorporated under the name of Phillips & Clark 
Stove Co. Beyond question it is to day one of the most flourishing 
companies in the State. While a resident of Troy Mr. Phillips was an 
active worker in the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, and was for overa 
quarter of a century its treasurer. He was also for many years one of 
the governors and managers of the Marchels Infirmary. 

Although not a politician in the ordinary sense of the word, yet he 
represented the Republicans of the Fourth ward in the Common Coun- 
cil during the years. 1 873, '74, '75 and 'yG. 

Since moving to Geneva he has made many warm friends by his 
genial ways, loving a joke now as well as in former years. Although 
seventy-seven years of age, yet each day finds him looking after his 
business interests. 

Mr. Phillips has two daughters, Mrs. John M. Howk, now of Lee, Mass., 
and Mrs. Walter A, Clark, whose husband has for many years been 
associated with him in the manufacturing business now in Geneva, N. Y. 



HENRY L. TAYLOR. 

Henry L. Taylor, A.B., A.M., Ph.D., was born in Fort Edward, 
Washington county, N. Y., on the ist of January, 1855. His father 
was Rev. Henry B. Taylor, A.M , the founder and many years the effi- 
cient financial agent of Fort Edward Institute, an institution that has 
had an excellent reputation throughout the State. When the subject 
of this sketch was about four years of age his parents moved to Illinois, 
where they remained until 1864. They then returned to this State, 
settling in Clinton county, where they have since resided. 

Henry L. Taylor was educated in the Fort Edward Institute, which 
he entered at an early age. This was followed by a period in the 



602 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

State Normal School at Albany, and after graduation he taught the 
sciences in Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, Mass. In 1880 he 
entered Syracuse University, from which he graduated with honor in 
the class of 1884. 

Leaving college, Mr. Taylor accepted the principalship of the Yates 
Union Free School and Academy at Chittenango, N. Y., which posi- 
tion he filled three years, leaving it to accept the more responsible 
work of organizing the academical department of the Union Free 
School in Canandaigua. Since that time he has remained at the head 
of this school. 

In giving to the readers of this volume a brief record of Doctor 
Taylor's career, it was not his wish that it should be extended beyond 
the facts above noted ; but it seems eminently proper to add that at the 
present time he occupies a conspicuous position among the advanced 
and progressive educators of this State. In the organization of the 
department over which he now presides, he exhibited executive ability 
of a commendable order, and his practical labors since that time have 
produced results which give the school a high reputation and gain for 
him the full approbation of the Board of Education. 

Doctor Taylor was married in 1885 to Marion E. Giddings, of Bald- 
winsville, N. Y. They have three children : Mabel, Beth and Henry 
Burr Taylor. 



JEREMIAH HAWKINS. 

W. F. Hawkins was born at the old homestead farm north of the vil- 
lage of Victor, April 8, 1827. He was educated in district schools and 
Canandaigua Academy, and was a farmer, but now retired from busi- 
ness. In April, 1855, he married Phebe J. Mulock, of Middletown, 
Orange county, and they have four children : Jeremiah W., born No- 
vember 8, i860. He was educated in the public schools, Lima Semi- 
nary and Canandaigua Academy, and is a farmer. December 28, 1881, 
he married Helen E., daughter of George H. Bennett, of Lima, Liv- 
ingston county. They have one son, George W , born October 22, 
1885 ; Nettie E., who married Dr. Daniel Tillotson, a graduate of Buf- 
falo Medical College and now a successful practicing physician of the 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 503 

city of Corning, Steuben county. They have one daughter, CaUie L ; 
G. Frank is a farmer on the homestead and unmarried ; NelHe M., who 
resides with her parents. Mr. Hawkins's father, Jeremiah Hawkins, 
was born in Otisville, Orange county, March 5, 1792. When quite 
young he began to learn the carpenter's trade. He was a volunteer in 
the War of 181 2-14, and drew a pension for his service during his life. 
He married Mahala Tooker, of Newburg, Orange county. After 
exacting a promise from his brother to care for his father and mother, 
he started with his wife and household possessions on a one- horse 
wagon which he made himself After looking over the territory, he lo- 
cated one-half mile east of where his son, William F., now resides. 
He followed his trade together with farming for ten years. At one 
time he owned 1,000 acres of the best farm lands in Victor and vicinity. 
He was a man of strict integrity, great energy and indomitable perse- 
verance, a quick, active mind and sound judgment ; in politics a stead- 
fast Republican. Ever ready to lend a helping hand to projects for the 
advancement of town and county interests, he frequently represented 
his town in the Board of Supervisors, and as frequently performed the 
duties of commissioner of highway and other minor ofifices. He was a 
liberal subscriber for the stock of the old Auburn and Rochester Rail- 
road, and took an active interest in the New York Central, holding a 
large amount of its stock until a short time prior to his death. Kind 
hearted and generous, the worthy poor never asked help in vain. 

In early life he became a member of the M. E. Church in Victor, pay- 
ing his subscription for the building of the first M. E. Church built in 
Victor in making sash for its windows, he being the only competent 
carpenter in town, and too poor to pay his subscription in cash. 
Toward the fund for the erection of the church in which the society now 
worships, he was a liberal subscriber, besides donating $1,000 for the 
purchase of an organ. 

He died November 20, 1875, and his wife July 6, 1889. 



FRANK O. CHAMBERLAIN. 

The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Cohocton, Steuben 
county, N. Y., on the 2d of April, 1830 His boyhood was passed in 



504 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

attendance at the district schools and labor on his father's farm. Leav- 
ing home at the age of fifteen years he went to Rushville, where he 
continued farm work for a time and then learned the milling business. 
For a few years afterward he managed the Rushville mill and then 
associated himself with Lyman Loomis in the livery business. Early 
in life he took an interest in politics and in 1852 was appointed post- 
master of Rushville, which office he held eight years. In i860 he took 
the management of the Rushville hotel, where he was engaged at the 
breaking out of the war. Believing that tlie government had a valid 
claim upon the services of every citizen, he enlisted in September, 1861, 
in the Eighth New York Cavalry, but after one year of active service 
in the field he was forced to resign on account of ill health. During 
his term of service he participated in the celebrated retreat of General 
Banks, acting at that time as quartermaster, with the rank of major, 
which gives him his familiar title. 

Returning to Rushville he conducted a farm and livery for about 
four years. In 1865 he removed to Canandaigua where he took the 
management of the Webster House, the leading hotel of the village. 
This house he successfully conducted ten years, making it one of the 
popular hotels of Western New York and largely extending his ac- 
quaintance. While proprietor of the hotel he purchased the farm of 
153 acres, on the west shore of Canandaigua Lake, which is his present 
residence, and in 1873 removed his family thereto, but conducting the 
hotel two years longer. This farm is most beautifully situated and the 
extensive improvements made by Mr. Chamberlain in its buildings and 
otherwise make it one of the finest country residences on the lake. 

Mr. Chamberlain's intelligent participation in politics after his removal 
to Canandaigua soon brought him into public notice. His ardent sup- 
port of Republican principles and his standing in the community as a 
man of affairs and high character, gave him the confidence of his fellow 
citizens who honored him with repeated positions of responsibility. In 
1869 he was elected supervisor of the town, and for four years he was 
watchful in that body for the promotion of the welfare of the commu- 
nity. Subsequently for a term he served as under sheriff, and was 
chairman of the Republican County Committee during the presidential 
administration of R. B. Hayes. In 1876 he was appointed by the 
president as postmaster of Canandaigua and held the office two terms. 




^\(X^:>-£^^.^-^^^J^Vc 



CA/W^U 



BIOGRAPHICAL. oOo 

In 1890 Mr. Chamberlain was nominated for the lower house of the 
State Legislature, against a very popular Democrat who had held the 
ofifice one term ; but Mr. Chamberlain won the election by a majority of 
230 votes. At the expiration of his term in 1891 he was re- elected by 
a largely increased majority of 835. In the Assembly he was a member 
of the committees on railroads and on public education, in which posi- 
tions he gained the respect of his colleagues and the approbation of 
his constituents. 

Outside of his political career Mr. Chamberlain has long occupied a 
position among the foremost of the advanced agriculturists of the 
western part of the State. This fact has led to his selection for im- 
portant offices and duties in connection with the County and State 
Agricultural Societies. He was for three years the president and sev- 
eral years treasurer of the Ontario County Agricultural Society, and a 
trustee a number of years of the State Agricultural Society, resigning 
the office recently on account of ill health. He was a conspicuous 
member of the committee for the permanent location of the State fair 
grounds in 1889, and during the four years ending with 1892 was 
treasurer of that society. When the Canandaigua Street Railway Com- 
pany was organized he was elected its president, and resigned this office 
also in 1892, with the several other positions which the condition of his 
health prompted him to abandon. Mr. Chamberlain is a prominent 
member of the Masonic Fraternity, and with his family is an attendant 
of the Congregational church. In all of these relations of life, public and 
private, he has made a record which reflects ability, integrity and honor. 

Mr. Chamberlain was first married in 1849 to Fear Yeackley ; they 
had three sons: Oliver H., now a government employee of Washing 
ton ; James H., now in the Wagner Palace Car service ; and Frank D., 
in the Northern Central Railroad offices in Canandaigua. Mrs. Cham- 
berlain died in 1863. He married for his second wife, Elizabeth H. 
Hulse, of Yates county, N. Y. 



ANSEL ELLIOTT MACKEY. 

Ansel Elliott Mackey, youngest son of Alexander and Clarrissa El- 
liott Mackey, was born in the town of Rensselaerville, Albany county, 
64 



506 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

N. Y., June 3, 1836, His parents and three of his brothers have al- 
ready departed this Hfe. His brother, James E., was a resident of Al- 
bany, Alexander, jr., of Guthrie Centre, la., Willet B. in the vicinity of 
Preston Hollow, and Horace W., the surviving brother, still retains pos- 
session of the old homestead in said town. Major Alexander Mackey, 
their grandfather, was one of the early settlers of the town above men- 
tioned, a man of sterling qualities, worthy of honor. When he was 
twelve years of age he enlisted, with an older brother, in the drum 
corps of a branch of Gen. Washington's army, then stationed in New 
Jersey. Later in life, by industry and frugality, he gained possession 
of a large tract of land, and made ample provision for each member of 
his family. He was nearly eighty years of age when called to the 
spirit land. He was of Scotch and Dutch descent. Their grandfather 
Elliott was of English descent, and lived to be nearly eighty-six years 
of age. The last years of his life were spent with his youngest son, 
Ansel Elliott, of Peach Orchard, Schuyler county, N. Y. 

The subject of this sketch was given an academic education, and at 
the age of eighteen was duly licensed to teach, and in November, 1854, 
he entered his chosen field of labor. After five years of faithful serv- 
ice in the public schools (of this State) he decided to take a business 
course of study at the Albany Business College, in which institution, 
soon after graduation, he became principal teacher, and the school pros- 
pered during his stay there as never before. 

Prof Mackey was married to Carrie Elizabeth, eldest daughter of 
Casper F. and Anna C. Hoag, of Schenectady, N. Y., November 7, 
1867. Rev. Dr. Henry Darling, of Albany, officiated in his usual 
happy manner, Mr. Hoag was a sea captain in early life, after which 
he located in said city and engaged in the manufacture of hollow- ware 
with marked success. Mrs. Hoag was the youngest daughter of Peter 
I. Clute, a wealthy citizen of the city, and a remote descendant of King 
Canute. 

A coat of arms is in possession of the family. 

Prof M. spent a good portion of his vacation seasons in search of 
practical information to aid him in his professional duties. He was 
bookkeeper, cashier and salesman for several leading firms in Albany, 
and for a time he was engaged in the real estate and insurance business. 



felOGtlAPHICAt. 507 

in which he had a financial interest. In October, 1873, he removed 
from Albany to Hudson, for the purpose of establishing a commercial 
department in that city. Though the great panic of 1873 was at its 
high water mark, the school was opened at the appointed time in No- 
vember, and it gradually increased in interest, till the spacious rooms 
were filled with a select class of students. After five years of success- 
ful service, he sold out his interest there and removed to Elmira, N. Y. 
He was associate principal of the Elmira Business College two years, 
during which time the prosperity of the school was greatly enhanced, 
and really took out a new lease of life and activity. In August, 1880, 
he decided to locate a college in Geneva. The school was formally 
opened September 6, and though the attendance was limited at first, 
he assured the good people of Geneva that he came to stay. " Per- 
sevcrancia omnia vincit" appears to be his favorite motto. It was not 
long before the attendance assumed a more encouraging aspect, and 
with patient persevering effort the school soon became what it was 
designed to be, a model business college. The college rooms are pleas- 
antly located in the Hydrant Hose building, easy of access, well lighted, 
nicely furnished, with business ofiices, banks, etc., in the main depart- 
ment for the use of students in business practice. Modern improve- 
ments, modern methods of imparting instruction, etc , all combine to 
make the institution first- class in every respect. Telegraphy, shorthand, 
typewriting, card writing, engrossing, etc., receive special attention 
from competent teachers. There appears to be an increased demand 
for well-trained men and women in almost every branch of business, 
a fact never before so apparent as at the World's Columbian Exposi- 
tion of 1893 at Chicago, 111. 

The Geneva Business Training College, as it is now called, is one of 
the permanent institutions of the county, and one deserving the gener- 
ous patronage of the public, especially of those who dessire to prepare 
for business life in a brief period of time. Residents of this and ad- 
joining counties are highly favored in having such a desirable enter- 
prise in their midst, and it rarely occurs that any one who has a per- 
sonal knowledge of its merit will be induced to go elsewhere for a 
business course of study. Home patronage should always be consid- 
ered first in every business relation, let it be large or small. Thou- 



£.0S HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

sands of dollars have been saved to the county already, and thousands 
more may be, with discretion in the right direction. 

A business course of study is not an expensive luxury, but an actual 
necessity for successful competition, so much so that no young man 
or middle aged person can well afford to go on through life without 
it when it can be obtained at so little expense. Graduates of the col- 
lege have thus far been very successful in securing lucrative positions, 
many of whom have already become partners, while others are holding 
desirable positions in business ofifices, banks, etc., with credit to them- 
selves and to the institution. The citizens of Geneva and vicinity have 
done much to aid and encourage the enterprise in various ways, and 
the growth of the village since 1880 has been progressive and rapid. 
Business enterprises have multiplied on every hand, and the outlook is 
indeed flattering to all classes who are willing to put head and shoulder 
to the wheel of business adventure. 

The parents of Prof. M. were very ambitious and frugal, always kind 
and helpful to those in need. They contributed freely to the building 
and support of churches, schools, colleges and societies, at home and 
abroad. Both lived to be aged, the mother nearly seventy-eight, the 
father nearly eighty- one. Their second son, Alexander, jr., gave the 
best part of his life to the gospel ministry, which was his chief delight. 
James, Willet and Horace were actively engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits for several years. It may seem strange that their youngest son 
should be inclined to leave a luxurious home so early in life, and go 
out to battle with the world ; still, it may be accounted for in a meas- 
ure, in that at the age of ten he was seriously impressed with the idea 
of being an exemplary Christian, according to his ability, and he mani- 
fested an earnest desire to do good to others, as he might have oppor- 
tunity ; " choosing rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God, 
than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." After a few years of 
probation he united with the Baptist church of Preston Hollow, of 
which his parents and brothers were active members, and soon became 
very active in church and Sunday school work, as teacher and superin- 
tendent, lending a helping hand in support of good morals and progress- 
ive Christianity. He also took part in the Y. M. C. A work at Al- 
bany, while located there, and at Hudson as member and secretary. 



Biographical. 5o9 

He is now identified with the active members of the Geneva Y. M. C. 
A., and freely contributes to its support, and to the First Baptist Church 
of Geneva, of which he is a consistent member, and to other benevolent 
objects. He is also a member of the Business Educators' Association 
of America, and has contributed several valuable articles for publica- 
tion. For several years he has edited and published a college annual 
in the interest of the Geneva Business Training College, of which he is 
president and proprietor, and in the interest of business education in a 
general sense. 

His success as a teacher is largely due to his natural adaptation to 
his work, to his untiring interest in and devotion to the same, and to 
his large and varied experience in his profession. Whatever he at- 
tempts to do he generally succeeds in doing, and does it well. This is 
evidently a marked characteristic of his nature, worthy of imitation. 
He seldom fails to impress moral and religious sentiments and strict 
temperate habits in the mind and heart of those entrusted to his care. 
His daughter, Anna C, and son, Casper A., have recently completed 
courses of study and practice at the G. B. T. College, and their names 
have been added to the roll of honor. 

His political views have always been of a conservative nature, giving 
preference to men of pure morals and superior qualifications, whenever 
great and responsible interests are at stake. He does not believe in 
supporting men merely on account of their partisan principles, when 
they are known to be corrupt and unworthy. He is a strong advocate 
of reform in every branch of the government, independent of party affil- 
iations, which legalizes anything that tends to degrade and destroy the 
life and happiness of our American citizens. He may be addressed at 
the Geneva Business Training College, or at his family residence, No. 
26 North Main street, Geneva, N. Y. 



JOSEPH S. LEWIS. 

Joseph S. Lewis, who is familiarly known to all his acquaintances 
by the title of " Captain," was born in Washington county, N. Y., on 
the 7th of July, 18 10. His father was Barnet Lewis, who removed 



510 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

while his son was still an infant to Madison county, where Joseph 
served an apprenticeship at the trade of harness making. While still 
a young man he started out to make his own wayin the world. Going 
first to Oswego, N, Y., he worked about three months in a hotel, after 
which and on the 29th of November, 1830, he came to Geneva, and 
has since made it in's permanent home. His first employment was in 
the old Franklin House, then kept by Solomon St. John. That hotel 
was built in 1824, and is still in use for its original purpose. A few 
months later Mr. Lewis transferred his services to the proprietor of the 
old Geneva Hotel, the frame of which still stands in a part of Dr. 
Smith's Geneva Sanitarium. He remained with that house in the ad- 
ministration of proprietors Beebe and Hemingway, respectively, and 
during the proprietorship of the last named man he had special charge 
of the stages which made that popular hostelry their headquarters. 
Not long after this Mr. Lewis engaged in his first business venture, by 
starting a small grocery and confectionery store, in company with a 
Mr. Naglee. This connection continued only one year, but Mr. Lewis 
left the business with a fair profit, and returned to the care of the stages 
at the old hotel. 

In the year 1836 there was only one steamer running on Seneca 
Lake. It is an evidence of the confidence felt in Mr. Lewis in this com- 
munity that he was appointed captain of the steamer, thus gaining his 
right to the title by which he has since been populary known. After 
two seasons on this boat, Captain Lewis took command of the Keiika, 
the first steamer on Keuka (or Crooked Lake.) He commanded this 
boat for five years. His popularity in these positions was great, and 
he became widely known to the traveling public throughout Central 
New York. About this time Captain Lewis secured an interest in a 
line of stages that ran into Geneva, and in 1841 he took up his residence 
here. He purchased the livery business connected with the Franklin 
House, and thereafter for twenty years ran the stage lines between this 
place and Penn Yan, Lyons and Ovid. During another period of 
twenty years he carried on a livery business on Seneca street, with D. 
W. Colvin as a partner. During the waK period Captain Lewis carried 
on an extensive wool business, associated with S S. Cobb, and was con- 
spicuous in raising the recruits for the 126th and the 128th Regiments 
of Infantry. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 511 

Captain Lewis made investments of his accummulated means in 
Geneva property, and for some years past has given his attention to its 
care and development. He has twice filled the office of village trustee, 
and once held the office of president of the village. In these positions 
he evinced a commendable public spirit, and gave freely of his energies 
for the welfare of the community. He has taken an active interest in 
educational affairs, and held the position of president of the Board of 
Education for about ten years preceding December, 1891. He is chair- 
man of the Board of Trustees of the Presbyterian Church, one of the 
Cemetery Commissioners, and a director of the Geneva National Bank, 
in which he is a large stockholder. All this indicates that Captain 
Lewis has led a busy life, and has been conspicuously identified with 
the public affairs of Geneva. In his advancing years he looks back upon 
a well spent life, and has made a record for public spirit and good citi- 
zenship. 



JAMES COSSLETT SMITH. 

James Cosslett Smith, son of Thomas and Rachel Cosslett, born 
at Phelps, N. Y., August 14, 1817, received a preparatory education in 
the district and classical schools in that village; entered Geneva (now 
Hobart) College in September, 183 i, and remained in that institution 
until 1834, when he went to Union College, where he graduated in 
July, 1835 ; resided one year in Marshall, Mich.; returned to this State 
in 1836 and entered the office of Walter Hubbell, of Canandaigiia, as a 
law student; in April, 1838, removed to Lyons, Wayne county, and 
continued his law studies in the office of Lyman Sherwood ; was ad- 
mitted to practice in October, 1838, and formed a partnership with Mr. 
Sherwood; in April, 1842, was appointed by Governor Bouck surro- 
gate of Wayne county, which office he held till July, 1847; in 1854, 
removed to Canandaigua, and entered into partnership with Elbridge 
G. Lapham ; was one of the commissioners from the State of New York 
to the Peace Congress, held in Washington in 1861 ; in May, 1862, the 
office of justice of the Supreme Court having become vacant by the 
resignation of the late Judge Knox, Governor Morgan appointed Mr. 
Smith to that office, which he continued to hold by successive elections 



512 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

till December 31, 1887, when his term ended by constitutional limita- 
tion. Since that time Mr. Smith has continued to reside at Canan- 
daigua, and has engaged in the practice of his profession as a counsel- 
lor, and also in the trial of causes as a referee. The degree of LL.D. 
has been conferred upon him by Hobart, Union and Hamilton Colleges. 
He was a member of the commission appointed in 1890 to propose 
amendments to the constitution of the State. 

In 1846 Mr. Smith married Emily Ward, daughter of the late John 
Adams of Lyons. Their three sons and two of their three daughters 
are now living. 



JOHN CALLISTER. 

John Callister was born in Albany, N. Y., in February, 1828. He 
was one of eight children, and by the death of both his parents before 
he reached early manhood he was thrown wholly upon his own re- 
sources. When he was eleven years old his parents removed to the 
vicinity of Rochester, where they died. In Rochester the lad was 
taken from school at thirteen years of age, and very much against his 
wishes was apprenticed to a man named Gray to learn the finishing of 
leather as a part of the tanner's trade. He possessed from his early 
boyhood an intense desire to obtain a good education, and in order to 
attain his ambition in this direction he devoted his evening hours to the 
work. His employer took him from his other work when about four- 
teen and sent him out into the country to purchase hides on commis- 
sion. In this business he was remarkably successful, and might have 
continued in it to his own and his employer's gain ; but he had other 
objects, and with the first money he thus earned he purchased a Greek 
Testament and began a course of lingual study which did not cease 
wholly while he lived. After nine months of work for Mr. Gray, he 
arranged to buy the remainder of his time as an apprentice by paying 
$50 which he had saved from his earnings, and giving his father's note 
for the remainder, which he himself made good. He was then fifteen 
years old, and he came to Canandaigua and entered the academy, giv- 
ing his nights to study and his days, or portions of them at least, to 
work in a tannery to pay his expenses. At the close of his studies in 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 513 

the academy he entered the law office of Hon. E. G. Laphani, and in 
due course was admitted to the bar. Subsequently he formed a part- 
nership with J. P. Faurot, which continued a few years, and after its 
conclusion he practiced alone until his death. On the 6th of May. 
1857, he married Margaret, daughter of Robert Walker, of Canandai- 
gua. She still survives him. They had no children. 

Of unquestioned integrity and devoted to his business, Mr. CalHster 
drew around himself a large clientage. His industry was unintermit- 
tent, and through his foresight and sagacity in making investments, he 
was enabled to accumulate a large property. In politics he was an un- 
wavering Democrat ; but his inclinations were not towards public office, 
which he never sought. He was supervisor of the town several years, 
but he accepted the position because he thought it his duty and would 
enable him to benefit the community. For several years he held the 
position of president of the Ontario County National Bank, in which 
office his rare financial ability rendered him a valued and efficient 
officer. 

Socially Mr. CalHster was modest and unassuming, courteous to all, 
and one whose friendship, when once bestowed, could be trusted under 
all circumstances. His death took place on the 23d of August, 1888. 



DR. A. B. SMITH. 

He is a son of the late Hon. Caleb Smith, who was one of the pio- 
neers of that locality, settling there with his parents when a boy, and 
here he grew up to be a man of more than ordinary intelligence and 
prominence in the community. His principal occupation was farming, 
but his fellow citizens showed their confidence in him by selecting him 
for various public positions of responsibility. He was for many years 
a county and circuit judge, and discharged the duties of these offices 
with ability and discretion. Dr. Smith was educated at Lima, and 
studied his profession in the old Geneva Medical College, from which 
he graduated in 1844-5. The year following he attended lectures at 
the School of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, from which he re- 
ceived a post graduate diploma, and settled in Ovid, N. Y., for his 

65 



r.U HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

first practice. Very early in his professional career he began to 
have grave doubts as to the reliability of the allopathic practice 
in which he had been taught. In a few years this led him to adopt 
the homoiDpathic school, and further study resulted in the develop- 
ment of theories and practice, since carried out with the most grati- 
fying success in the celebrated institution with which he has long 
been identified. In 1853 Dr. Smith came to Geneva, and occu- 
pied the old hotel as a hygienic institute, at first in connection with his 
brother, Dr. Horace Smith. Almost from the first he began improve- 
ments in the building and its surroundings, to adapt it more fully to his 
purposes. These improvements have progressed until there is nothing 
of the early structure left but the frame. 

The Institute now comprises the main building of wood and brick, 
which extends one hundred and fifty feet on Washington street, and is 
four stories high, with a front on the park of over fifty feet. Adjoining 
this is a wing to the south on the park with a front of fifty-two feet. 
Broad and light balconies extend along the front of the several 
stories of the main building, as shown in the opposite engraving, 
which command magnificent views of the lake and surrounding coun- 
try. 

Entering the main building in front, the visitor finds himself in a 
broad and airy hall which extends the entire length of the Institute, 
with elegant public parlors on the right in front, and offices and other 
rooms on the left. The halls and rooms are -substantially the same on 
all the floors. There has been no sacrifice of comfort and sanitary con- 
ditions in the provision of the rooms, for they are large and well ven- 
tilated, and the whole building is fitted with hard wood floors. The 
old tortuous stairway has been removed to make way for broad, easy 
flights, which are supplemented with an elevator There are modern 
appliances for perfect heating by steam, and lighting by electricity. 
The whole basement interior was long since torn out, to give place for 
immense boilers, which supply steam for heating and cooking, and to 
operate the dynamo which generates tiie electricity, etc. There are 
over eighty rooms for guests, nearly every one of which has its win- 
dows opening upon attractive views, and all of which are large and 
comfortable. . 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 515 

On the second floor is a large and convenient gymnasium, which in 
this Institute is an important element in the treatment. This gym- 
nasium is furnished with various appliances, most of which are the in- 
ventions of Dr Smith, and all adapted to some specific purpose through 
exercise of weakened parts; for in the course of Dr Smith's study and 
practice, after his radical departure from old methods, he became con- 
vinced of the futility of drugs, as taught by the old medical school, es- 
pecially for chronic complaints, and he has demonstrated, not only to 
his own satisfaction, but through the permanent relief of scores of 
patients, that there is a better way. In his treatment every hygienic 
condition is carefully observed. The usual variety of baths are used 
besides the electro-thermal, galvano chemical, and turkish, with em- 
ployment of electricity according to the best modern practice, by 
which polypoid of all the internal cavities are removed and all forms of 
internal and external tumors, such as ovarian and uterine, incested and 
fibroid, also those of the breast, are often dispersed. 

By the mechanical appliances, with the co-operation of skilled assist- 
ants, introducing the Swedish movement and all forms of exercise 
definitely directed to desired parts of the body, the most astonishing 
results have been obtained, and a great array of grateful people is scat- 
tered throughout the country whose testimony is eloquent in praise of 
the Institute. 

Besides the many who have sought and are seeking the benefits of 
this home-like Institute, many others suffering from general debilit}' 
find here an ideal place for rest and recuperation. No better location 
could be selected for the purpose, for it is characterized by pure air, 
good water, a beautiful lake, and sanitary conditions that cannot be 
excelled. 

For forty years Dr. Smith has made the Geneva Hygienic Institute 
his constant study and unflagging care. Possessing firmness tempered 
with gentleness, far above the thoughts of mere selfish gain, and giving 
his zealous and personal attention to all his large family, even to the 
sacrifice of his own energies, it is not wonderful that his success has 
been so marked. 

He never fails to increase in all who come under his administration 
feelings of gratitude and friendship, which have often continued through 



51G HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

life, and endear him to-day to thousands who will, perhaps, never see 
him again. Dr. Smith was married in 1 847 to Jane M. Hughes, who 
died some year.s ago A niece, Miss Alice S. Reynolds, their foster 
daughter, married Dr. J. C. Knapp, who is associated with Dr. Smith 
in conducting the Institute, where his professional skill and untiring 
zeal have done much for the welfare of the Institute. 



NATHAN J. MILLIKEN. 

Nathan J. Milliken was born in Keene, Cheshire county, N. H., Sep- 
tember 27, 1821. In 1836, being then in his fifteenth year, he entered 
the office of the CJl':^sJlire Republican in Keene as an apprentice, and 
there he learned the " art preservative of all arts," serving the stipulated 
term of three years. After that the limited education he had received 
in the common schools of the village was supplemented by a few 
months' attendance at Hancock and Keene Academies. In 1840 he be- 
came a resident of Burlington. Vt., finding employment temporarily in 
tiie printing offices there, and, although not a voter, took an active in- 
terest in the exciting presidential campaign of that year. Subsequently 
he was employed for a time on the Essex County Republican at Kees- 
ville, N. Y., and during the summer of 1842 was entrusted vi^ith the 
editorial and business management of the paper, while the proprietor 
absented himself on account of ill health. This gave Mr. Milliken his 
first experience as the conductor of a political journal. Two years later, 
in 1844, he purchased a half interest in the Republican, oi which, he had 
the management during the Clay campaign. Disappointed and cha- 
grined by the defeat of the great American orator and statesman, he 
sold out to his partner and resolved to seek his fortune elsewhere. In 
1845 he purchased and assumed the management of the Seneca County 
Courier at Seneca Falls, which continued under his control until 1848, 
when he refused to support General Taylor, the Whig nominee for the 
presidency, and again sold out Joining in the " Free Soil " movement 
under the leadership of Van Buren and Adams, he started anew paper, 
entitled TJie Free Soil Union, which was discontinued after the election. 
Three years later he removed to Canandaigua and established The Onta- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 517 

rio County Times, the first number of which was issued January lo, 1852. 
The Times at the outset took an advanced position as an organ of tlie 
Seward, or anti-slavery wing of the old Whig party, and thus became a 
pioneer in the Republican movement. The first Repubhcan county con- 
vention in Ontario county was held in the fall of 1855. Mr. Milliken was 
then nominated for sheriff, which nomination he declined. The conven- 
tion then nominated him for county clerk, which he also declined after a 
careful study of the situation. His associates on the ticket did likewise. 
The way was thus opened for the calling of a " People's Convention," 
which was held a few weeks later, and by which Mr. Milliken was again 
placed in nomination for sheriff. This nomination he finally accepted, 
but was defeated at the polls, as were the other candidates on the Peo- 
ple's ticket. In 1861 he was nominated by the Republican convention 
for county clerk and defeated, and in 1864 was nominated and elected 
to that office. He was an ardent supporter of James G. Blaine, and in 
the campaign of 1884 was placed upon the Republican ticket as a can- 
didate for Presidential elector. In August, 1890, he was appointed 
postmaster at Canandaigua by President Harrison, which office he 
still holds. The Times is now published by the firm of N. J. Milliken 
& Son, and is a strong factor in the interests of the Republican party 
of this county. Mr. Milliken married in 1853 Miss Orline O. Sutton, 
of Seneca county, and they have four children, two sons and two 
daughters. The oldest son, Charles F. Milliken, is the present work- 
ing editor of the paper which his father founded over forty years ago. 
Mr. Milliken was present at the first log-cabin mass meeting that was 
held in Massachusetts, in the famous campaign of 1840. It was held 
at Northampton. 



GEORGE STILLWELL CONOVER. 

George S. Conover was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., November 7, 1824, 
a son of Peter and Catherine Conover. F"or a time he was engaged in 
mercantile trade in New York ; following which, in April, 1850, he left 
Brooklyn and took up his residence on a farm of fifty acres on the 
banks of Seneca Lake, in the town of Varick, Seneca county; here he 
resided until September, 1870, when he removed to Geneva, which 



518 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

place has since been his home. While not a politician as the distinction 
is usually understood, Mr. Conover has been more or less connected 
with politics, being allied to the Democratic party. Before leaving 
Brooklyn he was active in the interests of his party; in 1856, after 
coming to Varick, he was elected supervisor, and was chairman of the 
board; in 1872 be was trustee of the village of Geneva, and in 1873 
and 1877 was elected president of the village, serving each time a term 
of two years. He also served as police justice for a brief period in 
1880-81. filling a vacancy caused by the death of the incumbent. 

But it is to his active interest and painstaking labor in local history 
and Indianology that Mr. Conover maj^ attribute the high estimation 
and wide appreciation in which he is held. His " Kanadesaga and 
Geneva " has received unqualified encomiums from the press and lead- 
ing members of historical societies ; his lectures upon early history have 
been well received, and he has also rendered much valuable help to 
local and State historical societies by his researches and contributions. 
He compiled and edited " General Sullivan's Indian Expedition, 1779," 
published by the secretary of state in 1887, which is an accepted 
authority concerning that undertaking. He is an honorary member 
of the Waterloo (N. Y.) Library and Historical Society, of the New 
Jersey, the Livingston County, and the Rochester Historical Societies, 
and the Society of Antiquity of Worcester, Mass.; also corresponding 
member of Buffalo, Oneida, and New York Historical Societies. 

So prominent has been his interest in horticulture that Mr. Thomas 
Meehan, the veteran horticultural editor, wrote him January 24, 1891 : 
" The great eminence of Geneva as a horticultural centre is mainly due 
to your early encouragement and influence." 

For forty years he has been a member of the Reformed Protestant 
Dutch Church, deeply interested in Sunday-school work, serving his 
church first as a deacon and afterwards for twenty years as an elder, 
and was several times a member of the General Synod, and each time 
on important committees. 

Mr. Conover married, November 8, 1843, Augusta, daughter of 
Henry and Maria Joralemon, who died June 5, 1852, having borne 
him four sons and one daughter. May 4, 1854, he married Catherine 
Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Lavina Gambee, of Varick, by whom 
he has had one son and two daughters. 



Bk.'i-wkI'-.n two brcatlis what crowded mysteries lie — 
The first short t^'asp, the last and long-drawn sigh ! 
Like phantoms painted on the magic slide, 
Forth fr(^m the darkness of the past we glide, 
As living shadows for a moment seen; 
Traced by a ray from one unchanging flame. 
Then seek the dust and stillness whence we came. 

— Oliver Wkndei.l Holmes. 



PART II. 

FAMILY SKETCHES. 



Family Sketches. 



Attwood, Daniel F., Geneva, was born in Androscoggin county, Me., February 9, 
185.']. In 1S72 he was book-keeper for Roseor G. Chase & Company, cnnie with them 
to Geneva in 1872, and remained in their employ until 1886, when he went into the 
insurance business, being one of the founders of the Ontario Mutual Accident Associa- 
tion, originally a local company, but now having a place of business in New York city. 
In 1877, associated with Dr. N. B. Covert, B. A. Walton, S. F. Gascoigne, M. S. San- 
ford, D. W. HoUenbeck and others in the organization of " The People's Building, 
Loan and Savings Association," a company having a reputation of solidity and worth, 
second to none of its class in the State. Of this association Mr. Attwood has been 
secretary since its incorporation, and most of its success is due to his efforts. (A more 
extended sketch of the association will be found elsewhere in this volume.) Mr. Att- 
wood is an earnest Republican worker, and has held the office of village clerk and 
president, being elected to the latter position in February, 1891. In 1876 he married 
Caroline A. Parker, of which union two children have been born. 

Aldrich, Nathan, late of Farmington, was born in Farmington, May 25, 1824, was 
educated in the district schools and was a farmer. He was justice of the peace more 
than thirty years, and a public-spirited citizen. October 15, 1845, he married Lydia 
S., daughter of Edward and Harriet Herendeen, who was born April 30, 1824. They 
had six children: Helen M., born November 9, 1847; Charles H., born June 15, 1849; 
Harriet L., born June 14, 1851; Julius F., born January 2, 1854; Clarence E., born 
May 31, 1856; Mary E., born August 20, 1858. Mr. Aldrich died April 10, 1888. 
Helen M. and Clarence E. are both deceased ; Charles H. married Charlotte Cobb of 
the town of Manchester, and has these children : Ida L., Mary H., Edna G., Fred J., 
and Frank C. Harriet, whose marriage is noted in another family; Julius F. married 
twice, first Abbie Smith, descendant of one of the oldest families of the town. She 
died August 12, 1882, and he married second Eva King, formerly of the town of Man- 
chester, and they have two sons: Clarence G. and Floyd C. ; Mary E. married Carlton 
A. Davis, of Farmmgton. Mr. Aldrich's father, Jonn, was born in this town, October 
30, 1790, and married Leonora Aldrich, formerly of Massachusetts. They had six chil- 
dren : Silas, Edward, Nathan, Sally, Phftebe, andAdelia; and his father, Nathan, was 
born in Adams, Berkshire county, Mass., 1789, and came to this town, one of the first 
pioneers; sowed the first wheat sown in the town, and returned to Massachusetts. In 
the spring of 1790 he came with his family, and later built the first framed house, which 
is now owned by Willis D. Newton, of Victor, who married his great-granddaughter. 



4 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Ambush, Stephen J., Geneva, was born in Prince George's county, Md., in 1830. He 
was owned by Miss Amelia Frazier (^f that count}'. In 1852 she gave him his freedom. 
He resided in Washington twenty years, and in 1855 married Miss Martha E. Taylor, 
of Geneva, formerly of his native State. They have two children : Douglass 0. and 
Harriet E. The family resides on West street and owns good property. 

Appleton, Richard W., East Bloomfield, a native of Norfolk, England, was born July 
8, 1840. He is a son of Robert and Maria Appleton, natives of Norfolk, England, who 
had two sons and five daughters. Subject of sketch was reared on a farm and educated 
in the common schools. At the age of twelve years he came to Ontario county. He 
lived one year Avith an uncle in West Bloomfield, and then for three years worked on 
a farm in Richmond. He then learned the miller's trade, and after three years learned 
the shoemaker's trade and followed it two years. The war then broke out, and April 
19, 1801, he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-third New York Volunteer Infantry, and 
served two years. He was in thirteen engagements, the principal ones being at Will- 
iamsburg and Seven Day before Richmond. He was wounded at Antietam and taken 
to Frederick City hospital, and April 12 was transferred to a hospital in Baltimore, 
whence he was taken to David's Island, wnere he remained until his discharge, May 
25, 1803. He then followed shoemaking in Richmond, Bristol and East Bloomfield 
Station until 1873, when he established a boot and shoe store at the latter place. In 
1885 he added a full line of groceries and men's furnishing goods, and has since done a 
very successful business. He is a Democrat, and was postmaster at East Bloomfield 
Station during Cleveland's administration. Mr. Appleton married J\lary A., daughter 
of Richard Appleton, and they had two children: Frank R., a teacher of music, and 
who assists in his father's store ; and Agnes M., who is a student in East Bloomfield 
Union School. Mr. Appleton is a charter member of A. 0. U. W. of East Bloomfield, 
and he and family attend St. Peter's Episcopal Church, of which Agnes M. is a mem- 
ber. Mr. Appleton assisted in building the church and is one of the vestrymen. 

Appleton, Richard, East Bloomfield, a native of Worsted, Norfolk county, England, 
was born December 10, 1845, a son of Richard, a native of the sam« place, born Sep- 
tember 18, 18<>0, who was a weaver for many years. He also, while in England, kept 
a hotel. His wife was Elizabeth Frary, a native of Worsted, England, by whom he 
had six sons and seven daughters. In 1851 Mr. Appleton, wife and nine children came 
to America ; seven of the children survive. The first winter Mr. Appleton resided in 
East Bloomfield. He then purchased a place in Bristol, which he traded for a hundred 
acres. After a few years he sold this at a profit, and purchased seventy-six acres in 
East Bloomfield, and here he erected a residence, which he sold later. He and his wife 
are members of the Church of England. Mr. Appleton died March 28, 1882, and his 
wife February 12, 1885. Richard Appleton, jr., was reared on a farm and educated in 
the common schools. He started in life by working by the month, though he had 
none of his wages until twenty years of age. He then farmed two years, and later 
learned carpentry, which he followed eighteen years. He and his brother William 
were in partnership as carpenters for many years, and during that time made several 
purchases of houses and lots. They finally separated in business in 1887. Our subject 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 5 

now owns 130 acres, on which in 1890 he erected a residence. December 15, 1870, 
Mr. Appleton married Mary A. Wolston, a native of Hickland, Norfolk county, Eng- 
land, born September 29, 1851, and a daughter of George and Sahina Wolston, of Eng- 
land, who came to America in 1862, and settled in East Bloomfield. The children of 
subject are : Fred R, G. Wallace, Howard C, Alice L., and Carl H. Mr. Appleton is 
a Republican. 

Wolston, George, a native of Norfolk, England, born in 1833, is one of nine children 
of Jeremiah and Ann (Knapp) Wolston, natives of England. In 1853 George came to 
East Bloomfield, and for four years worked at farming. For the next eight years he 
rented land. He then purchased one hundred acres which he improved at a cost of 
$2,000, and m 1880 he added one hundred acres. Mr. Wolston married in England 
Saliina, daughter of John and Mary Nudd, and they had eight children : Mary, Sabina, 
Elizabeth, Louise (deceased), John E., Alice S., George H., and Maud. Mr. Wolston 
is a Democrat. He and wife are members of the M. E. Church at East Bloomfield. 

Appleton, William, Canandaigua, was born in Norfork, Eng., November 16 1847 
and was in his tnird year when his father, Richard, came to this country. He first 
.settled in E. Bloomfield where he lived about ten years, then moved to Bristol and lived 
about eight years, moving back to Bloomfield where he bought a farm, and spent the 
balance of his days. He died in 1883 aged eighty-three years. He married in Eng- 
land, Elizabeth Frary, and they had thirteen children, six of whom are living. William 
was the youngest son. He was given a good education in the common schools and as- 
sisted on the farm until twenty, when he went as an apprentice to learn carpentry. 
After serving three years he went into busmess for himself, and for twenty years has 
followed the trade, building many fine residence.*. He generally employed four hands 
and was always found with plenty of work. He has never taken an active interest in 
politics, but is a man respected and looked up to by all. He has for many years been 
the trustee of Centrefield school. In 1889 he bought the faim of 146 acres where he 
now resides, making 186 acres he now owns. He married in December, 1871, LenaN. 
Woolston, of E. Bloomfield, and they are the parents of two children : George W., and 
Irene L. 

' Adams, Judge William H., Canandaigua, was born in Lyons, Wayne county, N. Y., 
March 27, 1841. Fie was educated at Walnut Hill School in Geneva, of which the late 
Rev. Thomas C. Reed was principal. When about eighteen years of age he entered the 
law office of Smith & Lapham at Canandaigua, where he was studying at the breaking 
out of the war. In the fall of 1801 he aided in raising a company for the Ninety-eighth 
N. Y. Vols, and served two years, first as lieutenant then as captain, and as assistant 
adjutant-general on General De Forrest's staff. At the expiration of his term of service 
in 1SG3 he was admitted to the bar, and settled in Canandaigua where he engaged 
in the practice of his profession. He was for some time in partnership with Hon. 
Elbridge G. Lapham, but upon the election of Mr. Lapham to Congress, this relation 
was terminated and the business of the firm was continued by Mr. Adams. In the fall 
of 1887 Mr. Adams was nominated on the Republican ticket for justice of the Supreme 
Court for the Supreme Judicial District, and was elected over John D.Teller, of Auburn, 



6 HISTORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

by a majority of 8,(502. Judge Adams married, September 27, 1865, Charlotte L., 
daughter of Hon. B. G. Lapham, and their family consists of two sons: Blbridge L., a 
practicing lawyer of Rochester, and Lewis H., a coal merchant of Canandaigua. 

Adams, Lewis H., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua in 1869, a son of Judge W. 
H. Adams. Lewis H. was educated in the Canandaigua Academy under N. T. Clarke 
and at Fort Hill Preparatory School. He then spent two years as bookkeeper at Mc- 
Kechnie's Bank, and m 1888 he went to Tacoma, Wash., where he engaged in banking 
business, working his way up from extra hand to receiving teller. He returned, and 
was secretary and treasurer for Wescott Brothers Co., Seneca Falls, N. Y., one year. 
March 1, 1892, he engaged with P. J. Mallory as agent for coal, and the following May 
bought out the yard from him, which he still conducts. He is now selling about 3,000 
tons of Lehigh Valley coal per year. Mr. Adams is .secretary of the Protection Volun- 
teer's club, and a member of the Canandaigua executive committee of the Republican 
clubs of Ontario county. 

Abbey, Isaac J., Richmond, was born July 15, 1819, a son of John Abbey, who came 
from Hopkinton, Mass., in 1800 with his father, Aaron, who fouglit at Bunker Hill and 
served to the end of the Revolution. John married Elizabeth, daughter of Squire Will- 
iam Baker. Of their nine children, Sinai, Ann, John, Lora and Alta are deceased. Those 
living are : Olive, Sarah, Isaac J. and Hiram P. John held many of the important town 
offices and was a representative citizen. Isaac J. was educated in the district schools 
and spent his youthful days on his father's farm. He married in 1841 Fanny M., daugh- 
ter of Preston Hawes, of Brookfield, Mass., by whom he had three children : John P., 
Mary E., Mrs. Simmons, of Centrefield, and Sanford W. He married second Jane IIo- 
gan, by whom he had no children. In politics he is a Democrat. He owns 232 acres at 
the home farm and lives on the site of the old home of his grandfather Baker. He built 
his present house in 1853. John P., oldest son of Isasc J., was born March 6, 1844; he 
was educated in the common schools, at Lima Seminary and Canandaigua Academy. 
He married in 1870, Julia Plimpton, of Worcester, Mass., and they have two children, 
Frank P., born in 1874, and Nellie, born in 1877. Mr. Abbey is engaged in farming, 
owning liJO acres on the road leading from Honeoye to Allen's Hill. He has twenty- 
six acres of hops, five acres of raspberries, and a large apple orchard, besides five good 
farm buildings. He is a Democrat and both he and his wife are Congregationalists. 
Sanford Winslow Abbey was born January 11, 1857. He was educated at Canandaigua 
Academy. In 1876 he marr'ed Adaline M., daughter of Sylvanus Culver of. Saline, 
Mich., and they have two children, Byron S., born in 1877, and Kenneth C, born in 1891. 
He has carried on his father's farm for many years and is a hop-grower. He is a Dem- 
ocrat, and was member of assembly in 1890. 

Allen, Erastus II , one of the leading farmers of Bristol, was born July 14, 1820 His 
father was Miles, son of Jesse, a native of Hartland, Conn., who in an early day came 
to South Bristol and lived in Richmond, and moved to Ohio, where he died. He was 
twice married, first to Lucy Oilman, by whom he had eight children. ITis second wife 
was a Miss Lane and they had two children. Miles Allen was born in 1798 in Hart- 
land, Conn., and was a young boy when he came to South Bristol. He married Marcia 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 7 

Wilder, whose maiden name was Hills. They had three sons and two daughters. He 
died in 1850, and his wife in 1866. E. H. Allen was reared on a farm and educated in 
the common schools. He engaged in farming and has since followed that occupation. 
August 18, 1850, he married Mary Ingraham, of Bristol. Her father, Junia Ingraham, 
was a native of Bristol. He married Ann Whitesmarsh, of Dighton, Mass., and they 
had three daughters. Mr. Ingraham died in 1850, and his wife in 1857. Erastus H. 
Allen and wife had three daughters: Mary A., EdnaE., and Katie. Mr. Allen has 295 
acres of land, and settled where he now resides in 1851. He followed farming and for 
the last twenty-five years has been a wool dealer. Mr. Allen has always been a Repub- 
lican, but has never aspired to public office. He and family attend and support the 
Congregational Church of Bristol Center. 

Ansley, Alanson, Geneva, was born on the pre-emption line at the old homestead 
(which has been in the family about one hundred years), was educated in the public 
schools, and is a farmer, excepting about twenty years spent in the agricultural imple- 
ment business in Geneva, but is now on the farm again engaged principally in fruit 
culture. On September 15, 1847, he married Mary A., daughter of Joseph and Mary 
Eldestin, and have had three children, Cynthia M., Susie, and Horatio Seymour. Susie 
died at the age of nine years ; Cynthia married and has two daughters, Susie and Anna 
M. Horatio Seymour Ansley graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1890, but 
at present is doing business for a New York manufacturing company. William Ansley 
was born in Massachusetts in 1773, removed with his parents to Pennsylvania when 
about four years old, was educated and reared a farmri-. In 1792 he in company Avith 
Powel Carpenter walked from Lackawanna county, Pa., with nothing but the clothes 
they wore, and their axes on their shoulders, settled together in Ontario county, N. Y., 
on the pre-emption line, five miles southwest of Geneva. Geneva then contained one 
frame and some half dozen log houses. Mr. Carpenter removed a few years later from 
here to Monroe county, and settled in the town of Scottsville, where he spent the re- 
mainder of his days. He served a number of years as one of the judges of that county. 
In 1794 William Ansley married Esther Witter, and they had ten children. His first 
wife died in 1817. For his second wife he married Margaret (Sayre) Gramesly. They 
had s'x children : Alanson, Margaret, Matilda, James, Marcus, and Marvin. Alanson, 
Margaret, and Marcus are still living. Marcus occupies the old homestead, which was 
built and opened as a country hotel in 1794, and used for that forty years. It still 
stands firm and solid, and promises all right for years to come. William Ansley died 
in 1840, and his wife in 1865. 

Adams, Arthur T., East Bloomfield, a native of Adams' Basin, Monroe county, born 
July 29, 1838, is a son of John, who was one of seven children of Jonathan Adams, 
who settled on a farm in East Bloomfield in 1795 ; a part of the farm is now owned by 
subject. John was born in Massachusetts in 1794, and learned the gunsmith's trade. 
He went to St. Charles, Mo., and there followed his trade for some time, then returned 
on horse back to New York, a distance of 1,000 miles. Soon after he arrived he ex- 
changed his pony for household furniture, manufactured in what was then ''Mechanic's 
Hall," E. B., some of the chairs being still in existence. He owned part of the farm 



8 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

settled by his father, which he sold to a brother and moved to Adams' Basin, where he 
engaged in growing silk-worms and in manufacturing silk. He also worked at his 
trade and at saw-milling. He served in the War of 1812, and drew a pension. He 
was twice married, first to Philinda Wilson, a native of Bristol, by whom he had three 
sons and five daughters. Second, to Margaret Adams, of Palmyra, by whom he had 
one child who died in infancy. Mrs. Adams died in 1872, and Mr. Adams in 1884. 
Arthur T., when fourteen years old, came toEast Bloomfield to visit relatives, and from 
that time lived and worked with his brother, Oliver Edson Adams, at the blacksmith's 
trade for eleven years, attending school winters at the academy. At the death of his 
uncle he fell heir to the farm of ninety-five acres, on which he has since lived. Here 
he has put up good buildings and made many other improvements. The wife of Arthur 
T. Adams is Laura Parmele, a native of East Bloomfield, and a daughter of Nelson and 
Laura (Childs) Parmele. To subject and wife were born two children: Woodbry B., 
born in 1868, educated in East Bloomfield Union School, and graduated from the Buf- 
falo School of Pharmacy in 1891. He is at present a druggist of Buffalo ; and Nellie 
Blanche, a student in East Bloomfield Union School. Mr. Adams is a Republican, but 
not an aspirant to office. He is a natural musician, and for a number of years was 
leader in the Congregational choir, but at present he and his daughter are engaged with 
the M. E. Church choir, his daughter as organist. A number of years ago Mr. Adams 
organized a male quartet in East Bloomfield, which is still in existence. It is composed 
of Mr. Adams, Jesse Wheeler, William Spitz, and Charles Munson. 

Ashley, William, Richmond, son of Noah 1st, was born January 5, 1809, in a log- 
house across the way from the frame house his father afterwards built. He married in 
1834 Juliet Bosworth, of Sheffield, Berkshire county, Mass. Of their eight children 
only four are living, Mrs. Ashley's great-grandfather, Nathaniel Bosworth, emigrated 
from Wales, and died in Sandisfield, Mass., in 1807, aged ninety-nine years. Her grand- 
father was Nathaniel 2d, and her father, Jared Bosworth, went to Michigan as one of 
the early pioneers in 1818. William Ashley died August 6, 1890. 

Ainsworth, Hon. Stephen Howard, West Bloomfield, was born in Burlington, Otsego 
county, March G, 1809. His father was Darius, who came from Connecticut about 
1806, and whose grandfather, with two brothers, emigrated from England and were 
afterward soldiers in the Revolution. Stephen's parents were poor, and his first busi- 
ness venture was as a dancing teacher, which he followed thirteen years, then pur- 
chased a farm and established his parents thereon. In 1839 he began the study of 
phrenology, and in 1841 began lecturing and lectured five years with marked success, 
being invited to lecture at colleges and schools, and to make examinations in prisons 
as a result of his ability to describe the characteristics of persons entirely unknown to 
him. When lecturing at Auburn, he was taken by a committee into the State's prison 
to examine heads blindfolded. He told the crime that each prisoner had committed 
correctly— even to the kidnapping of a child, and was also able to tell two outsiders 
that they had committed no crime. In 1846 he became a nurseryman in West Bloom- 
field, which he followed with great success until 1871, when he retired. He is now 
enjoying a comfortable fortune at his pleasant home in West Bloomfield. Mr. Ains- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 9 

worth was one of the first to embrace Abolitionism ; and the first in the country to 
give to the world an improved and successful method for the artificial propagation of 
fish. He was the one who recommended and secured the appointment of Seth Grreen 
as fish commissioner, State Hatchery at Caledonia. He has been an enthusiastic ano-ler 
and has made records at fly casting, and has been honored with the following medals 
for his piscatorial services : A silver medal from the New York State Poultry Society 
in 1869 for spawning race; was made life member of, and received a silver medal of 
the first class from the Society d'Acclimation of Paris, France, for improvements in 
fish culture. In 1836 he married Louise S. Thompson, of Lima. They have one 
daughter, Isabella L., wife of R. M. Peck of this town. He married second, in 1871, 
Susannah Perry, his present wife, whose grandfather, a soldier in the Revolution, was 
one of the guards at the execution of Major Andre. His home was in Keene, N. H. 
to which town he had come from Massachusetts, where Mrs. Ainsworth's father, Abel 
Perry, was born. Mr. Ainsworth was a member of the State Legislature in 1861, and 
has been president of the Fruit Growers' Society of Northern New York ; also presi- 
dent of the Ontario County Agricultural Society. 

Allen, Clark, West Bloomfield, was born April 26, 1824, in the town of Russell, 
Lower Canada. When he was about eight years old his father, John, brought his 
family to Monroe county, and settled at the Lower Falls of the G-enesee (Carthage) 
below Rochester. In 1838 he came to this town with his family — wife and eleven 
children. He was a blacksmith by trade, but worked at farming in this town. Clark 
was educated in the district schools and West Bloomfield Academy. He worked 
principally at farming, but for two years before his marriage he was on the road put- 
ting up hydraulics. In 1850 he married Sarah E. Peck, daughter of Waterous Peck, 
and had two children. Their son, Mahlon P., born in 1852, is a hardware merchant in 
Lima, and married Belle Scott of that place in 1886, and has two children. Sarah 
Pauhnah his daughter, died at the age of twelve years. Mr. Allen lived in Michigan 
four years after his marriage, then returned to this State, and in 1863 bought the old 
homestead of his wife's father where he lived until 1876. He resided in Lima six 
years, then bought the Jasper C. Peck farm of 260 acres on the east main road, where 
he now lives. He still owns and works the other farm of 160 acres. 

Abbey, Benton G., Richmond, was born February 19, 1854. His father, Hiram P., 
son of John, was born in 1822, and married Betsey, daughter of Benjamin Gregg, of 
Bristol, and settled on a portion of his father's farm. Besides Benton he had two 
other children: S. Elizabeth, born in 1860, and Robt. B., now living in Bristol, where 
he is a farmer. Hiram P. has about 550 acres in this county and several thousand 
acres in Texas, which he visits every winter. Mrs. Abbey died in 1888. His son, 
Benton G., attended Canandaigua Academy and Geneseo Normal School. In 1885 he 
married Jennie G-arton, of East Bloomfield, and they have two children: Caroline, 
born August 1,. 1886, and Bessie, born in January, 1888. Mr. Abbey engaged in the 
manufacture of drain tile in 1879, to which he has since added a eider mill and a fruit 
evaporator. He has twenty acres in his homestead farm, 
1) 



10 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Adams, Gabriel, Canadice, a native of Sussex county, N. J., was born in 1829 and 
died August 7, 1876. He came with his parents to this town about 1831. His father, 
Joseph, died in 1837, aged thirty-three years, leaving seven children : Gabriel, who 
married in 1851 Charlotte, daughter of Josiah and Lua B. Jackman, who were both 
born in Richmond. Of their ten children six survive ; Abner and Chloe (Johnson) and 
Mrs. Adams of this town. The latter has two children. 

Andrews, William R., Bristol, was born in Bristol, November 3, 18G7. His father 
was George A., son of Royal A., whose father was Samuel Andrews, born in Bristol, 
Mass., July 2, 1770. He married Dorcas Aldrich, born at Northbridge, Worcester 
county, Mass., July 17, 1867. They came to Bristol and settled. In early life he was 
a sailor, and also a cooper and farmer. He died in Bristol. Royal A. was born in 
Bristol May 30, 1799, and married Hannah Evarts, a native of Bristol, born December 
24, 1801. They had three sons and six daughters: Elkanah, George A., and Samuel 
A., who died in California, December 1, 1850; Minerva H., who died March 11, 1875; 
Catherine S., who died August 5, 1857 ; Mary, who died July 5, 1848 ; Charlotte and 
Melissa (twins) reside in Michigan, and Achsah, wife of John B. Wheeler. Mr. Andrews 
was a Quaker, as were his parents. He died July 14, 1870, and his wife October 24, 
1886. George A. was born October 27, 1823, and was educated in East Bloomfield 
Academy, and taught school a number of years, but his principal occupation was farm- 
ing. He owns 140 acres of land. June 13, 1865, he married Malvina A., daughter of 
William W. Briggs. of Bristol. She was born January 20, 1840. Their children were : 
William R., Lenora, wife of Harry Bliss, and Cora D.,wife of Carroll E. Simmons. 
Mr. Andrews died in Bristol, January 7, 1889, and his wife, January 21, 1893. Will- 
iam R. Andrews was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of Bristol. 
He owns 105 acres of land, part of the old homestead, and is an adherent member of 
the Farmers' Alliance and the E. K. 0. R. No. 29, and is a member of the Universalist 
church of Bristol. 

Andrews, Cornelius J., D.D.S., Canandaigua, was born in Canadice, October 7, 1845, 
a son of George, a farmer of that town. The school days of our subject were spent in 
his native town, and when he was sixteen years of age he began teaching school, fol- 
lowing this until 1864, when he entered Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, spending two 
years; after a year's teaching he entered the State Normal School at Oswego, from 
which he graduated in 1867. After receiving his diploma he began teaching in Canan- 
daigua, and after a year owing to failing health he went west, and accepted a position 
as assistant civil engineer on the Illinois Central Railroad. He was there about a year 
and a half, when, his father dying suddenly, he was called home. This same year, 1870, 
he began the study of dentistry in the office of Dr. A. G. Coleman, of Canandaigua. 
He was with him as a student for one year, and then as a partner for four years. At 
the end of this time he went for one' year to the Philadelphia Dental College, from 
which he graduated March 1, 1877. He resumed his partnership with Dr. Coleman for 
two years, and May 1, 1879, he opened a business for himself, which has proven very 
successful. Dr. Andrews is a member of the Seventh District Dental Society, and of 
Canandaigua Lodge No. 294 F. & A. M. He married, November 12, 1872, Maria M. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. U 

Bailey of Spencerport, and they have had three daughters: Bertha G., Jessie M. and 
Maud E. Dr. Andrews is a prominent member of the M. E. Church, and for the last 
eleven years has been a trustee of Canandaigua church. Dr. Andrews also conducts a 
farm on the lake shore of 100 acre«, half of which is vineyard. The oflBce is at 232 
Main street. Residence 92 Gibson street. 

Booth, Charles F., D.D.S., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua November 11, 
1858, a son of John E., a merchant and farmer of this town, now retired from business 
and living in Geneseo. The early life of our subject was spent in this town. He was 
educated at the Canandaigua Academy under Professor N. T. Clark, and' at the State 
Normal School at Geneseo. After leaving the Normal School Dr. Booth began the 
study of dentistry in the office of F. E. Howard at Geneseo, from whose office he ma- 
triculated. In 1878 he attended a course of lectures at the New York College of Den- 
tistry, after which he took his degree at the Philadelphia Dental College. He con- 
ducted an office in Geneseo for a year and a half, and then came back to his home, 
where he opened an office and has since practiced his profession. He is now located in 
the Sibley block, and his residence is at 35 Gibson street. He is a member of the Sev- 
enth District Dental Society, and a member of the K. of P. Lodge of Canandaigua. 

Barnes, Albert F., Farmington, was born in Farmington May 24, 1824. He was 
educated in the common schools and Canandaigua and Macedon Academies, and fol- 
lowed farming. He married twice, first in December, 1848, Sarah M. Case, and had 
three children : Marion, who died at the age of a year and a half, and another son who 
lived but a few days, and Carrie L., who married Lewis Quackenbush of Penn Yan, 
now residing in Canandaigua. Mrs. Barnes died April 3, 1875, and he married second 
Christiana A. Robson, of Hartland, Niagara county. They had two daughters, Ethel 
L., who died at the age of four years, and one that was not named. Stephen Barnes, 
the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Rhode Island December 24, 1791, 
He married twice, first to Charlotte Algier of his native place, and came here in 1810. 
They had three children : Emily, who married Clarkson Aldrich, they had one daugh- 
ter, Charlotte, who died at the age of seventeen years ; Ira, married Abigail Woodbury, 
they had five children, two sons and three daughters, Charles, Stephen, Frances, Su- 
sanna and Charlotte ; Frances, married Henry Redfield and still lives in this town ; the 
third child, Adaline, died when young. Stephen Barnes married for his second wife 
Rachel Wilbur of Macedon, Wayne county, in the year 1822. They had four children : 
Albert T., Stephen H., who died at the age of two years ; Edward 0. S. and Charlotte 
M. His mother's side was of the Friends denomination ; her father, Henry Wilbur, 
being one of the early settlers of Friends who came from Massachusetts in the year 
1792. He was an exemplary member of the Friends Society at Farmington during a 
period of nearly seventy years, he having lived to the age of ninety-four years. Stephen 
Barnes died August 18, 1865, and his wife, Rachel Barnes, twenty years later being 
January 14, 1885. Mrs. Barnes's father, Kendra Robson, was born in Yorkshire, Eng- 
land, in 1803, and came to the United States with his parents and two brothers in 
1820, locating m Niagara county. The family were members of the Society of Friends, 
the father, Michael Robson, having become convinced of the truths of the gospel as 



\2 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

held by them, when a young man and following the seas. He was left an orphan when 
quite young, his father having died when he was but three years of age, and his mother 
before he was ten. He was bound apprentice to a sea captain when he was twelve 
years of age and followed the seas for many years ; he lived to the age of ninety-four 
years. Kendra Robson married Ruth Brecken, who also came from England ten years 
later. They had thirteen children : James K., John B., Mary A., Elizabeth C, Rachel 
L., Christiana A., William D., Charles M., Eliza J., Alice S., Henry L., Francis E., and 
Ella T. Twelve arrived at the age of manhood and womanhood; eight are still living. 

Briggs, E. Elihu, Bristol, was born in Bristol September 25, 1835, reared on a farm 
and educated in East Bloomfield Academy. At the age of seventeen he engaged m 
teaching for five years in connection with farming, since which time he has followed 
farming exclusively. He owns sixty-three and one-half acres, which he purchased in 
1867. Mr. Briggs has been thrice married. First, in 1854 to Emeline, daughter of Rev. 
Abner Reed. They had four children: William, Frank, Helen and EInathan. Mrs. 
Briggs died in 1868, and in 1870 Mr. Briggs married Mary Ann Johnson, daughter of 
Phineas Johnson. By his second wife Mr. Briggs had two children : Ina E. and Lewis 
B. Mrs. Mary Ann Briggs died in 1884 and in 1886 Mr. Briggs married Lucrecia Kings- 
bury, daughter of Hampton Kingsbury, with whom he is still living. Mr. Briggs is a 
member of the People's party. He is now serving his third year as president of the 
Farmers' and Mechanics' Hop-growers' Association of Bristol. He is a member of 
Bristol Grange of which he has been secretary for fifteen years, and is a member of the 
Farmers' Alliance, and also secretary of that organization. He and family attend the 
Universalist Church at Bristol. E. Elihu Briggs is a son of William Briggs, a son of 
Elihu, a son of Zenas, who was a native of Massachusetts. William W. Briggs, father 
of the subject, was born in Bristol September 20, 1811. In 1861 he purchased fifty- 
four acres of land, and spent his last active days as a farmer. In 1879 he came to Bris- 
tol Hill and has since lived a retired life. November 13, 1834, he married Nancy Briggs 
of Massachusetts, born November 8, 1814, a daughter of Enoch and Abigail Briggs. 
William W. Briggs and wife had six children : E. Elihu, George W., Melvina A., Elna- 
nathan G., Ruth S. and Nannie L. 

Buck, Rev. Daniel Dana, Geneva, was born in Lebanon, N. H., September 10, 1814. 
While yet a child, the family emigrated to the '' West'ard," as it was then termed, and 
settled in Scottsville, a few miles south of Rochester. When he was fourteen years old 
he was taken into the employ of Mr. John Mitchell, a merchant in Scottsville, with 
whom he continued three years. Then he found employment as a clerk in a mercantile 
house in Rochester for five years, when he was licensed to preach by the First Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church of Rochester, and was recommended for admission into the 
General Conference. According to the usage of the M. E. church, after being on trial 
for two years, he was admitted into full connection, and was ordained as a deacon. 
Two years thereafter he was elected to the order of elders, and was ordained as an 
elder. Mr. Buck continued in the regular itinerant ministry, being appointed from 
year to year to various pastoral charges by the bishops until he had rendered forty 
years of effective service. Feeling then the infirmities of age, and the need of rest and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 13 

recuperation, with permission of the Conference he retired from the effective ranks, and 
located his residence in Geneva. Since making this his liome, without a regular pas- 
toral charge, he has been employed much of the time as a temporary pulpit supply for 
various churches of his own denomination, and also for the Reformed (Dutch) Church, 
the North Presbyterian Church, and the Baptist Church, in Geneva. In the spring of 
1S()1 Mr. Buck was commissioned as chaplain of the Twenty-seventh Regiment New 
York State Volunteers, Colonel (afterwards Major-General) Slocum commanding. 
After about one year in the service, being disabled by malarial diseases, he was honor- 
ably discharged from the service. Mr. Buck is the author of several volumes, ranging 
in size from 18mo. to octavo, and has contributed several articles for Quarterly Reviews. 
He has published several minor productions, mostly in prose, but some in poetry. He 
has been twice honored with the complimentary title of Doctor of Divinity, once bv 
Allegheny College, at Meadville, Penn., and once by the Illinois Wesleyan University, 
at Blooraington, 111. Mr. Buck has been twice married: first, in 1837, to Philena 
Aldrich, of Rochester, who died in 1869. The next year he Avas married to Mrs. 
Lorana Aldrich, of Rochester. By his first wife he had a son, Milton Dana, who grad- 
uated from Syracuse University in the class of 75. He immediately accepted a call to 
a professorship in Napa College, an institution belonging to the California Conference 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After two or three years' service in the college, 
he entered upon what he considered to be his special life work, the regular ministry of 
the Gospel, and since that time, as pastor or presiding elder, he has been regularly em- 
ployed in the ministry in that Conference. Professor Buck married Martha Ross Amos, 
who graduated at Napa College while he was connected with that institution. They 
have had four children, only two of whom survive. 

Beahan, Dr. Albert L., Canandaigua, was born in Watkins, Schuyler county, April 
13, 1855, a son of James Beahan, a farmer of that place. The early life of our subject 
was spent in the town of h's birth. He was educated in Starkey Seminary, from 
which he graduated in 1876, and immediately entered Bellevue Hospital Medical Col- 
lege, from which he graduated in 1879. After leaving school he went first to Reading 
Centre, where he practiced about four years, and then went to New York city, where 
he spent two winters studying on specialties. The spring of 1884 he came to Canan- 
daigua, opening an office on Gorham street, which he has ever since continued, having 
built up a lucrative practice. In 1886 he was elected coroner on the Republican ticket, 
and in 1889 re-elected by a largely increased majority. Dr. Beahan is president of the 
Society of Physicians of Canandaigua, health officer of the town, and has been for six 
years physician of the Ontario County Almshouse. He is a member of New York 
State Medical Society, the Medical Association of Central New York, Ontario County 
Medical Society, and Society of Physicians of the village of Canandaigua. He married, 
in March, 1889, Theodora C. Hopkins, of Canandaigua. 

Barnard, Fitch Reed, Richmond, was born January 1, 1852. His father, Captain 
Peter Pitts Barnard, was born in Livonia in 1812, and died in 1870. For the last forty 
years of his life he held two hundred acres of land in this town and seventy adjoining 
in Livonia. The stone house in which he lived, now occupied by his son and namesake, 



14 tllSTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

was built by him in ISoO. His wife was Fanny, daughter of John F. Reed, and their 
five children were: Ellen A., wife of M. H. Ray; Elizabeth M., wife of J. P. Ray; 
Franc A., wife of R. C. Beach; Fitch R. and Peter Pitts. He married, second, Abby 
Jane Olney (Gray), who survives him. She resides in Rochester. Chauncey, father 
of Peter Pitts Barnard, was a native of Connecticut, and married Nancy, daughter of 
Captain Peter Pitts, of Richmond, and came to Livonia, where he lived and died. His 
father was Samuel, of Litchfield county, Conn. Fitch R. was married in 187!) to Sarah 
J. Jerome, daughter of Myron D. Jerome, of Livonia, and they have two children, 
Fannie E., born December 13, 1881, and Solon H., born December 10, 1887. Mr. 
Barnard is a Republican. Mrs. Barnard's father was born in this town, where Isaac B^ 
Green now lives, and his father, John Jerome, married Sarah Aiken, whose family was 
among the first to settle at Allen's Hill. P. Pitts Barnard was born November 13, 
1859, and married, October 21, 1885, Clara Jerome, daughter of Samuel Jerome, of 
Livonia, and their children are: Glenn H., born January 21, 1889, and P. Ray, born 
November 28, 1891. 

Bennett, Charles, Geneva, was born in Starkey, Yates county, January 22, 1820, and 
came to Geneva with his parents when an infant. He was educated in the old Castle 
School, and in early life was a farmer. He has conducted a livery and stage business 
for ten years, and is now a brick manufacturer and farmer. He has married twice, 
first in 1850, Elizabeth White, of Geneva, who died in 18G1. In 1863 he married 
second, Judith Tillott, of Clifton Springs. She died in 1888. Mr. Bennett's father, 
George, was born in New Jersey in 1792, and came to Western New York when a 
young man. He mairied Sarah Lum, of Geneva, and they had seven children : John 
L., Hannah, Charles, Henry, George, Horace H. and James ; all except Charles were 
born in Geneva. His father resided in Yaies county only one year, locating in this 
place m 1811. He was a soldier of 1812 from here at Sodus Point. His grandfather, 
Mathew Bennett, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Bennett's father was 
a member of the Baptist church. In politics Mr. Bennett is a Democrat, and attends 
the North Presbyterian Church. 

Brooks, Henry, Canandaigua, was born in Cheshire, Conn., January 27, 1814. The 
family in this country originated from three brothers, who came from England and set- 
tled in Cheshire, Conn. The grandfather of our subject, Henry, was the father of a 
large family, among his sons being Henry, jr., the father of Henry. He married Ro- 
setta Hull, and had four children, Henry being the only one living. His father died 
the year of his birth, and he moved with his mother to Ontario county and settled in 
Canandaigua. She died in Farmington in April, 1846. Henry was educated in the 
common schools, and as soon as he was old enough went to work on farms at diiving 
oxen In 1858 he bought a farm of fifty acres in Canandaigua, to which he has added 
thirty-seven acres, and devotes the farm to grain. Mr. Brooks married, November 30, 
1837, Elvira, daughter of Israel Lathrop, of Geddes, Onondaga county, and they had 
six children, three of whom lived to adult age : Maria, who lives at home : Mary, wife 
of Francis Walker, a machinist of Newark, O. ; and Henry F. The latter was born 
March 20, 1852, was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and began farming on his 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 15 

father's place. March 29, 1876, he married Mary J., daughter of Richard Purdy, of 
Canandaigua, by whom he had three children, two, George E. and Henry F., survive 
him. Their father was drowned in Honeoye Lake, June 11, 1884, and a large com- 
munity mourned his death. He was conscientious, a member of the church, and a de- 
voted son. 

Beach, Richmond C, Richmond, was born in Manchester, August 18, 1844. His 
father, Orrin B. was born in that town, and his grandfather, Nathaniel, was a native of 
Williamstown, Mass., and came to this county at an early day. Orrin B. married in 
1842 Speedy, daughter of Daniel (3d) Short, and their children were: Richmond C, 
Lucy L , wife of George J. Ray, b^rn in 1850; and Orrin S., born in 1854. Richmond 
C. was educated in the common schools and married in 1860 Frankie A., daughter of Peter 
P. Barnard, and they have two children : Mettie L., born November 12, 1870, and 
Bernard R., born July 24, 1879. In 1869 Mr. Beach purchased 160 acres, a portion of 
the farm of Philip Read 2d, on lot 50, on which he has good buildings- 
Baxter, Sarah A., Geneva, was born in Geneva, of English parents. She learned the 
art of dressmaking and has done business on her own account for twenty years. Her 
father, William Baxter, was born in Norfolk, England, June 16, 1807. He was an in- 
genious wood worker. October 1, 1833, he married Ann Thompson of his native place, 
and came to the United States in 1836, locating in Geneva. They had eight children : 
Sophia, Elizabeth, John, Sarah A., Mary E., George, Eliza A., and William. Her father 
died August 18, 1872. 

Barber Family, The. — About the year of 1814, WiUiam Barber and family came from 
Bridport, Vt., to the locality of Geneva, where he was a farmer and teamster. His 
children were six girls and one boy. The son, Asa II., was born in Manlius, N. Y., 
where his parents then lived in 1800 He learned the trade of cabinet-making with 
William Sutton, and soon afterward engaged in business at the location now occupied 
by William C. Barber. Asa H. began business in 1830, and there he continued until 
the time of his death, September 5, 1863. He was succeeded, however, by his son 
William C., and the business has been maintained at this place for more than sixty- 
three years, the latter conducting only a general undertaking business, which his father 
had carried on in connection with his cabinet work, as was the custom of his day. Asa 
H. Barber married Abagail Cowles, by whom he had four children : William C, Alice, 
who became the wife of Abraham Turck, Harriet, and Alonzo S. In 1849 William C. 
Barber married Eliza S. Stewart, and they have had six children, three only of whom 
are living. Alza S., wife of William C, died in 1889. 

Barnum, William M., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, May 7, 1852. Eben- 
ezer, the great-grandfather, was a native of Massachusetts, and one of his sons, Moses, 
was the grandfather of the subject. He was a farmer and came to Niagara county, 
He had five children, but one of whom survives, John, a farmer of Iowa. Jedediah, 
father of William M., was born June 16, 1820, and came to Ontario county when a 
child. When about ten years of age he went to live with an old lady on the lake shore, 
with whom he remained until about fourteen, when he went to live with William Mar- 



16 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

tin, and stayed with him until reaching his majority. When about twenty-six years of 
age he married Amanda, daughter of John Penoyer, of Academy, one of the earliest 
settlers of that tract. He owned at the time of his death, June 15, 188G, 275 acres. 
He never took an active interest in politics, but devoted his time to the farm. He was 
a strong advocate of temperance principles, and a Republican. He had two children : 
Imogene, wife of John B. Hall, and William M. William M. has always been a resi- 
dent of this farm. He was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and Rochester Business 
College, graduating in 1871. He taught school a short time, and then came back to as- 
sist his father on the farm. He is an active Republican. He married in 1872 Martha 
A., daughter of James Hyde, a farmer of Canandaigua, and they have three children : 
Fred C, Edith M., and Frank J. Mr. Barnum is a member of Academy Grange, of 
which he was a charter member, and is at present overseer. 

Bostwick, George W., Geneva, was born in Newark, Wayne county, November 9, 
1835, and fitted for college at Macedon Academy. In 1863 he enlisted in Company D, 
Ninety-seventh N. Y. Vols., and was mustered out in August, 1865. After the war he 
engaged in farming four years, then in the insurance business five years. He also 
taught school twelve years. In 1887 he was admitted to the bar, and has practiced 
since. In 1884 he married Isabel, daughter of James Lewis. Zadoc, grandfather of 
George W., settled four miles south of Geneva about 1800 and cleared a farm. After 
fourteen years he settled in Newark, Wayne county. He had these children; Heman 
(father of George W.), David P., Lucy, Matilda, Nellie, and Polly. Heman was born 
in Geneva, and was ten years of age when his father moved to Newark. He married 
Lois Daggett, and lived at Newark until 1850, then lived in several diflferent places in 
Wayne county. In 1873 he moved to Geneva, where he died January 24, 1876, and 
his wife June 12, 1890. They had five sons and four daughters. 

Bachman, George L., Geneva, was born in Fayette, Seneca county, October 7, 1841, 
but when he was five years old his parents went West. He was educated in the 
academic and common schools, and read law at Adrian, Mich., in the office of Beecher 
& Howell for two years, being admitted upon examination in open court in I860. Mr. 
Bachman practiced in Adrian from 186.'! to 1870, when failing health compelled him to 
come East for vacation and rest with an intention at that time, however, of again re- 
turning to Michigan to practice. Later on he opened an office in Geneva and soon 
established a profitable clientage, and is now regarded as one of the prominent resi- 
dents of the county. While a resident of Adrian Mr. Bachman was an active worker 
in politics, andwas a member of the State Democratic Committee, also chairman of 
the county committee; but in Ontario county he has been content to drop active 
politics and devote his time solely to professional work. Mr. Bachman is one of a 
few Ontario county lawyers who are members of the State Bar Association. In 1866 
Mr. Bachman married Maria Simms, by whom he has had four children, two of whom 
are living. 

Benham, J. H., was born on the farm he now owns in Hopewell, February 6, 1817, 
a. son of Ebenezer second, who was a son of Vnicent, who came from Morristown, N. 
J., to Dutchess county, and finally to Canandaigua, where he and his wife lived and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 17 

died. Ebenezer second was born in Monistown, N. J., in 1787, and married Mary, 
daughter of John and Mary Harwood, of Connecticut, and early settled in Hopewell. 
Ebenezer Benham had two sons and five daughters. His wife died in 1827, and Bet- 
sey Root became his wife, by whom he had five daughters. He died in 185G. Our 
subject, who for many years has been one of the leading farmers of Hopewell town- 
ship, was educated in the common schools and Canandaigua Academy. In 1838 he 
married Sophia Murray who was born in Hopewell, December 12, 1817. Herparents 
were William D. and Sophia (Russell) Murray, of Massachusetts, who settled in 
Hopewell in 1801. Here Mr. Murray died in 1827, and his wife in 1869. Mr. Benham 
and wife had these children : Emogene (deceased), Murray, Margaret (deceased), Mary, 
Ebenezer M., who resides on the old homestead, and Jessie F. He married Hattie H. 
Case, of Bloomfield, by whom he had three children : Florence C, John H., and W. 
Case. Ebenezer Benham stands at the head in New York State as a breeder of 
Hampshiredown sheep, having taken the first premiums in the county fairs. New 
York State fairs, and Western New York fairs. He also breeds fine Jersey cattle. J. 
H. Benham at present owns over two hundred acres of land, including fine buildings. 
He is a Republican and has been town clerk, justice of the peace for eight years, was 
supervisor one term, and county superintendent of the poor for nine years, and once 
elected by a majority of 1,200. Mr. Benham and wife are members of the M. E. 
Church at Hopewell, of which he was one of the Board of Trustees for thirty years, 
has been steward, and at present is district steward. 

Briggs, Zachary J., Richmond, son of Cyrus, was born February 13, 1849, and was 
educated at Canandaigua Academy and at Lima Seminary. He married in 1871 Ann 
Eliza, daughter of Theodore Sleght. She was born in Canandaigua, where her grand- 
father, Andrew, came when a young man. They have had three children: Irving C, 
born in October, 1872 ; Fannie E., born in 1875, died in 1887 ; Harry F., born in 1887. 
Zachary J. Briggs has always followed farming. He built his residence in 1883. This 
is half a mile south of the old homestead, and commands a fine view of the lake and 
rural scenery. 

Beach, Levi S., a native of East Bloomfield, born November 18, 1808, is a son of 
Salmon Beach, a native of Connecticut, born in 1784. Salmon Beach was' reared as a 
saddle and harness maker, and followed that trade many years in East Bloomfield. The 
wife of Salmon Beach was Aresta Waid, a native of Bristol, by whom he had two sons 
and four daughters. Mr. Beach at one time held the office of county clerk. He died 
in 1817, and his wife June 23, 1843. After his father's death, Levi S. Beach was 
reared by Isaac Newton. He first worked by the month and later engaged in farm- 
ing and stock dealing, which he followed until 1872, since which time he has lived a 
retired life. In 1831 Mr. Beach married Catherine Pulver, a native of Kinderhook, 
Columbia county, born August G, 1809, and daughter of James Pulver. Subject and 
wife had six children: Charlotte A., Alice A., William S., George H., Edna A., and 
Adelia, of whom Charlotte and Edna only are living. In politics Mr. Beach was form- 
erly a Whig, but is now a Republican. He and family are members of the M. E. 
Church. Charlotte A. is the wife of Almond Rowley, of East Bloomfield. 



18 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Blackmer, Myron H., Richmond, was born in Livonia, December 12, 18;>0, the only 
son. His father was Hervey, and his grandfather was Levi, the pioneer. The other 
sons of Levi had no children. Hervey married in 1830 Elizabeth, daughter of Pliny 
Hayes, of Bristol, a pioneer of that town. He settled in Livonia, and had besides 
Myron H. (the only son in the second generation from Levi), two daughters: Elizabeth, 
who married Carlton Plumb, of Springfield, Mo., and Sarah, who married Francis G. 
Pennell of this town. He died August (J, 1852. Myron H. was educated at Bloom- 
field and Warren Academies, and engaged in farming at Livonia, where he now owns 
part of the homestead. In 1854 he married Harriet, daughter of John Pennell, who, 
with his father, John, sr., came from Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Blackmer have had 
seven children: John, born 1857; Frank, born in 1860; Carl, born in 186.'], died in 
1892; Elizabeth, born in 1808, married Spencer G. Sisson, of Bristol; Harriet A., born 
in 1869 ; Thomas and George, twins, born in 1871. They reside on the homestead 
farm of John Pennell, a part of the original purchase af John, sr. He is now engaged 
in general farming, and has 225 acres. 

Burgdorf, J. M., Clifton Springs, was born at Honeoye Falls, January 3, 1855. He 
was the son of the Rev. J. C. Burgdorf, who was preaching there at that time, but sub- 
sequently moved to Yellow Springs, 0., Newark, Wayne county, Rural Grove, Mont- 
gomery county, Union Springs, Cayuga county, where he finished his ministry. After 
retiring he finally settled in Clifton Springs, wheie he died on April ;>0, 1889, and was 
buried there. J. M. Burgdorf began business in Newark, Wayne county, where he 
lived in 1876, when he married Miss Lottie, youngest daughter of William Wayne, of 
Clifton Springs. In 1877 he established himself in the furniture and undertaking 
business in this village, and has so won the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens 
that his trade has assumed large and prosperous proportions, despite the fact that his 
establishment was completely consumed by fire in 1882, causing a heavy loss to him 
on account of small insurance and the burning of books. In 1888 he erected his pres- 
ent spacious salesrooms, consisting of three floors 40x90 feet. His thorough business 
qualifications caused him to make a special study of the embalming of the dead, and 
in this work he is rated among the best. He has received many very complimentary 
letters from noted and wealthy people of all parts of the United States, who were 
obliged to call upon him in the capacity of undertaker to conduct the preservation 
and distant transit necessary to the removal of deceased friend.^, whose cases have 
been among the incurable at the Sanitarium, to their far away homes. He is con- 
sidered one of the most energetic and influential members of the community in which 
he lives, is connected with the Legion of Honor, A. 0. U. W., and K. of P. Mr. 
and Mrs. Burgdorf have two daughters, Mae and Belle. 

Boughton, Harry, was born on the old homestead near Victor village, May 28, 1797, 
and was educated in the common schools, and followed farming until his death, Novem- 
ber 15, 1877. He married twice, first, Amanda Brace, and second, August, 17, 1843, 
Mary A. West, of this town. They had six children: Henry C, who married Annie 
Peet of this town ; Friend D., who has never married ; Abigail (Abbie) M., who married 
James E. Bell; Frank E., who married Ida Bement, of this town, and died September 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 19 

l9, 1883 ; Abram J., who married Lucy Cole, of Andrews, Ind., where they reside, and 
Mary A., who married Walter E. King, of Batavia, where they reside. Abbie M., the 
subject, owns the old homestead ; she has four children : Harry B., who resides at 
Covington, Ky. ; Edith L., Warren W. and Mary J., all three reside at home. Mrs. 
Bell's father's father, Abraham Boughton, was born November 23, 1760, and came here 
at an early day. Mrs. Bell's brother, Henry C, was in the late war of the Rebellion and 
was honorably r'ischarged at its close. 

Bray, Andrew Jackson, Richmond, was born August 13, 1848. His paternal grand- 
father, Andrew Bray, was born July 4, 1763, in New Jersey, and married Mary Yawger, 
by whom he had nineteen children. He settled in Scipio, Cayuga county, where his 
son, Andrew 2d, was born June 13, 1808. The latter married Catharine Ann Yawger, 
and their children were : Philii^ Y., born in 1833 ; Ann Eliza (Hough), born in 1836 ; 
(Mary) Black, of East Bloomfield, born in 1838; Nancy (Black), of Buffalo, born in 
1840; and Andrew J. Andrew 2d followed boating on the canals, and quarrying 
plaster, and after settling in this town became a farmer and fisherman. His house was 
on the east side of Honeoye Lake, where his son, Andrew J. now lives. For thirty 
years he drew his several seines in the lake, often catching over half a ton of fish in a 
single night. One night he caught 7,000 white fish. He died March 30, 1886. Andrew 
J. was educated in the district and select schools of this town, and at Rochester Com- 
mercial College. In 1875 he married Emma Eliza Skinner, and they have had four 
children : Philip, who died the age of one year ; Bertha, born March IS), 1878 ; Fanny, 
born December 10, 1879, and Katie, born November 6, 1880. Mr. Bray has three farms, 
containing in all about 242 acres. His home overlooks Honeoye Lake, and the attrac- 
tive situation draws many visitors and picnic parties, who, with the boat livery and other 
conveniences provided by Mr. Bray, spend the summer days pleasantly. 

Blackraore, Edward W., East Bloomfield, is a native of Rochester, born November 
30, 1869. His father, Harvey, is a son of William H. Blackmore, a native of Somerset- 
shire, Eng., born in 1805, who at the age of twenty-seven came to America. He spent 
two years in Ellenville, Ulster county, and there married Maria Davis, of that county. 
He then went to Rochester where he worked for William H. Gorsline & Son, assisting 
in building the Powers block, Elwood block, Erie Canal aqueduct, St. Joseph's church 
and Hayden block. By his first wife (who died in 1843) Mr. Blackmore had six chil- 
dren, four of whom died in infancy. He married second Ann Long, and died in 1884. 
Harvey Blackmore was born January 19, 1836. He was reared and educated in Roches- 
ter, and was an engineer for many years on the N. Y. C. R. R. June 10, 1860, he 
married Mary E. Wardell, of Rochester, a daughter of William W. Wardell, a native of 
England, who came to Rochester. Mr. Blackmore hadfour children : William W., who 
resides in Indianapolis ; George H., a barber of Chicago; Edward W., and Maud, wife 
of Charles Sanford, of Livonia. Mr. Blackmore enlisted in Company H, One Hundred 
and Fortieth N. Y. Vols., and served three years. He re-enlisted in the Fifty-fourth 
Regiment and afterwards enlisted in Qompany I, Fifth U. S. Artillery, stationed in 
Charleston, S. C. In 1880, while at Wilkesbarre, Pa., to aid in suppressing a riot, he 
received a shot in the throat which in time caused his death. He was engasjed at St. 



20 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Mary's hospital when his death occurred in 1883. His wife died in 1873. Edward 
W. was educated in the Rochester schools and in Taylor's Business College, graduating 
from the latter in 1888. He traveled with the Liberty Family Comedy Company two 
years, and then for one year engaged in the livery busine.^s. He then traded for the 
farm of 85 acres, which he now owns and which is known as the " Fair Lawn Farm." 
December 30, 1890, he married Nellie Liberty, the family being composed of Ed. Liber- 
ty, his wife Charlotte, and six children : Marie, John, Tessie, Eva, Nellie and Kittie. 
Mr. Blackmore and wife have had one child, Corinne M. He is a Republican, a member 
of the Farmer's Alliance of East Bloomfield, and a special correspondent for the Ontario 
County Journal and for The Victor Herald. 

Brown, Levi Aldrich was born in the southern part of tlie town of Farmington, 
January 10, 181;!, on the place where he now resides and has resided there since 1834. 
The Brown homestead was originally bought for twenty-five cents per acre. He was 
educated in the common and select schools and followed farming. July 2, 1834, he 
married Lorana B., daughter of Esek and Sarah Aldrich, of Farmington. They have 
no children. Mr. Brown's father William, was born in Cumberland, R. I., February 28, 
1778. He married Martha Hill, of Swansea, R. I., in Farmington October 27, 1805, and 
had four children: Chloe, Hannah M., Nancy Jane and Levi A. Chloe died when she 
was six years old. The father was killed in a friendly wrestling match with a neighbor, 
April 28, 1814. and the mother married Jacob Smith, a son of one of the first settlers of 
the town. They had three children: Mary, William and Phebe. Mrs. Brown's father, 
Esek Aldrich, was born August 29, 1779, in Northbridge, Worcester county, Mass.. and 
came to Farmington March 1, 1801, and went back for his mother in 1802, and she 
rode the entire distance on horse-back. He married Sarah Birdsall, of Perinton, Monroe 
county, April 14, 1811, and they had six children: Clarkson, Royal, Lorana B., Joseph 
B., Esek and Jessie B. Mrs. Brown's father, E.'^ek Aldrich, died May 28, 1858. He 
was a descendant of George Aldrich, of Berkshire, Eng., the first Aldrich who came to 
America in 1631. Her mother died December 7, 1857. On both the paternal and ma- 
ternal sides they are Orthodox Friends. One of Mrs. Brown's uncles, Stephen Aldrich, 
was the first physician in the town of Farmington. 

Burch, Birdsey Hawley, Canadice, was born in Salisbury, Litchfield county, Conn., 
September 30, 1831. His father, John I., was of English descent, and a native of 
Rhode Island. He married Fidelia Race, and came to Canadice in 1842. Of their 
eight children four are now living: Henry, of Newark, N. J. ; Laura, widow of G. 
Gibbs, of Wassaic, N. Y. ; Thomas, who lives m Union Springs, but whose business is 
in Syracuse; Sabrina E., wife of Albert Stone, of New York; and Birdsey H., who 
was educated at Claverack, near Hudson, and at the schools here. He married in 1859 
Alvira Adams, daughter of Joseph and Charlotte Adams, and they have one son, 
Marcus Bronson, born in 1861, now a bihing clerk in the employ of the D. L. & W. 
R. R. Co. at Dansville, N. Y. He married Delta, daughter of D. S. and Mary Beam. 
Mr. Burch has one hundred and sixteen acres in his farm on the east side of Canadice 
Lake, and has for three years been engaged in buying and shipping hay to New Yoric 
and New England. He has served as commissioner of highways and collector, and was 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 21 

supervisor in 18S6-S7, being a Democrat in politics. The children of Joseph and Char- 
lotte Adams are: Hester Ann Spaulding, who lives in Michigan; Margaret Snook, vi^ho 
lives in California ; and Alvira, wife of Mr. Burch. 

Birdseye, Joseph, was born in Hopewell, August 29, 1833, on the farm he now owns. 
His father was Ezelciel, son of Joseph, a native of Connecticut, who came to Hopewell 
in 17!)8, and there died in 1805. Ezekiel was born in Hopewell in 18(»0, on the old 
homestead. He taught school for some time, but afterwards followed farming. His 
first wife was Lydia Cone, by whom he had three children. She died, and he then 
married Martha Kelly, a native of Honeoye, and to them were born four sons and one 
daughter. Mr. Birdseye died in 1875, and his wife in 1872. Joseph was educated in 
the public schools, and his life has been spent in farming. He owns 130 acres of the 
old Birdseye homestead, and is one of the leading farmers of the town. In 1872 
he married Candis O , daughter of George Brundage, whose father was one of the 
first settlers of Hopewell, and they have had two children: Sarah C. and one who 
died in. infancy. Mr. Birdseye is a Republican in politics, and he and wife are 
Presbyterians. 

Beam, D. Willard, Canadice, was born in Canadice, November 13, 1S38. At the age 
of eighteen years he began the carpenter's trade, and became a contractor and builder 
quite extensively for twenty-three years. In 1873 he bought the farm known as the 
Heazlett farm, containing 120 acres. In 1880 he bought the farm known as the Thomas 
Doolittle farm, containing sixty acres. He makes specialties of hops and hay, having 
been engaged extensively in buying and shipping of hay to the New York and New 
England markets. He has a wife and two daughters: E. Allene and Georgia Lillian, 
and Berintha. his wife, all members of the Methodist Church. In pohtics he is a Dem- 
ocrat, and has been assessor and supervisor of the town in which he lives. 

Babbitt, Charles, Gorham, was born in Gorham, October 23, 1841, a son of Avijah, a 
son of Enos, who was a native of Massachusetts. The latter was a sailor, and when 
a young man came and settled in Scipio. He married Margaret Mosher and had seven 
sons and one daughter. In 1817 he settled upon a farm in Gorham, where he died in 
1855. Mrs. Babbitt died in 1830. Avijah was born in Scipio in 1814, and married 
Louisa Calf, by whom he had one child, Charles. The latter was educated in the 
common schools, and May 25, 1870, he married Hannah Francisco, a native of Canada, 
born March 31, 1850. Her parents were Henry and Mary (Miller) Francisco, who had 
five sons and three daughters. Mr. Francisco was a native of Amsterdam, and died in 
Gorham in 1871. His wife died in 1865. The father of Henry was John Francisco, 
an early settler of Middlesex, Yates county. Subject and wife have had three children : 
C. Allen, who married Maud Cook, of Gorham, and resides on the old homestead ; 
Henry A., and Annie. Mr. Babbitt is a Republican, and he and his family are mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian church. 

Buell, Augustus, East Bloomfield, was born January 31, 1824. a son of Timothy, who 
was also a son of Timothy, a Revolutionary soldier from Goshen, Conn., who was 
twice married. In 1792 he came to East Bloomfield, and was an organizer and deacon 



22 tiTSTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY." 

of the Congregational church. He reared six children : Jonathan, Timothy, Theron, 
Eben, Eunice and Lucy. He died in 1849, aged ninety-three years. His son Timothy 
was born in Connecticut in 1790, and came with his parents m 1792 to East Bloom- 
field, where he owned a homestead. He served as assemblyman in 1845, and as super- 
visor many years. He was also captain of militia, and died aged eiglity-three. He 
married Lucy, daughter of Daniel and Aurelia (Dowd) Rice, and had eight children, 
four sons and four daughters. His wife died twelve days after her husband, at the age 
of seventy-nine years. Augustus was reared on a farm and received a district and 
academical education, at the age of twenty- one beginning for himself. In 1850 he 
bought his present residence, together with his brother, and later bought out the latter's 
share^ He is a Republican in politics. He has been three times married. His first 
wife was Electa Gauss, by whom he had six children, two surviving to adult age '• 
Timothy, who died aged twenty-seven, and Arthur. His wife died in 1872, and he 
married second, Mary, daughter of William Conklin, by whom he had three children : 
William C, Lucy R. and Caroline L. His second wife died in 1885, and he married, 
third, Mary H., daughter of Henry Shaw. Subject has been connected for forty-two 
years with the Congregational church. 

Berry, Joseph J., Farmington, was born in Canandaigua, November 14, 1846. He 
was educated in the public schools and Canandaigua Academy, and follows farming. 
January 13, 1886, he married Jennie B., daughter of David and Elizabeth Loring, of 
Scandia, Kans. They have two children : Vernie E., and Merle. Mr. Berry's father, 
Richardson, was born in Ireland, and came to the United Stales in 1842, locating near 
Canandaigua. He married, previous to his arrival here, Eliza Johnson, of his native 
place, and they afterwards bought a farm near the town line of Farmington. They 
had nine children, six survived : Esther (now Mrs. Mowry Power, of Farmington) ; 
John C, Thomas J., Wdliam H., Joseph J., Anne E., who married Erastus Hiscock, of 
Canandaigua. Mrs. Berry's father, David Loring, Avas born in the town of Canan- 
daigua, February 1, 1810, and married Elizabeth Nichol, formerly of Washington, Pa. 

Beach, Arnold W., Bristol, was born in Walworth, Wayne county, August 24, 1831, 
a son of Amos and Eleanor (Arnold) Beach, who reared four sons and five daughters. 
Mr. Beach and wife went to Richmond, where he died in 1835. Mrs. Beach then 
married Leonard Howard and removed to McComb county, Mich., where she died in 
1873. Arnold W. Beach was reared by Dr. Daniel Durgan, and received a common 
school education. February 22, 1855, he married Adeliza M. Codding, a native of 
Bristol, born December 17, 1832. She is a daughter of Deacon Stephen A. Codding, a 
son of Faunce and Sallie (Andrews) Codding, early settlers of Bristol. Mr. and Mrs. 
Codding had four sons and a daughter. He died in Bristol in 1810 at the age of forty, 
and his wife in Lockport, 111., at the age of eighty years. Mr. Beach and wife have 
had three children : Emma C, who died at the age of three years; Hattie M., born 
July 28, 1865, wife of Luther J. Howe, of Shortsville, and Stephen H., born August 
14, 1874. Mr. Beach is a farmer, is a Republican, and has been overseer of the poor 
six years. He and wife are members of the Congregational church, of which Mr. 
Beach has been a deacon six years. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 23 

Bush, Peter L., Geneva, was born in Bergen county, N. J., May 22, 1794, and his 
wife, Eleaner Visher Denniston, was born on Long Island,, October 29, 1811. Teter L. 
Bush came to Seueca county at an early day, where his first wife died, and thereafter, 
March 22, 1838, he married Eleaner V. Denniston, as is above stated. The children of 
the second marriage were : Alexander H., who was a soldier in the One Hundred and 
Twenty-sixth N. Y. Vols., and who was taken prisoner in July, 1862, but after being 
exchanged he died November 6, 1862, at Camp Douglass, Chicago, III; Hannah Louisa, 
who married first. Dr. Andrew Alleman, and second, Martin R. Romaine; and Carrie 
E , who became the wife of Ashland C. Wheeler. Peter L. Bush was a substantial and 
successful farmer. He went to Geneva in the spring of 1863, where he afterward 
lived a retired life to the time of his death, June 2, 1878. His wife died March 7 
1890. Captain Ashland C. Wheeler enlisted in August, 1861 ; was sergeant in Com- 
pany E, Ninety-seventh Vols., but for meritorious services was appoined second lieuten- 
ant August 20, 1863, and thence to captain of Company B, December 1, 1864. He was 
discharged July 18, 1865. He was a successful merchant for nine years. He married 
Carrie E. Wheeler April 16, 1873, and died January 24, 1884. 

Bliss, PhilenzoP., Bristol, was born in Kankakee county, III., June 16, 1839. He is 
a son of Philenzo P. Bli?."^, whose father was James Bliss, of Genesee county, N. Y. 
where he spent most of his life. He died in Illinois in 1839. Philenzo P. Bliss, father 
of subject, was born in Genesee county, October 22, 1813, and died in Kankakee 
county. III, August 30, 1839. He went to Illinois when a young man, and married 
Caroline A. Gooding, who was born October 10, 1816, in Bristol, a daughter of James 
Gooding, who was born in Bristol, July 6, 1791. He was the third male white child 
born in the town of Bristol; his father was James Gooding, one of the pioneeis of the 
county. The subject of this sketch w'as reared on a farm, and educated in Rockford 
Academy. He married Catherine L. Totman, of Bristol, born in Jefferson county, 
N. Y., September 21, 1839. Her father. Ward Totman, removed from Jefferson county 
to Bristol in 1840. Mr. Bliss and wife have had the following children: Irene C. 
Winifred K., Henry W., Mabel J., Edith S., Alice C, Lester P., Gooding H., and 
Esther (deceased). He removed to Bristol in 1876, and in 1882 he purchasad the farm 
on which he now resides. He is a Republican, and is a member of the Farmer's 
Alliance of Bristol He and wife are members of the Congregational church of that 
place. 

Bacon, Orrin Stebbins, Canandaigua, was born at Academy (town of Canandaigua) 
March 29, 1837, a son of Hiram Bacon, a Free Will Baptist minister, and a native of 
Pennsylvania born in 1809. He had five children all now living : Rev. John S. Bacon, 
of Corning; Roxina L., widow of John Beardsley, of Schuyler county ; Eliza D., wife 
of Spencer Hortop, of Penn Yan ; Daniel R., a farmer of Pulteney, Steuben ccuntv ; and 
Orrin S. Hiram Bacon came to this section in 1828 and followed his profession until 
his death November 13, 1886. Mrs. Bacon died in Gorham aged eighty-eight years. 
When Orrin S. was very young his parents moved to Potter, Yates county, where he 
lived about eleven years and then went to Gorham. Orrin S. was educated in the 
common schools and spent three winters at Dundee Academy. From there, at the 



24 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

age of seventeen he taught school one winter in Jerusalen:i, Yates county. In 1855 he 
went to Victor where he followed farming one year, and then worked at the carpenter 
and joiner's trade one year. For twenty-three years he conducted a meat market, 
also dealt in real estate, etc. During the most of this time he held many of the minor 
town offices, and in 1879 he was nominated on the Republican ticket for sheriff and 
elected by a majority of 8G6 over Milton Stafford, of Victor. At the expiration of his 
term in 1883 he was appointed deputy revenue collector under Henry S. Pierce, and 
held this office four years. April, 1887, he was employed by McKechnie & Co as finan- 
cial manager, in their bank in Canandaigua, an office which he has ever since held. 
He is one of the directors for the Canandaigua Lake Steamboat Co., and a member of 
Victor Lodge, F. & A.M He married, September 14, 1850, Harriet E. Simmons, of 
Victor, and they have had five children : Lillian M., wife of George M. Dunlop, a silk 
manufacturer of Spring Valley, Rockland county ; Orrin S. Bacon, jr., connected in busi- 
ness with his father; Albert S., a Presbyterian minister of Niagara Falls; Lizzie, wife 
of Edward W. Simmons, of Canandaigua; and Jennie O. 

Beard, Maximillian C, Canandaigua, was born in Biloxi, Miss., November 27, 1864, 
and was educated in the University of Louisiana and at Stevens Institute of Technology 
at Hoboken, N. J., where he graduated in the class of 1887 with the degree of Mechanical 
Engineer. Previous to entering the institute he acquired some practical knowledge of 
machinery, especially in the Bethlehem Iron Company shops at South Bethlehem, Pa., 
spending two years there and in other shops, gaining his practical education. After 
leaving college he had charge of the Philadelphia office of the Welsbach Incandescent 
Gaslight Co. as engineer. After leaving them he joined as partner in the business now 
engaged in. He married, in 1888, Gertrude T., daughter of H. M. Finley, of Canan- 
daigua, and they have one daughter, Philadelphia I. Mr. and Mis. Beard are attendants 
of St. Joseph's Episcopal church, of which Mr. Beard is a vestryman. He holds the 
office of trustee of the Ontario Orphan Asylum. 

Benson, Ichabod, Victor, was born in Mendon, Monroe county, December 19, 1823, 
was educated in the common schools, worked at carpenter's trade several years, and in 
January, 1852, went to the gold fields of California; returning in 1856, he has since 
followed farming. June 4, 1857, he married Mary J., daughter of Anson and Huldah 
(Simonds) Lord, and they ha 1 four children: Alonzo L., who married Sarah Caroline 
Tufford, of Canada, and has one child, Harvey L. ; Cora J., who died at the age of 
eleven; Clara E., who married Charles K. Spellman, of Pittsford; and James H., who 
resides at home with his parents. Mrs. Benson's father, Anson Lord, was born in Sara- 
toga county, September 10, 1810, and married Huldah Simonds, of Henrietta, who was 
born February 27, 1813, and they have seven children : Mary J., "William J., James H.. 
Matthias L., Clara B., Daniel A., and Eliza A. Mrs. Benson's brother, Matthias L., was 
taken prisoner at the battle of Gettysburg. 

Birdseye, Gould, Gorham, was bora in Hopewell in 1837, a son of Ezekiel. Subject 
was reared on a farm, and educated in Macedon Academy. He has always followed 
farming and at present owns 190 acres of land in Gorham. In 1866 he married Erne- 
line Wynkoop, a native of Gorham, and born on the farm now owned by Mr. Birdseye, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 25 

which was formerly known as the Wynkoop homestead. She is a daughter of John 
and Eh'zabeth (Spaun) Wynkoop, ho a native of Flint Crfek, and she of Albany cf unty. 
They had four daughters and three sons, and four of the children are still living. Mr. 
Wynloop died in 18(i6, and his wife in 1878. The father of John Wynkoop was Peter, 
who came from the east and settled at Flint Creek, where he kept a hotel, and there 
lived and died, and lies buried in the Sandhill cemetery. Subject and wife have had 
one son, John W., born September, 18G8. He was educated in Canandaigua Academy; 
and is now engaged in the berry and fruit culture. Mr. Birdseye and wife are mem- 
bers of the M. E. Church at Emery Chapel, Hopewell, N. Y. 

Becker, Marion J., Canadice, son of John F., was born in Richmond, January 24. 
1854. He was educated at the district schools and taught during fourteen winters. 
In 1874 he married Emma Tague, daughter of Joseph Tague, the present postmaster of 
Canadice, who, when a boy, came with James B. Sayre to this town, as an adopted son 
of the latter. They have three children: Maud L., born October 9, 1880; Spedee M. 
born January 19, 1884, and Spencer Dayton, born September 12, 1889. Mr. Becker 
owns twenty acres at the homestead, and a half interest in another farm of ninety acres 
and also in one of 109 acre.«. He buys and sells sheep, and usually keeps on hand about 
100 head. He is a Repubhcan, and he and his wife are Methodists. Mrs. Becker's 
father married Barbara Ann Struble, and had three children. He has been a black- 
smith at Canadice forty years. 

Brown, Andrew, Canadice, was born in Springwater, Livingston county, September 
26, 1839. His father, Thomas Brown, a native of Niagara county, settled in Spring- 
water early in 183(), and was a farmer in that town. He married Sylvia Bates, who 
was born in Lima. Orlando, only brother of Andrew, was born m 183(i. Andrew was 
educated at the district schools and has always been a farmer. He married in 1877 
Janette, daughter of Luke Johnson, of Canadice, and they have two children living: 
Sylvia C, born in 1878, and Martha Ann, born 1889. Mr. Brown has 200 acres in his 
home farm on Ball Hill, and is a Democrat in politics. Luke Johnson married Martha 
Ann Grant, a native of Springwater, and his children were : Benjamin Franklin 
of Springwater; Janette (Brown); Homer Luke, a farmer in this town ; and Brad- 
ley M. 

Bement, John B., Victor, father of George S., was born in Victor, September 7, 1821. 
He ran the first threshing machine that separated the grain from the straw in Ontario 
county, and has followed it continuously for fifty-three years. He married three times ; 
first, June 7, 1845, Margaret Sever, and they had one son, George S. ; both mother and 
son are deceased. January 14, 1852, he married second Sarah E. Webster, of Parma, 
N. Y. ; she died December 15, 1860. He married thrd Mrs. Jennett (Camp) Benson, 
and they have one son, George S., born September 30, 1862. He was educated in the 
public schools and is a steam thresher by occupation. December 24, 1883, he married 
Ida M., daughter of Ransom I. and Merilla Hill, of Penn Yan, Yates county. John B. 
Bement's father, Harry, was born in the Slate of Massachusetts in 1793, and came 
with his parents to this State when he was three years old. He married Nancy Web- 
ster, formerly of Massachusetts, and they had nine children : Susan, Morgan, Maria, 

d 



26 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Jonn B., Amanda, William, Emily, Ashe!, and Henry. His grandfather, Ebenuzer 
Bement, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Bement's father, George S. 
Benson, was born in Dutchess county in 1815, and married Naomi Wardwell, of Cayuga 
county. They had seven children : Jennett M., Eliza J., David T., Charles H., Caioline 
E., Sarah M., and Julia A. George S. is a member of Milnor Lodge No. 139 F. & A. M. 
He is also highway commissioner of the town. Mrs. Bement's brother, David T., was 
a soldier in the late war. 

Burnett, Jean La Rue, was born January 10, 1871, in Canandaigua where he has since 
resided. He began his education in the Union School of that village, supplementing it 
with a course in the Canandaigua Academy where he prepared for college, graduating 
from the institution in 1889. He commenced the study of law and afterwards entered 
the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, by which institution 
he was graduated in 1892 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He early displayed 
journalistic and literary genius, and for several years has been a versatile contributor of 
both verse and prose to periodicals in every section of the United States, having been 
actively connected with numerous prominent journals in the capacity of general staff 
correspondent. Mr. Burnett has always been an enthusiastic Republican in politics and 
was one of the five originators of the scheme for the organization of the American Cal- 
legiate Republican League, with a membership of over 60,000, which gained national 
reputation for its influence exerted in the presidential campaign of 1892. He received 
the honor of being selected by the organization to act as toast master upon the occasion 
of its first annual banpuet held at Ann Arbor on May 17, 1892, in honor of many dis- 
tinguished guests among whom were General Russell A. Alger, of Michigan ; Hon. J. 
Sloat Fassett, of New York; Hon. William McKinley, of Ohio; Hon. John M. Thurs- 
ton, of Nerbaska ; Hon. William E. Mas'-n, of Illinois, and many others. It was upon 
this occasion that his eloquent introductoiy address and felicitous remjarks in presenting 
the speakers brought hira conspicuously to the notice of General Alger and Governor 
McKinley, and when the national campaign opened, upon the recommendation of these 
gentlemen, the State Committee of New York appointed the subject of this sketch one 
of its regular speakers, and during the canvass he delivered addresses in various parts 
of the State, gaining a name as an orator of marked ability. He was the youngest 
speaker upon the stump in New York during this campaign. He was examined before 
the Supreme Court of Michigan and admitted to practice January 15, 1892. He was 
admitted to the bar of New York March 30, 1893. 

Benson, Alonzo, the late, was bom in Mendon, Monroe county. May 2, 1826, was 
educated in the district .'^chools and was always a farmer. March 17, 1852, he married 
Rhoda Eaton, of Monroe county, and they had six children : Abbie, resides at home; 
Clara T., who died when a child; Sarah I., who married John Reche, of Hamilton, 
Canada, where they reside; Suaan C, who married Noah A. Baker; Orson J., who is 
at home; and Eunice, who died young. Mr. Ben.son died November 16, 1876. His 
father, Alonzo, sr., was born in Greenfield, Saratoga county, January 6, 1797. Feb- 
ruary 10, 1820, he married Abigail Johnston, formerly of Berlin, Vt. They had twelve 
children : Eliza J., AlmaC, Lyman W., Ichabod, Alonzo, jr., a son who died in infancy. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. H 

Harvey J., Gaylord S., Abigail I., Levantia, Orson, and Mary L. Mrs. Benson's father, 
Joel Eaton, was born in Massachusetts February 2, 1800, and came with his parents to 
Washington county, when he was three years old; when ten years of age he came to 
Brighton, Monroe county. He married Permelia Colwell, and they had three children. 
Her people came from Scotland as early as 1620. She died, and Mr. Eaton then 
married Sarah Sibley for his second wife and by her had eleven children, making in all 
fourteen children. Mrs. Benson's great-grandfather Ebenezer Eaton, was in the Revo- 
lutionary War, and her three brothers were in the Civil War. 

Brown, Rev. Silas Clark, West Bloomfield, was born in Northampton, Mass., in 
1797. He settled in Steuben county, where he taught school several years. He grad- 
uated from Union College in 1826 and was at Auburn Theological Seminary in 1827. 
He came to West Bloomfield about 1828 and married in 1830', Mary Cleveland of 
Livonia, who was born in Brookline, Conn., in 1800. Their children were : Lucia, Mary, 
wife of Rev. H. H. Reid of New York; Sarah Louisa, now residing in her pleasant 
home in this town ; Henry Clark, also of this place ; and Augustus Cleveland, a lawyer 
in New York. Mr. Brown became a Congregational clergyman, and began his first 
pastorate here, April 23, 1828. He preached also in Ba'avia, York and other places, 
and died here in 1876, after seveial years of retirement. His son, Henry C, born in 
1841, was educated in Hopkins Grammer School, New Haven, at Watertown Academy 
and at the Bast Bloomfield Academy. He married in 1866 Amanda G. Sears of East 
Bloomfield, and has three sons : Henry Sears, Albert Reid and Augustus Cleveland. 

Briggs, John C, Richmond, was born September 21, 1853. His father, Cyrus, was 
born in 1820 in the house now occupied by his son, which was built by the father of 
Cyrus, Artemas, in 1817. The latter was born in 1786 in Dighton, Mass., and came on 
foot to Bristol, Ontario county, in 1806. In 1809 he married in Bristol, Fanny Gregg, 
born in 1789. His father, Jrdediah, was born in 1738. He had thirteen children, sev- 
eral of whom came to this county. Artemas traded his farm in Bristol for one here, 
whither he removed in 1814. He served in the War of 1812, and fought in several of 
the battles on the Niagara frontier. He settled on the west side of Honeoye Lake, and 
owned the land south of Main street in Honeoye. He and his son Jedediah each gave 
half the land for the original cemetery and he gave the land for the First Methodist 
church. He was one of the founders of the church here. The edifice stood on the site 
of Mrs. Phillips's house on Lake street. His children were : John G., born in 1811 ; 
Jedediah, born in 1815; Fanny, born in 1818; Cyrus, born in 1820, and Mary, born in 
1823. Cyrus Avas educated at East Bloomfield Academy, and was a farmer. He mar- 
ried first Emeline M. Michael, daughter of Thomas M. Michael, a tamer here, and they 
had two Fons : Zachary J., born in 1849, and John C. He married second Cynthia E. 
Hadley, by whom he had no children, He died in 1888. John C. married in 1878 
Minnie A., daughter of John Van Buren. She was born November 8, 1857. They 
have had two children: Fred J,, born in 1885, died in 1889, and Hattie F., b rn May 
26, 1889. Mr. Briggs farms the old original homestead first taken up by Abel Short 
and later owned by Artemas Briggs. Jedediah, brother of Artemas Briggs, was born 
in 1779 and was a sea captain. During the War of 1812 he was captured by the Eng- 



28 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

lish and taken to England, returning after the war. Enoch, the oldest brother, born in 
1770, came after Artemas, and settled in Bristol, where his descendants may be found 
at the present time. The ancestry of the family dates back to Sir Robert Briggs of 
England, who lived about thirteen generations back. 

Burrell, T. J. and George, proprietors of Shepherd's Mill at East Bloomfield, came 
from near Toronto, Canada. In 1870 they purchased the property where they now 
live, and have since carried on a very successful business. They use the roller process, 
and the capacity of the mill is forty barrels a day. They do a large business in ex- 
change and feed grinding. George Burrell was born in Canada, and after coming to 
East Bloomfield married Lydia Dibble, a native of that place and daughter of Alanson 
Dibble. To Mr. Burrell and wife were born one son and one daughter : George A. 
and Marcia A. The latter died at the age of four yeai s. George A. is at present 
attending the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. Mrs. Burrell and son are members of the 
M. E. church. Mr. Burrell enlisted in One Hundred and Eighth New York Volunteers 
in 18G2, and after serving about two years received his discharge on account of dis- 
ability. He and his brother T. J. are Republicans. 

Buell, Charles, East Bloomfield, was born where he now resides, June 14, 1829. His 
father was Timothy, son of Timothy, who came from Goshen, Conn., in 1792, and died 
here in 1849, aged over ninety-two years. His first wife was Olive Norton, by whom 
he had these children: Jonathan, Timothy, Eben, Theion, Lucy and Unice. He mar- 
ried, second, Charity Norton, by whom he had no children. The father of our subject 
was born in Connecticut in 1792, came to Bloomfield, and died in January, 1873. He 
was a Republican, and served as assemblyman and supervisor. He was a director of 
the Ontario and Livingston Insurance Company, and was a progressive and enterprising 
citizen. He married Lucy, daughter of Daniel and Auielia (Dowd) Rice, and they had 
these children: Frederick, Augustus, Charles, John (who enlisted in Company B, 
Eighty-fifth New York Volunteers; he was taken prisoner at Plymouth, N. C, in 
18G4, and died in Andersonville prison September 7, 1864; he was a sergeant), Olive, 
Caroline, Alice and Ellen. Charles received a district school and academic education, 
and at the age of twenty-one began life for himself. He has always lived on the 
homestead, and owns 143 acres. He is a Republican in politics. His wife was Anna 
Dunn, born in Attica, by whom he has four children : Kezzie. wife of Dr. John H. 
Jewett; John L., Harry C. and Florence. Subject's mother died two weeks after her 
husband. 

Black, Archibald, Geneva, father of John Black and sisters, living one and one-half 
miles north of Geneva, was born in Johnstown, Fulton county, N. Y., March 9, 1800. 
In 1801 his father with his family moved to Geneva, 'where they made their home. 
Here Archibald and his brother John were educated in the common school. He was a 
farmer. On the 13th of October, 1825, he married Eleanor "Wooden, whose father, 
James Wooden, was one of the early settlers. They had eight children : John, Janet, 
Mary, Elizabeth, Harriet A., B. Caroline, Louise and Frances. Their grandfather, 
John Black, was born in "Wigtown, Scotland, about 1755. He married Janet Narrin, 
of Wigtown, came to America, and served all through the Revolutionary War. They 



Family sketches. 29 

had eight cliildren : Elizabeth, Jane, Polly, John, Barbara, Archibald, James, and one 
who died in infancy. His brother William was drafted by the English. At the battle 
of Saratoga they were in the opposing armies, but William deserted soon after. Their 
great-grandfather was killed in Scotland by an English press gang while fighting against 
being deprived of his liberty. He was a Covenanter, and his parents were among that 
grand company who fled for their lives before, to them, that synonym of cruelty, John 
Graham of Claverhouse. 

Black, Dexter J., East Bloomfield, a native of Smithfield, Madison county, was born 
April 5, 1842. He is a son of Loring Blaclc, whose father, John, was a native of Con- 
necticut, and early came to Smithfield, where he lived and died. Loring was born in 
Connecticut in September, 1800, and came with his parents to New York when a child. 
He married Polly Dewey, a native of Vernon, Oneida county, and a daughter of Thomas 
Dewey, many years a resident of Madison county, where he died. Loring had eight 
sons and two daughters. He once owned 100 acres of land in Madison county, but 
sold this and purchased another farm in East Bloomfield, where he spent the last 
twenty- seven years of his life. He assisted in building the Baptist church at Canan- 
daigua. The death of Mr. Black occurred June 11, 1891, and that of his wife in 1855. 
Dexter J. received an academic education, and when a young man came with his 
parents to East Bloomfield, where, in 1877, he married Emma A. Crandall, a native of 
Naples, and a daughter of C. Lorenzo Crandall, a native of South Bristol. The latter 
was a son of John, a native of Connecticut, who with his wife, Catherine Sweei, and 
ten children, came to South Bristol. Here his wife died in 1854, and he in 1880. C. 
Lorenzo Crandall was born in South Bristol in 1816, and married Elvira Herrick, a 
native of Naples, and daughter of Eben and Lois (Hammond) Herrick, and they had 
two sons and four daughters. In 1855 he came to East Bloomfield and bought 100 
acres of land, where subject now resides. Mr. Crandall died in 1881, and his wife in 
1883. Dexter J. Black and wife had five children: Milton L., Burton L, Ada E., 
Frank H. and Emma P. Milton L. married Annie Dalton, of Rochester. He is an 
electrician, and resides in Canandaigua. Mr. Black is a Republican, and he and his 
wife are members of the Baptist church at Canandaigua. 

Baldwin, George, Gorham, was born in- Italy, Yates county, September 10, 1825, a 
son of Daniel, who was a son of Jacob Baldwin, a native of Boston, Mass. The latter 
in youth was apprenticed to a tanner and currier. Not liking the business, at sixteen 
he enlisted in the Revolutionary War, where he rose to the rank of captain. In an 
early day Mr. Baldwin came to Saratoga county, and there married Hannah, daughter 
of Lifelet Hull, and Jiad three sons and four daughters, Daniel being the eldest son. In 
1804 he came to Benton, Yates county, and settled on a farm, which has been in the 
family ever since. Here he lived and died. Daniel was born May 3, 1792, in Saratoga 
county. He married Annie Wilson, a native of Benton, by whom he had two sons 
and two daughters. Mr. BaMwin was in the War of 1812. He died in Italy, Yates 
county, in 1849, and his wife in 1852. George Baldwin married, February 20, 1850, 
Mary Taylor, of Italy, born May 5, 1821. Mr. Baldwin has always been a farmer, and 
since 1866 h<fs resided in Gorham. He is a Republican, and has been assessor nine 



30 - HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

years, and has held other town offices. The parents of Mrs. Baldwin were Stephen 
Taylor, a native of Benton, born 1797, and Electa Hewitt, a native of Oppenheini, born 
1802. They had six children. He died in Allegany county, December 11, 1858, and 
his wife January 20, 1888. The father of Electa Hewitt was Randal Hewitt, who, 
during the Revolutionary War, was captured by the Indians. 

Beal, Embery J., Clifton Springs, was born in Manchester, December 19, 1834. His 
grandfather, Caleb Beal, and grandmother, Rachel Redfield Beal emigrated to this State 
in the winter of 1813 from Massachusetts on a sleigh drawn by horses, an unusual oc- 
curence (oxen being the common mean of ronveyance in those days). They stopped at 
Lemuel Bannister's in Phelps, whose wife was Caleb BeaVs sister. There they re- 
mained until April, when they moved on a tract of land on ' Hog Back Hill," in the 
town of Palmyra. After a number of years they erected a large farm-house, which 
still stands. Caleb Beal during his eventful life was a man of strong personality and 
powerful frame. He was for a time in the early days of the county intimately associ- 
ated with six different tribes of Indians, who loved and respected him for his sterling 
worth, and with whom he exerttd great influence. Washington Beal, son of Caleb 
Beal, and father of Embery J. Beal, was born in town of Conway, Mass., September 
13, 1803. He married Eliza H. Holmes, daughter of Nathaniel Holmes, of Manchester, 
and settled on a farm in said town, where he lived until his death. He was a man of 
positive likes and dislikes, ever sustaining his views of .right against all oppositicn. He 
was an efficient exhorter of theM. E. Church, being much respected and esteemed. He 
died in Manchester, where he first settled, after a long and useful life, on the 24th of 
February, 1889, at the age of eighty- five years, five months, eleven days. Embery J. 
Beal received a fair education at the public schools and at an academy in Macedon Cen- 
ter, Wayne county. He married Frances J. Tiffany, of Walworth, after which he lived 
with his father a few years, then settled on the farm known as the John P. Salor farm, 
which he owns at this date. They have two daughters: Josephine E., who has com- 
pleted a course at the Commercial College at Elmira; and Calla E., who is attending 
the Brockport Normal School, fitting herself for a teacher's life. Embery J. has fol- 
lowed agricultural pursuit until six years since (1886) when he retired, renting his farm 
to a tenant, removing first to Palmyra, and three years ago to Clifton Springs. Mr. 
Beal is a man much beloved and respected. He is of a generous and upright character, 
a strong Prohibitionist in his convictions, and a faithful and loving father to his intelli- 
gent family. 

Blair, Walter, was born on his present farm in Canandaigua, November 24, 1833. His 
grandfather, James, was a son of William and Agres (Mar) Blair. Agnes Mar was a 
daughter of James Mar, only son of the Earl of Mar, of Scotland. James Mar came to 
this country at the time of the Scotch rebellion. James Blair was born in Massachu- 
setts, June 1. 1755, and died February 16, 1855. He was a soldier in the war of the 
Revolution, and came to Madison county in 1784, where he made his home for fifty 
years. He married Mary Dick, of Massachusetts, and they had eight children, of whom 
James, the father of our subject, was the third son. He was born in Warren, Mass., 
October 19, 1792. He was eight years old when hi« parents moved to Madison county. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 31 

where he lived until twenty. He then started for himself, locating first at East Bloom- 
field, then in Victor, where he conducted a mill and distillery, and in 1829 bought a 
farm of 136 acres in Canandaigua. Here he died February 7, 1875. He was an Epis- 
copalian, and a man of great firmness and character. He married, October 3, 1822, 
Sabra Lyon, a native of this county, and they had eight children, five of whom survive : 
Mary E., lives on the homestead ; Burton H., an insurance agent of Rochester; Sophia, 
wife of Hiram Case, of Canandaigua; Alice A., and Walter. The latter was educated 
in the common school, and became a farmer. He has always taken an active interest 
in the success of the Republican party. 

Brown, C. P., Shortsville, was born at Nassau, Rensselaer county, in 1824. He re- 
ceived an excellent education in the schools of that vicinity, and early became identi- 
fied with the Empire Drill Company of Shortsville. He is now the largest stockholder 
of this concern. Mr. Brown has held the office of trustee of the village since its in- 
corporation. His wife was Cornelia E. Drummond, and they have four children 
living. 

Blanchard Bros — William and George, Canandaigua, were born in Seneca, and when 
but boys their father moved to Canandaigua, where he engaged in butcher business, 
which he followed until his death. He had five children, all now hving. They were 
educated in the common schools, and early in life began working at their father's busi- 
ness. In 1859 they opened a market in Canandaigua, where they have ever since been 
the leaders in the meat trade in this village. In addition to their regular trade, they 
handle in its season all kinds of game and green produce. Tiny and iheir families are 
of the Presbyterian Church. William married in 187G Matilda Lapage, of Canandaigua, 
and they have three children: Grace, Je.ssie, and James. George A. married Ellen 
Schellinger, of Canandaigua, and they are the parents of four children : Georgia, Mabel, 
Mary, and William. 

Bellinger, Christopher, East Bloomfield, a native of Little Falls, was born December 
17, 1827, a son of John C, a native of Little Falls, whose parents were among the 
earliest settlers here, and whose father was killed at Little Falls while working in a 
stone quarry. John C. was born in 1797, and was reared by David Richmyre, a black- 
smith, with whom he learned that trade. He also kept a hotel and followed farming, 
having fallen heir to a farm from his father. He used to go on foot to Albany to 
purchase iron to bring back on flat boats up the Mohawk. He married Mary Feeter, 
a native of Manheim, and daughter of Col. William Feeter, of Revolutionary fame. He 
was an intimate friend of General Herkimer, and maintained the mail service from 
Newport to Albany. The government afterwards employed him to carry the mail, and 
for many years some one of the family acted as mail carrier. He was a friend of 
Sir William Johnson, and was one of forty men known as " Tryon county bull dogs," 
Mr. Feeter was born February 12, 1756, and his wife, Elizabeth, March 23, 1764. They 
were the parents of twelve children. John C. Bellinger and wife had seven sons and 
two daughters. He died in 1881, and his wife in 1871. Christopher received a com- 
mon school education, and has always been a farmer. In 1849 he married Christina 
Walrath, a native of Herkimer county, born November 14, 1828. She is one of eight 



32 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

children of Moses and Margaret (Whitmasher) Walrath. The father of Moses Walrath 
was Jacob, one of the earUest settlers of the county. Christopher and wife have had 
seven children : Margaret, Hiram, Moses, Jerome (deceased), Christina, Gertrude, and 
Hattie. Mr. Bellinger formerly owned ninety-seven acres of land in the town of Co- 
lumbia, which he sold, and purchased 100 acres and a saw-mill in Danube. Here he 
kept a large dairy and did an extensive business in hop growing. In 18G6 he came to 
East Bloomfield and bought the Colonel Rochester farm of 304 acres, which he has 
greatly improved. He is an active Democrat, and has been assessor and excise com- 
missioner. 

Benliam, D. C, was born in Hopewell on the farm he now owns, August 22, 1825, a 
son of Thomas Benham, a native of Dutchess county, who came when a young man to 
Hopewell, and here married Eliza Coe, a native of Eockland county, who came to Hope- 
well with her parents, Isatc and Nancy Coe. Mr. Benham has on his farm an Indian 
well built with brick brought from France. Some of these bricks will be at the World's 
Fair at Chicago. Their family consists of one son and three daughters. He died in 
1876. and his wife in 1885. Subject was reared on a farm, and on January 24, 1854, 
married Mary A., daughter of John and Amy (Smith) Crane, who reared seven chil- 
dren. Mr. Crane was in the War of 1812. He and wife settled in Canandaigua, where 
both died, he November 3, 1873, and his wife March 18, 1887. Mr. Benham and wife 
have two sons, Charles D., who has charge of his father's fruit farm in Gorham ; and 
James E., who resides at home. His wife is Hattie Wadsworth, a native of Hopewell. 
Mr. Benham was under sheriff of Ontario county from 1876 to 1880, and on September 
6, 1878, hung Chas. Eighmy, this being the first execution in Ontario county. Mr. Ben- 
ham is a Democrat, and a member of Canandaigua Lodge No. 294 F. & A. M., and Ex- 
celsior Chapter No. 164 R. A. M. Mr. Benham has been senior deacon and scribe for a 
number of years. He represented his lodge at the annual convocation at Albany, Feb- 
ruary 2 and 3, 1892. 

Booth, W. C, Geneva, furnishes the following concerning himself and family : Born 
in Cheshire, England, removed to America with his parents when three years old. 
My parents located at Wappinger's Creek, where my father was a bleadiPr m the print 
works there. Removed to Trenton, N. J , and finally came to Pleasant Valley, near 
Oriskany, N. Y., where my father and my two sisters worked in Dexter's Woolen 
Mill for eight or nine years. Removed to Little Falls, where I was apprenticed to the 
machinist trade ; company failed in a year and a half and then mother bought out a 
bakery, where I learned something of the baker's trade. Failed in the great panic, 
1857 ; the following spring went to England and tried to finish my trade as a ma- 
chinist, but on account of the union I could not secure a place without being bound 
for seven years ; gave up the idea of being an iron worker ard turned to what 
knowledge I had in baking to help me out ; advertised for a place for improvement, 
hired out with Joseph Hawcioft, of Barnsley, Yorkshire, stayed my year out, left 
him, worked in York, Scarborough, Hull, Leeds, Manchester, and other small places 
as a journeyman baker. Came back from England about ISGC, worked in New York 
for Willson & Company, in Cherry street, as a baker or mixer in fancy goods ; the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 33 

following year removed to Seneca Falls, where I hired out to the Goulds Manufac- 
turing Company to learn the moulding trade ; stayed with them about nine years; got 
married to Miss Frances E. Holmes ; the result of this union was William C, Lewis 
G., and Maud Frances Booth. While at Seneca Falls removed to a bakery in Water- 
loo, sold out, went to Ithaca, removed to Utica, worked at both trades while there. 
Removed to Ilion, worked for the Remingtons as a moulder, removed to Leonards- 
ville, took charge of a shop for Mr. Babcock on general work; returned to Utica, 
worked at baking; came back to Waterloo and worked for John 0. Spencer in mould- 
ing department ; got up an oven Avhile here, j: ot things ready and commenced baking 
again in Waterloo, and removed to Geneva in 1891, and started a bakery on Exchange 
street. While in Utica I lost my oldest boy, William ; brought him to Seneca Falls 
to be buried, interred him in our lot that we have there. Father and mother both died 
in Utica and were buried there; also wife's parents are also dead Mother died in 
Colburn Harbor, Canada ; father died in Seneca Falls and was buried there. 

Brown, Francis L., Shortsville, was born in Newark, town of Arcadia. Wayne 
county, IST. Y., November 12, 1841. He was educated in the schools of Wayne 
county and Nassau, Rensselaer county. In 1861, April 22, he enlisted in the Thirty- 
third Regiment New York Infantry, Company D. Mr. Brown remained in this regi- 
ment until 1863, when he received his discharge on the 2d of June from Company 
G, to which he had been transferred. He returned to Ontario county and raised a 
cavalry company, of which he was appointed captain, and which was mustered into 
the United States service January 19, 1864, as Company L, Twenty-fourth Regiment 
New York Cavalry. Captain Brown was severely wounded at Bethesda Church 
June 1, 1864, the beginning of the three days' fight at Cold Harbor. Captain Brown 
remained in service when he had to walk with a crutch and when on horseback carry 
his crutch in his hand. He was with Grant and Sheridan at Appomattox, and was 
finally mustered out at the close of the war as senior captain of his regiment. Cap- 
tain Brown then returned to Shortsville and entered the employ of H. L. and C. P. 
Brown, manufacturers of grain drills. In the spring of 1867 he commenced the study 
of law in the office of Folger &; Mason at Geneva, and took a two years' law course 
at Ann Arbor, Mich. He was admitted to the bar at the General Term in June, 
1869, and has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. Captain 
Brown is a prominent member of the G. A. R., is a trustee of the Manchester Cem- 
etery Association, and also of the Herendeen Post Soldiers' Monument Association, 
and mainly through his efforts an imposing soldiers' monument has been erected at 
Shortsville. He never held any political office. In 1879 he was the Republican can- 
didate for member of assembly in the First Assembly District of Ontario county, 
but was beaten because the district was strongly Democratic. He carried his own 
town by a majority of 198, which was at that time the largest majority that the town 
had ever given any candidate for a contested position. In January, 1870, he was 
united in marriage to Miss Flora E. Wilcox, of Geneva, and they liave a family of 
eight children, six sons and two daughters. 



34 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Bougliton, Walter, Victor, was born on the old homestead, June 16, 182^, was 
educated in the district schools, and was a farmer. He married twice; first to 
Caroline Hart, of Victor, and they have had five children : Emma, who died at the 
age of six years ; Herman, who married Leila C. Rawson, and have two children : 
Bertha and Ruth ; Amelia, who married Albert C. Albridge, of Victor, and they 
have two children : Caroline J. and Gilbert W. ; Alaia, who married John R. Wool- 
sey, and has one son, Homer W. ; and Myron, who married Eliza Ett Tiffany, of 
East Bloomfield. Mrs. Boughton died July 30, 1891. September 28, 1882, he mar- 
ried Harriet, daughter of Omri and Jemima Nelson, of Victoi'. Mr. Boughton's 
father, Caleb, was born in New Cannan, Conn., P'ebruary 7, 1799, and came with his 
parents to Victor when a year old. He, too, was a farmer, and married Irene 
Boughton, of Victor. They had four children: Walter, William, who married Ellen 
A. Ketchum, of Victor; Jane A., who married Melancthon Lewis, jr., and James, 
who married Frances Pardee. Mr. Boughton's grandfather, Eleazer, was born at 
New Canaan, Conn., and married Deborah Benedict, and moved to Victor with his 
wife and five children. Their marriage took place January 22, 1786. The origin of 
the family name by tradition was as follows : One Nicholas, who was a chorister in 
Burgundy, France, warded off the assassin's dagger with his baton, saving the life of 
the Duke of Burgundy ; for this act he was decorated with a button, after a while he 
was banished and fled to North of Wales, England, where he died leaving two sons. 
The oldest one returned to France, took possession of the estates, and became Marshal 
of France. The date given is 1516. The youngest son, John, came to Boston, Mass., 
and the name Button was changed to Bouton and afterwards to the present form of 
the name Boughton. From him the numerous and sturdy race of Boughtons in the 
United States has sprung, and become a power in the land, and in Victor in par- 
ticular. 

Burge, Silas, Bristol, was born in Athens, 0., in 1818. His father, Joseph, spent 
his life as a farmer in Ohio, and Silas was educated in the common schools. His 
parents died when he was a boy and he was bound out to a Mr. Jones, with whom 
he went to Buffalo when nine years of age. At the age of twelve he started in life 
for himself. He went to Bristol and there for a number of years worked by the 
month, and then bought the farm now owned by James Reed. Mr. Burge followed 
farming until 1873, when he went to Bristol Centre, and has since lived retired. He 
has been four times married; first to Ann, daughter of John Taylor, by whom he 
had four children: E. Whitefield, Victoria L., Ida A., and Lillian M. Mrs. Burge 
died May 6, 1858, and he married second Jane (Reed) Benedict, of Canandaigua, 
and had one child, Jennie L. The third wife of Mr. Burge was Ann M. Grovin, and the 
fourth Nellie M. Rodgers of Canandaigua. Mr. Buree is a Republican and voted for Will- 
iam Henry Harrison and also for his grandson, Benjamin. Mr. Burge is a member of the 
M. E. Church, of which he was class leader and chorister many years. E. White- 
field Burge was born in Bristol, June 7, 1845. December, 1863, he enlisted in Com- 
pany H., Fourth New York Heavy Artillery, and served until September 26, 1865. 
He was in the following engagements : Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, 



Family sketches. 35 

Po River, Tolopotomy Creek, Cold Harbor, Petersburg. Hatcher's Run, Peeble's 
Farm, Southside Railroad, Five Fork?, Clover Hill, Sullivan's Station, and Lee'y Sur- 
render, and was wounded at Petersburg. He graduated from Canandaigua Academy 
in 1872, and then followed teaching and the mercantile business until 1881. He then 
discontinued teaching and became a pension attorney. In 1876 he married Lillian, 
one of four children of Joseph A. and Charlott (Wilcox) Allen. Mr. and Mrs. Burge 
have four children : Allen R., Francis T., Carlton S., and Bessie. Mr. Burge is a 
Populist in politics, and has been justice of the peace fifteen years, town clerk two 
years, and justice of sessions one year. 

Church, Walter S. and John B. John B., Geneva, was born at Angelica, Allegany 
county, February 15, 1834. He was educated in New Haven, Conn., at General W. 
H. Russell's Collegiate Institute. Subsequently he entered the Sheffield Scientific 
School, a department of Yale Cohege. By profession he is a civil and mining engineer. 
He was engaged on the original surveys of the Erie railroad, now known as the New 
York, Lake Erie and Western ; also on the New York and New Haven Railroad, and 
on other enterprises of the day. He was in charge of iron mines for Messrs. Cooper 
& Hewitt and was for many years general manager of the Alliance Coal Mining 
Company of Pottsville, Schuylkill county. He is a member of the American Institute 
of Mining Engineers. He has been twice married. First in 1867 to Julia M. Chester, 
of Detroit, Mich., who died in 1868, leaving one son, John B., who died in infancy, 
January 19, 1891. He married his present wife, Mary White Morris, of Philadelphia, 
the financier of the Revolution. They have had three children, a son and a daughter 
who died m infancy, and a surviving son, Philip Schuyler. In 1884 he retired from 
the Alliance Coal Mining Companj' and made Geneva his home. 

Church, Walters., was born at Angelica, Allegany county, August 31, 1832. Edu- 
cated at General Russell's and the Hopkins Grammar schools. New Haven, Conn. 
Entered Yale College class of '54, but fell ill and by physician's advice joined the party 
the Professors Silliman and made the tour of Europe. Regaining his health, entered 
Dartmouth College, N. H., and was graduated there in 1856 with a second brother 
(Benjamin S.). Choosing the profession of engineering, he began upon railroad sur- 
veys in Illinois. Then was engaged upon the hydraulic surveys of Croton Watershed, 
New York, and upon the reservoirs and distribution in the city. In 1861 he was pro- 
moted to the charge of the Old Croton Aqueduct Line and, just before the outbreak of 
the war, accepted an appointment as engineer to the Peruvian government, whom he 
served for four years. He projected various water works, bridges and harbor improve- 
ments on the coast, and traveled extensively in the interior, part of the time with the 
distinguished antiquarian, E. George Squier, and the eminent naturalist and physicist, 
Sr. Don Antonio Raimondi, examining and measuring the old incarial temples, for- 
tresses and aqueducts about Arequipa, Puno, Cuzo, and Lake Titicaca. From 1866 to 
1869 he was in charge of gold mines, water supplies and irrigation in California. Re- 
turning east, he was engaged on the sewerage of Washington, D.C, and had ten years' 
practice in the mining of anthracite coal in Pennsylvania. He was then on municipal 
work in New York as a topographical engineer in the department of Parks and as 



36 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

special assistant engineer on the New Croton Aqueduct. Then he was appointed 
secretary and treasurer of the People's Rapid Transit Railroad Compary of New York. 
Since 1891 he has been engaged as general consulting engineer, but has been making a 
specialty of gold placer mining. He is a member of the American Society of Mining 
Engineers and of the Engineer's Club of Philadelphia. 

The Father of W. S. and John B. John B. Church, senior, was the son of Judge 
Philip Church, of Belvidere, the first settler and a large landed proprietor of Allegany 
county. Jno. B. Church, senior, entered Hobart College, leaving it in his second year 
and entering the sophmore class at Yale College, where he was graduated. He then 
entered the Yale Law School and was admitted to the bar. He married Maria Trum- 
bull, eldest daughter of Prof . Benjamin Silliman, senior, and abandoned the law to de- 
vote himself to the management of his landed property in Allegany county. They had 
nine children, viz. : Walter S. and J. B. (above mentioned); Colonel Benjamin S ; Mary 
Trumbull, Avho died in 1860 ; Anna M., wife of Sidney E. Morse, of New York ; Harriet 
T. ; Philips.; Eugene, who died in 1861; and Alice, widow of Julian R. Coffin, of 
Charleston, S. C. Colonel Benjamin S. Church is a veteran of the late war. For over 
twenty-five years he was resident engineer in charge of the Old Croton Aqueduct. He 
also designed the New Croton Aqueduct and was its chief engineer and constructor. 
The direct ancestors of this family of Churches embraces some of the most distinguished 
names in the early history of the country, such as Philip Schuyler, Jonathan Trumbull, 
the Livingstons, Van Rensselaers, Van Cortlandts, etc. 

Bement, George D., Victor, was born in A^ictor, August 2-1, 1829, and went with his 
parents to Orleans county at the age of ten years. He was educated in the public 
schools and Albion Academy, and by occupation was a joiner and builder. March 2, 
1889, he married Mary D. Brown of Hopewell. Mr. Bement has done business in 
several States in the Union. His father, Heman D., was born in Stockbridge, Mass., 
March IS, 1799, and in 1811 joined his father in Tioga county, residing there until 
nineteen, when he came to Victor. He was a farmer and miller. November 13, 1826, 
he married Selecta Dryer of Victor (whose family were of Holland descent, and 
whose mother, Lydia Cobb, was of Welsh ancestry), and they had five children: 
Phoebe M., Oeorge D., Mary A., Helen L. and John D. They moved to Gaines, Or- 
leans county, in 1839, returning to Victor in 1865. His father died December 7, 1876, 
and his mother March 28, 1893, at the age of eighty-eight years. His grandfather, 
John Bement, was born in Stockbridge, Mass., September 3, 1776, and married Amy 
Dewey in 1797. She was born March 23, 1778, of English descent, and they had 
twelve children. He was appointed justice of the peace by Gov. De Witt Clinton in 
1817. Th« great-grandfather, Asa Bement, was born in Wethersfield, Conn., and in 
1761 married Ruth O'Neii, who was born on the water coming from Ireland, May 11, 
1738. They had eight children. He represented Berkshire county in the Massachu- 
.setts Legislature in 1806. Mr. Bement's great-great-grandfather, William Bement, 
married Phoebe Markum, and had four sons. He was a soldier in the Revolution 
from 1775 to 1789. Mr. Bement's ancestry comprises English, trench-Huguenot, 
Welsh, Holland and Irish. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 3T 

Chase, Roscoe Gr., Geneva, was born in the town of Buckfield, Oxford county, Me., 
November 3, 1837, and was the second child and eldest son of Thomas and Esther 
Chase. His early life was spent on his father's farm, but in November, 1862, he en- 
listed as private in a regiment of Mame infantry and served about seven months. He 
then went to California, where he taught school, but after some time returned home, 
and engaged in farming and growing and dealing in nursery stock. The latter em- 
ployment occasioned frequent visits to the famous nursery regions of Ontario county, 
and induced him in 1872 to move to this locality. He began active business with 
about seventy-five acres of nursery land, but has increased his productions to 150 acres 
at the present time. Mr. Chase is regarded as one of the progressive, successful busi- 
ness men of the county, and one interested in public as well as private enterprises. 
Daring the summer of 1892 he caused to be drilled a mineral well, whose valuable 
water is free to all who desire it for drinking purposes. Mr. Chase is also interested in 
various other business enterprises, all of which are beneficial to Geneva village and the 
locality. In 1864 Mr. Chase was married to Eliza E. Gerri'^h, by whom he has had 
two children, only one of whom is living. 

Chase, William D., Geneva, was born in Buckfield, Oxford county, Me., August 6, 
1852, and was the youngest but one of the children of Thomas and Esther Chase. He 
came t® Geneva in 1882, and became manager of the retail nursery business of R. G. 
Chase & Co., at which he continued until 1887, when he engaged in the insurance busi- 
ness, of which he had made special study, and in which he took great interest. In the 
same year, associated with D. J. Van Auken, he founded the Manufacturers' Accident 
Indemnity Company, starting practically with nothing but energy and determination, 
and eventually building up one of the most reliable and substantial mutual accident 
associations in the country, a more full account of which will be found in the history 
of Geneva, in this work. To the management of this company Mr.. Chase devotes his 
entire time, and its succe.=;s is largely due to the efforts of himself and those immedi- 
ately associated with him. In August, 1877, Mr. Chase married Elizabeth Withington, 
who bore him three children. His wife died in September, 1890. 

Castle, Seth G., East Bloomfield, a tative of Canandaigua, was born December 8, 
1820, a son of Dyer Castle, whose parents were Lemuel and Marion, natives of Dutchess 
county. In 1787 Lemuel and wife settled in Canandaigua, and there spent the re- 
mainder of their days. Dyer Castle was a native of Canandaigua, and married Mar- 
garet Jones, by whom he had three sons and six daughters. The father of Mrs. Castle 
was John Jones, a native of Wales and a sea captain, who early settled in Canandaigua. 
Mr. Castle was a teamster in the War of 1812, and was once overseer of the poor. He 
died in Canandaigua. Seth G. Castle was educated in Canandaigua Academy. Feb- 
ruary 29, 1844, he married Phoebe J. Gillett, born April 8, 1822, a daughter of Milton 
and Phoebe (Salisbury) Gillett, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of 
Vermont. Mr. Gillett served in the War of 1812. Mr. Castle and wife have one 
child, Margaret, wife of Henry Sutherland of Canandaigua, and they had one child, 
Cora E. wife of Wayland F. Hopkins of Canandaigua. To them have been born two 
children, Margareta and Melford. Mr. Castle until 1849 resided in Canandaigua. He 



38 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTV. 

then came to East Bloomfield and purchased eighty-five acres of land, on which he has 
made many imp'ovements. In politics he is a Republican, but has always declined 
office. He and family attend and support the Universalist church. 

Collier, Dr. Peter, director of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station 
near Greneva, was elected to his present office in 1887, and it is of undoubted interest to 
the farmers of Ontario county to know something of the person who occupies this highly 
responsible position. Peter Collier was born at Chittenango, Madison county, August 17, 
1835, and was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Mary Collier, his father, grand and great- 
grandfather being practical farmers of New Y'ork State. He therefore early became 
familiar with farm work, and was educated in the common schools and the academic 
institution of his native home called the " Polytechny." From this school he graduated, 
and afteward entered Yale College, from which he graduated in 1861. After gradua- 
tion he entered the Sheffield Scientific School at Yale College where he remained as 
a private student for six years, and at the same time had charge of certain classes in 
this school as instructor. In 1867 he became professor of chemistry in the University 
of Vermont, at Burlington, and later was chosen dean of the medical faculty of this 
university. In 1872 he was appointed secretary of the newly created Board of Agri- 
cultural and Mining at Vermont, and in connection with the work of this board. Dr. 
Collier established the first series of Farmers' Institutes ever held in the United States. 
In 1873 he was appointed by President Grant as one of the six scientific commissioners 
to represent the United States at the World's Exposition at Vienna, and upon his re- 
turn reported upon the subject of commercial feitilizers as shown at this exposition. 
In 1877 Dr. Collier left Vermont and went into the agricultural department at Wash- 
ington, D. C, having charge of the chemical division. He continued there until 1877, 
when he was elected to succeed Dr. Sturtevant as director of the Experiment Station 
near the village of Geneva. 

Chew, Alexander L., Geneva, was born at New Orleans October 4, 1824, the seventh 
child of Beverly and Maria Theodora Chew. In 1840 he entered Hobart College to 
take the preparatory course, and in 1841 entered on the full course, leaving college in 
1843 and returning home, where he did business until 1848. In 1849 he came here and 
entered into the hardware business with Phineas Prouty, which continued thirteen years 
He then sold his interest in the concern and kept a private bank for two or three years. 
In 1864, in company with Mr. Prouty and Corydon Wheat, he bought the eritire inter- 
est of the First National Bank and became its president, with Thomas Raines as cashier. 
The capital was then $50,000, but has now increased to $100,000, with a surplus of about 
$50,000. In 1849 Mr. Chew married Sarah A. Prouty. and they have seven children : 
four sons and three daughters. 

Collins, George S., Victor, was born in Mendon, Monroe county, February 26, 1821. 
He was educated in the district school of that place, and came with hisparents to Victor 
in the year of 1853, and has always been a farmer. November 20, 1856, he married 
Mariette, daughter of Jesse and Abigal Richards, of Newark, Wayne county, and they 
have four children : Nellie L., who married Eugene L. Thompson, station agent at 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 39 

Fishers; Adelbert S., Arthur E. and A. May; Carrie B. ColHns, deceased. The sons 
run the home farm, and the youngest daughter is at school. Mr. Co'Iins's father, John, 
was born at Rutland, Vt., in the year of 1701, and came with his partnts to this State 
when a boy. January G, 181 1 , he married Cynthia Chubb, who was born at Hempstead, 
Conn., October 10, 1793, and they had five children : Merlin, John, Chloe, George S., 
and Thomas B. His grandfather, John Collins, was in the battle of Bennington in the 
Revolutionary War. Mrs. Collins's father, Jesse Richards, wn» born in Hillsdale Colum- 
bia county, and married Abigal Sheldon, of Albany county, and they had nine children: 
G-erman, John S., Edward, George H. and Warren (a half brother), Paulina, Caroline, 
Elvira, Catherine and Mariette. Mr. Collins's father was in the War of 1812. The 
family are members of the Universalist church of Victor. 

Cole, D. Merritt, Gorham, was born in Gorham January 3, 1843, a son of George W., 
a son of Willard, who was a native of Massachusetts, and in 1820 came to Gorham. 
George W. was born in Massachusetts in 1814 and when a boy came to Gorham. His 
wife was Sarah Ann White, also a native of Massachusetts, and they had two sons and 
one daughter, Geo. W.,jr., D. Merritt and Mary A., all living. G. W.Cole purchased 
the farm of 106 acres which D. Merritt now owns. George W. died February 1, 1892, 
and his wife May 1, 1880. D. Merritt was educated in the common schools and in 
Palmyra Academy. Januaiy 15, 1868, he married Rachel E. Robinson, a native of 
Phelps, born January 19, 1849, a daughter of Asa H., and Alvina (Doane) Robinson, 
early settlers in Phelps. In 1870 they moved to Michigan where Mrs. Robinson died 
May 8, 1881. Mr. Robinson still resides there. Subjcci inxl wife have six children: 
Robinson A., Miner G., Henry T., Ernest M., Bertha A. and Mary E., all living. Mr. 
Cole is a Republican. 

Cummings, George S., Geneva, was born in Plymouth, N. H., January 4, 1829, was 
educated in the common schools of his day, and in early life was a cabinet-maker. This 
he had to give up on account of failing health, and he was a conductor on the Lehigh 
Valley Railway, one year as freight conductor, and eight as passenger conductor, and 
five as car agent. September 30, 1854, he married Sarah A. Emery of Maltborough, 
and they had three children : Arthur E., died aged four ; Carrie L. and Amy E., who 
lives at home. Mr. Cummings has resided in Geneva since 1874. He is preparing a 
shop with fine machinery for all kinds of wood and job work. His great-great-grand- 
father, Jonathan G. Cummings, was one of the first settlers in Plymouth, N. H. 

Coe, Schuyler P., Geneva, son of John D. and Sophia (Stone) Coe, was born October 
2, 1832, in Romulus. He received a common school education and in ]852 went to 
Chicago as salesman in a wholesale house, remaining nine years. September 17, 1861, 
he enlisted in Battery B, First Illinois Artillery, in which he was corporal. 
July 12, 1864, Battery B was consolidated with Battery A, in which he acted 
as lieutenant ten days. He was in Andersonville prison sixty days. After the war he 
bought a farm in Seneca county and engaged in farming. He was salesman for R. G. 
Chase & Co. in 1871, «nd had an office in Baltimore one year, and Toledo, O., five years. 
In 1879 he began dealing in scrap iron, which he has since carried on. During the war 
he was in many battles and several skirmishes, among them being Belmont, November 



40 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

7, 18G1; Fort Donelson, February 13-15, 1862; Shiloh, April 6-7; Siege of Corinth, 
Arkansaw Post, January 17, 1863; Champion Hills, May 16; Siege ofVicksburg, May 
and June; Chattanooga, November 24-25; Resaca, May 13-15, 1864; Dallas, May 26- 
31; Kenesaw Mountain, June, 1864; Peach Tree Creek, July 20; Bald Hill, July 22, 
and was captured there and held prisoner until September 19, 1864. His father was 
Judge John D. Coe, who was treasurer of the Seneca County Agricultural Society forty 
years. 

Conover, John, Victor, was born in Victor, April 20, 1817, was educated in the dis- 
trict schools and has always been a farmer. January 9, 1858, he married Elizabeth, 
daughter of William and Ruth Tucker, of Penn Yan, but when married of Akron, 0_ 
They have had four children : Theodore, who married Clara Mink of Rochester, and has 
two children, John and Irma; Anneth, who died at the age of nine years; Mabel and 
Libbie M., both reside at home with their parents. Mr. Conover's father came from the 
town of Mohawk, Montgomery county. Be married Margaret Bowers and had nine 
children ; two were born there, the others in Monroe and Ontario counties: Vincent, 
Catherine, Benjamin, Betsey, William, Mary J. and Angeline (twins), John and Han- 
nah. Mr. Conover died about the year 1838. Mrs. Conover's father, William Tucker, 
was born in Plaistow, N. H., and married Ruth Cameron of the town of Perrinton, 
Monroe county. They had four children : Elizabeth, Elisha, George and Junietta. 
The family moved to Yates county, and afterwards to Ohio In the year of 1860 Mr. 
Conover planted an orchard of apple trees, several acres in extent, which at this writ- 
ing is much admired, and is profitable to its owner. 

Cost, Thomas H., Canandaigua, was born in Manchester, Ontario county, November 
21, 1831. Jacob, the grandfather, was a native of Maryland, born in Frederick county, 
May 17, 1773, and married May 20, 1802, Mary Con. They came to Ontario county 
and settled in Manchester, where they had six children, Elizabeth, Mary, Lucretia, wife 
of Richard Sheckel of Hopewell ; Henry, a resident of Rochester ; and John, a retired 
farmer of Clifton Springs. Jacob died September 30, 1843. Jesse, the oldest son, 
father of our subject, was born in Manchester November 23, 1805. He was a Whig 
until the division of the Whig party, then became a Democrat. In 1854 he was elected 
assemblyman to represent the eastern district, and served as a member of several 
important committees. In 1869 he moved to Canandaigua, where he died February 
27, 1888. He married April 2, 1829, Cynthia Orme Baggerly of Manchester, and they 
had two children : Addie Cordelia, wife of William Cassort, a farmer of Canandaigua, 
and Thomas H. The early I'fe of the latter was spent in Hopewell. He was educated 
in Canandaigua Academy and at Lima Seminary, and followed farming in Hopewell 
until 1865, when he spent a year in Clifton Springs, two years traveling, and settled on 
his present farm in 1868. This is a farm of 190 acres on lot 104, where Mr. Cost has 
erected a beautiful residence and made many improvements. He is a Democrat, and in 
1881 was elected supervisor. He has also been assessor three years. He was for many 
years a director of the Ontario County National Bank, urtil they closed business, and 
has for fourteea years been a trustee of the Presbyterian church. He married, Febru- 
ary 18, 1858, Mary J., daughter of Gerrit Debow, of Farmington. They have an 
adopted daughter, Ida H., who is now attending school. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 41 

Crane, Oscar N., Canandaigun. was born in Canandaigua in 1836, a son of John, who 
was born in this village in 1792. His father, Elam, was c^e of the old pioneer school 
teachers of this State; he was a native of Connecticut. He located in Canandaigua 
one of the earliest settlers, and made his home in the later years of his life in the south- 
ern part of this town, where he died in 184.5 leaving eight children, of whom John was 
the oldest. He always made this town his home, and the greater part of his life was 
spent on the farm. He Avas a soldier in the war of 1812, and an influential man in his 
town. He died in this village in 1872, leaving three children of a family of six: Sid- 
ney, of Detroit, Mich.; Mary A., Avife of D. C. Benham, of Hopewell; and Oscar N. 
With the exception of one year spent in Buffalo the latter has always lived in this 
county. He was educated at Canandaigua Academy, and after leaving school followed 
farming summers, and taught in the winter. In 1865 he established an office as a 
funeral director and dealer in burial goods in Canandaigua, which he still conducts. 
He is assisted by William C. Ball, a professional embalmer. Mr. Crane married in 
1850 Mary J., daughter of Thomas Benham of Hopewell, and they have three chil- 
dren : Ella E., a teacher of mathematics in the public school; Oscar Benham and Carrie 
C. Mr. Crane was for twenty-one years in active service in the Canandaigua fire de- 
partment, and for fifteen consecutive years was chief of the department. He has been 
president of the Canandaigua Cemetery Association since its organization in 1884, and 
is also a member of the Board of Education. He is president of the Protective Life 
Insurance Association of Rochester, a Mason, and an elder of the First Presbyterian 
Church, of which his family are members. 

Cassort, William, Canandaigua, was born on a farm in Canandaigua July 22, 1834. 
The Cassort family in this country are of French extraction. The grandfather, James, 
was a native of New Jersey, where David, the father of the subject, was born Feb- 
ruary 22, 1789. His boyhood was spent at his birthplace. He was educated in the 
common schools, and took up the occupation of farming. When he was eighteen years 
of age he came to Ontario county, and four years later bought a farm of fifty acres, 
where he spent the balance of his days. He afterward added fifty acres to this. He 
took an active interest in politics, but was never an office seeker. He was a great 
reader and profound thinker, and always took an interest in church and all charitable 
work. He married in 181 i Sarah, daughter of Nathan Phelps of this town, and they 
had seven children, four of whom are living: James, a farmer of Hopewell; Charles, 
Frank and William, farmers of Canandaigua. Mrs. Cassort died August 10, 1834, and 
David married second Emily Chapman, a widow, and they had one daughter, Mis. 
Enos Booth, who died in 1890. Mrs. Emily Cassort died seven years after marriage in 
1855, and he married Lucy Smith, who died in February, 1861. David Cassort died 
April 20, 1861 The whole life of our subject has been spent in this town. He was 
educated in the common schools and Canandaigua -Academy, and followed farming. 
He made his home with his father until his death, and succeeded to the old homestead. 
He added to that property 100 acres on the opposite side of the road, making 200 acres, 
which he still owns, and in 1876 he bought thirteen acres on lot 18, where he has built 
a beautiful residence, new buildings, etc. Mr. Cassort has never taken any active in- 
f 



42 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

teresl in public affairs, but has devoted his whole life to the interests of his home and 
business. His ambition has been to become a successful farmer and an upright citizen. 
He married March ol, 18G4, Addie, daughter of Hon. Jesse Cost, a farmer of the town 
of Hopewell. 

Cribb, Ira P., Canandaigua, was born in South Bristol, February 21, 1851, a son of 
Joseph P. Cribb, a native of Onondaga county, born in TuUy, April 28, 1816, who came 
with his father to Ontario county when a boy. He has always been a farmer, and for 
the last twenty years has lived in Naples. He married Elenor J., daughter of Richard 
Francis, a native of Wales. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are 
living: Mrs. Nancy E. Parsons, of Providence, R. I.; F. R. Cribb of Naples, superin- 
tendent of pleasure resorts at Silver Lake and Lake Erie, formerly an undertaker of 
Naples ; C. A. Cribb, a lumber manufacturer of Smyrna, Mich. ; Mrs. B. H. Johnson of 
Naples ; and Ira P. The early life of the latter was spent in South Bristol. He was 
educated in the common schools and at Naples Academy. In 1872 he came to Canan- 
daigua, where he has since resided. For the last three years he has been in the employ 
of the town in the making of stone roads, and has been one of the board of commis- 
sioners in the town since 1890, and has built about twelve miles of road. Mr. Cribb 
has always taken an interest in the success of the Republican party, and is an active 
member of the Methodist Church, in which he has held numerous offices, how being 
trustee. He married in 1872 Emily A., daughter of Jonas Wolverton, who died less 
than three years later. He married second Stella F., daughter of Samuel Douglass, of 
Canandaigua, and they have one child, Fred D., now in his thirteenth year. 

Crittenden, A. R., Phelps, was born in Phelps, December 17, 1824, one of four chil- 
dren of Osee and Rachael (Glover) Crittenden. The grandfather, Osee Crittenden, was 
born in Conway, Mass., of English descent, and came to Phelps with his family during 
the boyhood of his son. The ancestors of Rachael Glover were also Massachusetts 
people of English descent. A. R. Crittenden married, December 19, 1846, N. A.Stew- 
art, daughter of Daniel and Ann (Peck) Stewart. Daniel Stewart, the father, was born 
in Deerfield, Oneida county, April 28, 1797. Jabez, Daniel's father, was of Scotch 
descent; his father, Daniel, emigrated from Scotland about the year 1760, and finally 
settled in Brattlebro, Vt., afterward removing to Deerfield, Oneida county. A. R. Crit- 
tenden has one son, De Laney S. Crittenden, now of ButTalo. De Laney S. Crittenden 
married Lillian S. Fitch, of Wolcott, March 13, 1881, having issue one i^on, Percy A_ 
Crittenden, born in Phelps, October 26, 1888. 

Case, Noadiah S., Bristol, was born January 25, 1826, in Bristol. His father wau 
Noadiah W., a son of James, of Dighton, Mass., who came to Bristol with his brother, 
Jonathan J., in 1800. He married Betsey Hicks and had seventeen children. James 
Case and wife died in Bristol. Noadiah W. was born in Dighton, Slass., m 1794, and came 
to Bristol with his parents. He married in Hudson, N. Y., Hannah Davis, a native of 
that town, by whom he had a son and a daughter. When subject was about two years 
of age his father moved on the farm. He was captain in the State militia, and died in 
1838, and his wife October 23, 1857, aged seventy-five years. Noadiah S. was educated 
in tlie common schools. He engaged in farming and has since followed that occupa- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 43 

tion. July 4, 1842, he married Caroline A. Hutchenp, a native of Jerusalem, Yates 
county, and a dausfhter of John Hutchens. They had four children: Adelphia (de- 
ceased), John W., Charles E., and Christiana (deceased). Mr. Case owns 200 acres of 
land, and follows general farming and hop raising. He is a Republican and attends and 
supports the Universalist Church of Bristol. 

Cronk, Rev. Lewis W., Victor, was born in Victor, May 24, 1819, and was educated 
in the common and private schools of his native town. While attending the M. B. 
Church meetings in 1843 he was converted, and was soon after licensed to exhort, and 
afterwards a local preacher until 1873, when he changed his church relationship, cast- 
ing his lot with the Free Methodists, joining their conference and church at the above 
date, and is at present an ordained elder in that church organization. July 4, 1843, he 
married Angeline, daughter of Jonathan and Catherine Benson, of Pekin, Niagara 
county. They have one adopted daughter, Ida Benson, who married Philetus Skuse, 
who was in the late war in Company C, 111th Regiment N. Y. S. Infantry, and they 
have two daughters, who are married. Mr. Cronk's father, Jeremiah, was born near 
Cooperstown, Otsego county, in 1787, and married Philena Lewis of his native place, 
formerly of Massachusetts. They had eight children : William, Daniel, Elizabeth, Mi- 
randa, Lewis W., Emily, Nancy J., and Mary. Mrs. Cronk's fathei, Jonathan Benson, 
was born in Springfield, Otsego county, March 24, 1799, and married Catherine Ander- 
son of his native place, and moved with his wife and two children to Niagara county in 
1823. They had six children : Angeline, John, Elijah A., Isaac, Mary M., and Sarah A. 
Mr. Benson was a preacher of the gospel from the age of maturity until his death, No- 
vember 20, 1884. Mrs. Cronk's brother Isaac was the father of their adopted daughter 
and also was a soldier in the late war, in the band of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth 
Regiment New York Volunteers, where he lost his life. Mr. Cronk's brother Daniel 
had three sons and a son-in-law in the late war. 

Cooley, Augustine S., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, July 14, 185G, a son 
of James S. The latter was a native of this county and came here in 1851, and, in 
partnership with his brother, Nathaniel, began the manufacture of agricultural imple- 
ments, and established a hardware business. He had two children : Hattie M., and 
Augustine S., who was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and after leaving school 
entered the store of his father, where he has always been engaged. About 1868 Na- 
thaniel sold his interest to his brother, and the firm was J. S. Cooley until 1879, when 
it was changed to J. S. Cooley & Son ; and in 1883, A. Eugene Cooley being added to 
the firm, it was changed to J. S. Cooley Son & Co., and on the death of the senior mem- 
ber, December 20, 1889, the firm was made A. S. & A. E. Cooley, which it has con- 
tinued. They carry a complete line of general hardware, together with an extensive 
tin and furnace shop. Mr. Cooley married in 1883 Harriet C, daughter of Allen Reed, 
of Canandaigua, and they have two children; Lura Esther, and James Allen. At the 
time of the organization of the Canandaigua Street Railway Company in 1888, Mr. 
Cooley, in company with Mr. C. F. Milliken, were the first to agitate the subject and to 
organize the company. He has held the position of treasurer and president of the com- 
pany, and he was a director from the time of its formation. He was two years sccie- 



44 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

tary of the Ontario County Agricultural Society, 1882-1883. He also owns a fruit 
farm and is largely interested in the culture of grapes and small fruits. For the last 
three years his attention has been given to large investments in the Indiana natural gas 
fields, and is a director in the Western Improvernent Company, doing business at West 
Muncie, Ind. Mr. Cooley has been executor of several estates, and is now acting as 
trustee and treasurer for other trusts. 

Copp, E. Darwin, Clifton Springs, was born in New Hampshire, January 30, 1834, 
He received an academic education, and after farming and teaching school for several 
years, enlisted in 1862, August 7, in the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth N. Y. Vols. 
He was shortly afterward detailed to do clerical work in the office at Camp Convales- 
cent, Va., and during the last six months of his service was chief clerk of the Soldiers' 
Rest, Alexandria, Va. Aftf^r receiving his discharge at close of the war, he immedi- 
ately returned to Clifton Springs and established a boot and shoe store, to which he 
shortly added groceries and glassware. His health failing he .'^old out, and after a time 
established a coal, lumber, grain and produce business, also became connected with the 
Clifton Springs Manufacturing Company. He has held the office of president, secre- 
tary and treasurer. This concern manufactures anti-rusting tinware and tin specialties, 
employing seventy-fi e hands. Mr. Copp married Mary E. Spalsbury, daughter of Dr. 
Spalsbury. They have no family. Mr. Copp is a member of the Gr. A. R , and steward 
and treasurer of the M. B. Church. 

Coykendall, Charles A., Canadice, was born in Yates county, October IG, 1830. 
When he was two years of age his father, Jotham, moved with his family to this town. 
His grandfather, Emanuel, came from New Jersey to Yates county at an early day. 
Jotham was born in 1805, and married in 1826 Maria Hayne.s, of Starkey, Yates county, 
who bore him eleven children, as follows: Lydia, born in 1828; Charles, born in 1830; 
Coe, born in 1833; Mary, born in 1835; Squire, born in 1836, died in 1844; Jotham, 
born in 1838; Arnold G-., born in 1847 ; Sarah, born in 1841 ; Phila A., born in 1845; 
Sipiire, born in 1849; and Isaac W., born in 1852. Jotham was assessor for many 
years, and died in 1888, his wife dying four years earlier. His son Charles was edu- 
cated at tiie district^ schools and remained at his father's home until after twenty-one 
years of age, then went to Ohio and worked at jobbing on a railroad and faiming two 
years. He returned to Canadice, and in 1857 married Mary E. Pulver, daughter of 
Henry W. and Mary (Northrup) Pulver, who were early settlers of this town, her 
father coming from Kinderhook, where he was a schoolmate of Martin Van iJuren, and 
her mother from Saratoga county. Mr. Coykendall has one daughter. Flora, born 
March 20, 1866, wife of Dr. W. D. Becker, jr., both graduates of the Normal School of 
Geneseo, class of 1887. Dr. Becker is also a graduate of the College of Physicians 
and Surgeons of New York. Miss Coykendall accepted a position as preceptress of 
the Union School at Livonia, where she remained three years, Dr. Becker being in 
New York. They have one child, Ruth L. E., born in 1892. Mr. Coykendall is a 
farmer on the old place, owning 128 acres and farming 228. He has recently intro- 
duced Dakota spring rye, of which he has grown 449 bushels from twenty-seven bushels 
sown. He is a Repul)lican. 



li'AMlLY SKETCHES. 45 

Crooks, Tompkins Abbey, Richmond, was born September 14, 1R26. His grandfather, 
David, a native of Blanford, Mass., first came to Richcnond in 1799, on his return from 
a prospecting tour in Ohio. Struck with the beauty of the country here in the Indian 
summer time, he bought the farm which he afterwards sold to Ehas Gilbert, and the 
next February came with his wife and settled thereon. She was a grandniece of 
General Knox of Revolutionary fame, and he was of Scotch descent. They had eight 
children, one of whom, David K., learned milling. His father died in 1812 from an 
injury received in the mill. David K. married in 1822 Sinai, daughter of John Abbey. 
She was born in 1803, and died in 1890. They had two sons : Tompkms A. and John 
K. The latter, born in 1830, became a physician, and married Martha Wheeler for his 
first wife, and Carrie Gray for his second wife, by whom he had one son, deceased. 
He died in 1876, and his widow resides at East Bloomfield. David K. lived most of 
his life where his son Tompkins now lives. When but thirteen years of age he drew 
from the mill in Richmond, with a double ox team, twenty-five barrels of flour to the 
American army encamped at Buffalo, and on his return loaded the sleigh with munitions 
of war for the arsenal at Batavia. Tompkins A. Crooks was educated at a select school 
at Allen's Hill and at Lima Seminary, and has followed farming all his I'fe. He mar- 
ried in 1846 Helen C, daughter of Tillness Bentley 2d, and their only daughter, Ellen 
Amelie, born in 1847, is the wife of Mark Leech, and now living almost opposite. Mr. 
Crooks is a Democrat, and his wife and daughter are Episcopalians. Tillness Bentley 
2d was born in 1792, and came from Saratoga. He married Lorada Baker, daughter 
of William. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, under Major Allen, and was at 
Lundy's Lane. He had six children, of whom Mrs. Crooks was the fo.urth. He was 
a leading spirit in the organization of the old M. E. church, which stood east of Abbey's 
Corners, the first services of \v hich were held in Mr. Baker's barn. The locality was 
early called Baker's Hill. 

Case, Mark A., Bristol, was born in Bristol, August 16, 1842. His father was Sey- 
mour W., son of Jonathan J., who was born in Bristol and married Caroline J., daughter 
of George Gregg. Mr. Case and wife had five sons and a daughter. He owned a farm 
of 100 acres, was a Democrat in politics and active in his party. He died January 26, 
1874, and his widow resides with her son, Horace B. Mark A. was educated in the 
common schools of Bristol. In 1867 he married Mariette, daughter of Ephraim Dun- 
ham, and they have two sons: George G., born December 14, 1870; and Seymour W., 
born May 13, 1875. Mr. Case has 100 acres which he purchased in 1867, and is a gen- 
eral farmer and hop grower, having ten acres devoted to the latter. Mr. Case is a 
Democrat in politics, and was supervisor in 1889-90 and 1891. He was justice of the 
peace one term, and assessor one term. 

Carson, Dr. Matthew R , Canandaigua, was born in Seneca, Ontario county. May 25, 
1836, a son of Robert, a manufacturer of agricultural implements of Scottsville. The 
grandfather of subject was of French descent, and emigrated to this country about 1791 
at the age of eighteen. The family settled in this country, where their descendants 
have always lived. The early life of Dr. Carson was spent in Seneca, where he attended 
the common schools until sixteen years of age. He spent two years at Canandaigua 



46 IHISTORY Ol' ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Academy, and then attended a select school at Geneva, finishing his course in Latin 
and Greek, and at the same time studying medicine with Dr. Beattie. He afterwards 
spent about five years in Albany, where he attended the Albany Medical College, and 
spent one yeai in the hospital there. He then located in Canandaigua, where he has 
enioved a lucrative practice. He has held all the offices of the Ontario County Medical 
Society, also of the Society of Physicians of Canandaigua. Dr. Carson married in 1860 
Elizabeth J. 0«trom, of West Charlton, Saratoga county, and they have had five 
children: William 0., a banker of Caro, Mich. ; Grace Eleanor ; Dr. Robert L., assistant 
superintendent of the Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble-Minded Children at 
Elwyn, Pa. ; Bessie Chapin Carson, private secretary to Dr. J. C. Carson, of Syracuse ; 
and Henry 0., who lives at home. 

Coates, Irving W., Hopewell, the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of 
Manchester, Ontario county, November 14, 1836. He is the second son of Captain 
James T. J. Coates, late of the town of Hopewell, in the same county. His grand- 
father, James Coates, was a native of New London, Conn. When quite a young man 
he came to Stephentown, Rensselaer county, and married Miss Penelope Northrup, 
the daughter of the Rev. Gideon Northrup, an eloquent divine, who at that time 
resided in the eastern portion of the State. James Coates was one of the pioneers of 
settlement at what is now known as Varysburg, Wyoming county. He, in common 
with many others, carved out homes in the dense wilderness and endured all the hard- 
ships and dangers incident to such a life. In the war of 1812i, which so soon followed 
the white settlement of Western New York, he was employed as a teamster to trans- 
port arms, ammunition and supplies for the use of the army of General Stephen Van 
Rensselaer, then gathering at Lewiston on the Niagara for a descent upon Canada. 
He would never accept any pay for his services, declaring that it was the duty of every 
good citizen to uphold the honor of his country in the hour of its need and danger. 
He had much intercourse with the Indians during the early days of settlement, and 
knew pers'^nally Red Jacket Farmer's Brother, Young King, Seneca White, and 
other noted chiefs of the Six Nations, who were frequent guests at his house. In 1817 
he exchanged his propeity at Varysburg for a fine farm near Clifton Springs in the 
town of Manshester, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-six years, honored 
and respected. Capt. James T. J. Coates, the father of the subject of this sketch, was 
born at Stephentown, Rensselaer county, in 1804, and removed at a tender age with 
his father's family to their new home amid the hemlock forests of the Holland Pur- 
chase. On arriving at man's estate he was for many years a successful farmer of the 
town of Manchester, and in 1850 removed to the adjoining town of Hopewell, in the 
same county, purchasing the fine homestead farm now owned and occupied by his son, 
Irving W., where he resided until his death, July 22, 1889, aged eighty -six years. His 
estimable wife, whose maiden name was Minerva Whitney, daughter of Jonas Whit- 
ney, a worthy pioneer of the town of Hopewell, survived him but about a year, her 
death occurring October 31, 1890. Captain Coates was a most worthy citizen, an up- 
right, honorable man in all his dealings and was quite successful in business. He held 
.several offices of trust given him unsolicited by his fellow citizens, and discharged the 
duties of them always to his credit. He was an active officer in the early militia 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 47 

organizations of Ontario county, and received the commissions of first lieutenant and 
captain from Gov. De Witt Clinton. For a brief period we believe lie was on the staff 
of Col. Lester Phelps of Canandaigua, who commanded the old One Hundred and 
Eleventh Regiment N. Y. S. Militia, and who was a warm personal friend of his. Irv- 
ing W. Coates, in common with most farmers' sons, received his first rudiments of 
education at the district school, supplemented by a course at the old Chemung 
Academy at Horseheads, Chemung county. In 1854 he entered the Palmyra Union 
Classical School at Palmyra, Wayne county, where he graduated, we believe, in 1855 
with honor, having been selected to deliver the valedictory address at the close of the 
term. He afterwards took a special course in historical and scientific studies under 
private tutors. He has been a frequent contributor to many prominent papers, and 
enjoys the reputation of being a ready, graphic writer, and a close student of men and 
events. He has been for several years an earnest student of our early Indian history 
and his recent contributions to the columns of the Ontario County Times on the "Castle 
of Onaghee" and "In the Footprints of Denonville," stamps him as an accomplished 
Indianologist, and a writer whose graceful pen is able to lend great interest and charm 
to the subjects of which he treats. Mr. Coates has been twice married, his first wife, a 
most estimable lady, was Miss Josephine R. Short of Manchester, by whom he had left 
two children : Nelson, since deceased, and Heman J., who lives at the old homestead. 
His second wife was Mrs. Irene M. Hoes, a worthy lady, daughter of Harvey King 
an old and honored resident of Manchester, and a member of one of the pioneer fami- 
lies of that town. Mrs. King died March 5, 1873. Mr. Coates has one brother, James 
F. Coates, an esteemed citizen of Cassopolis, Cass county, Mich., and one sister. "Mrs. 
Mary A Parsons of Clifton Springs. 

Clark, C. M., Sliortsville, was born at Ingleside, Steuben county, March 7, 1850. He 
received an academic education, after which he followed milling and mercantile trans- 
actions for ten years. Then he moved to New Haven, Conn., and engaged in the whole- 
sale commission business. After one year he sold out and returned to New York State, 
locating at Shortsville in the lumber and planing mill industry. He has served as 
trustee of the corporation and school, and is now president of the village. Mr. Clark 
married Olive Cole of North Cohocton, and they have one son and a daughter. 

Carlough, D. Wesley, Hopewell, was born March 10, 1830, on the farm he now owns. 
His father, David, was a son of Peter who lived and died in Burgess, N. J., where 
David was born about 1797. When eighteen years of age the latter came to Hopewell. 
He owned a farm of 200 acres. His wife was Susannah Thatcher, a native of Conway, 
Mass., born October, 1803, by whom he had two sons and one daughter, all of them 
living. Mr. Carlough's education was limited, but being a great reader he became a 
well informed man. He was an active church worker, and he and wife were members 
of the M. E. Cliurch. and afterwards of the Wesleyan Church. They assisted in build- 
ing two churches at Hopewell. Mr. Carlough died in March, 1873, and his wife August 
31, 1892. D. Wesley was reared on a farm and educated in Wesleyan Genesee Semi- 
nary, and at the Lyceum in Geneva. In 1852 he married Elizabeth Van Buskirk, born 
in Hopewell July 20, 1830, a daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Demorest) Van Bus- 
kirk. Mr. Carlough and wife have one adopted daughter, Josephine, a graduate of the 



48 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Canandaigua Female Seminary, who married Willis R. Buck of Buffalo, a son of Elias 
Buck, and nephew of Dr. Buck of Geneva. Mr. Buck and wife have two children : 
Carlough E. and Florence 0. He has increased the old homestead to 3G0 acres. He 
is a Republican ; he has been town clerk, and has been postmaster at Hopewell Centre 
nearly thirty years. He is a member of Hopewell Grange No. 472. 

Chapin, Erastus A., West Bloomfield, was born June 18, 1844. His father, Rev. Asa 
Chapin, was a minister of the Christian denomination, and preached without salary. 
He was a native of Gilsum, N. H., and first settled in Steuben connty about 1823. 
About 182;") he came to West Bloomfield, and married a year later Cornelia Simons, 
born in 1804. Her father, Jeremiah, came here from Lynn about 1800, and died in 
1805. Mr. Chapin died about two years ago, and his wife survives him, aged eighty- 
eight. They had five children ; Erastus A. was educated in the common schools and 
Lima Seminary. In September, 1804, he enlisted in Company C, First N. Y. Light 
Artillery, known as Reynold's Battery, and was discharged from service in June, 1865, 
on the day he came of age. He is assessor and overseer of the poor, and is a Repub- 
lican. He married in 1872 Frances C, daughter of Newell D. Gerry, who in early life 
came to Livingston county from Vermont. They have two daughters : Lottie May and 
Corneha Belle. 

Cole, George W., Gorham, was born in Gorham September 7, 1840, a son of George 
W. Cole. He was educated in the common schools and Rushville High School. In 
18G3 he married Caroline P. Allen of South Dansville, who died in 1865, and in 1867 
Mr. Cole married Caroline P. Foster by whom he has two children : A. Luella, now 
Mrs. Chester Olmstead of East Bloomfield, and Valleda C. Mr. Cole is a farmer and a 
breeder of Jersey cattle, and at present is agent for all papers and magazines. published 
in the United States and in foreign countries. He is a Republican and a member of the 
Reed's Corners Grange. He was president of the Gorham Agricultural Society in 
1887-88 and '89, also vice-president of same society four years and overseer of the do- 
mestic department seven years. 

Crowell, Erastus H., West Bloomfield, was born June 11, 1831, at Miller's Corners. 
His father, Silas, a native of Massachusetts, was born in 1792, and came with his father 
to Miller's Corner's in 1798. Silas has related that when a boy he, with his brother 
two years older, were walking in the road near their house when suddenly a bear con- 
fronted them in the road and disputed their right to go on, but they had a small dog 
with them which bit at the bear's heels and worried him so that the boys had time to 
escape. Silas joined an independent company and was for three months on guard duty 
in Canada on the Niagara frontier during the War of 1812, and was of the escort of 
General Harrison on his return from Tecumseh. He married for his second wife in 
1822 Alsena, daughter of Luman Kilbourne, and had four children: .Simeon S, of 
Grand Rapids, Mich., Erastus H., Eleanor A., born in 1833, died in 1886, and Lydia J., 
born in 1844 and died in 1853. Silas died in 1868 and his wife in 1878. Erastus H. 
was educated at the common schools and at Lima Seminary, and has been a farmer 
most of his life. From 1861 to 1871 he was engaged in the insurance business, and is a 
Republican. He married in 1853, Mandana E., daughter of Perrine Fay of Ohio, who 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 49 

was a native of Massachusetts. Mrs. Crowell was born in Madison county, and they 
are both members of the Universahst Church at North Bloomfield and supporters of 
the M. B. Church at Miller's Corners. 

Coolidge, Charles, Phelps, one of two children living of Ahio and Elizabeth (East- 
man) Coolidge (the mother being Mary), was born in Litchfield, Herkimer county, Jan- 
uary 31, 1847. The father, Ahio Coolidge, was also born in Herkimer county, remov- 
ing to Phelps in May, 1866, where he is still living at the age of eighty-three years. 
The mother, Elizabeth Eastman, was born in Connecticut. Her father, Benjamin, was 
one of the '' Boston tea party " as was also Warren Coolidge, the grandfather. The 
Coolidge family were established in the Massachusetts colony, at an early day. Mr. 
Coolidge's farm of forty acres is used for fruit and vegetables, where he also raises seed 
for seedsmen. For many years he has been interested in improvmg fruits, vegetables 
and poultry, of which latter he has some very fine specimens. He has also been inter- 
ested in Grange matters, and wa<? iufluential in the formation of the Grange in Phelps. 

Case, Billings T., Bristol, was born in Bristol December 9, 1814, a son of Jonathan J. 
Case, a son of James Case, a native of Wales. Jonathan J. Case was born in Dighton, 
Mass., in 1773, and married Lucy Simmons, by whom he had ten sons and four daugh- 
ters. He came to Bristol in 1800, and settled 600 acres of land. He was supervisor 
sixteen years and justice many years. He and wife were members of the Baptist 
Church. He died in 1855, and his wife in 1859. Billings T. Case is a very successful 
farmer, and in 1839 he married Christiana Hathaway of Bristol, born October 26, 1820, 
a daughter of Elnathan Hathaway. To Billings T. Case and wife have been born two 
daughters ; Melvina L., who was educated in Canandaigua Seminary, and married The- 
ron P. Buell in 1862. The second daughter of Mr. Case was Saphronia, who married 
John M. Phillips of Bristol. She died in 1886. Mr. Case was a Republican and was 
assessor fifteen years. He was once a Baptist but is now a Universalist. His wife is 
also a member of the Universalist Church. Mr. Case was a member of the Sons of 
Temperance, Good Templars, and a member of Bristol Grange. He died in 1883. 

Coe, John S., Canandaigua. Mr. Coe is of English origin. His ancestor in America 
was Robert Coe, born in the county of Suffolk, Eng., who together with his wife 
Anna and his three sons, John, Robert and Benjamin, sailed from Ipswich, Eng., in the 
ship Francis, John Cutting, master, April 10, 1634; landed in Boston in the June fol- 
lowing, and first settled in Watertown near Boston and subsequently settled in Weth- 
ersfield county. Conn. His branch of the family settled at what is called South Farms, 
near Middletown, Conn., long before the Revolutionary War ; and the old homestead 
bought by his greatgrandfather, Jesse Coe, when Connecticut was a colony, is still 
owned in the family. His grandfather, Jesse Coe, emigrated to Mount Washington, 
Berkshire county, Mass., early and became a large landholder there, where his father, 
William W. Coe, was born. He married Catharine Vosburg of Columbia county in this 
State, and moved to Verona, Oneida county, where Mr. Coe was born, and while very 
young his parents moved to Galen, Wayne county, where his father died when he was 
only six and one half years old, at which time he was thrown upon his own resources. 
He came to Phelps in his early teens and partially fitted for college at the Phelps Union 



50 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

and Classical School under the tuition of that celebrated teacher, Prof. Lewis Peck, 
and finished his preparatory course at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima and 
subsequently graduated at Union College and also the Albany Law School. He was at 
one time the principal of the Clyde High School and the Phelps Union and Classical 
School. He raised and commanded as captain, Company B, One Hundred and Eleventh 
Regt. N. Y. S. Vols, in the late Rebellion. In 1865 he went to Canandaigua and 
studied in the law office of Messrs. Lapham & Adams, and has practiced his profession 
in Canandaigua ever since. He married Miss Addie A. Titus of Phelps in 1868 by whom 
he has one daughter, Mabel C, the wife of Dr. Frederick E. McClellan, also of Canan- 
daigua. Mr. Coe is now serving his third term as a justice of the peace, each time be- 
ing elected by large majorities. He is thoroughly devoted to his business and is noted 
for his energy and perseverance, and is one of the best known men in Ontario county. 

Case, BiHings H., a resident and native of Bristol, was born February 27, 1831. He 
is a son of Samuel S., a son of Jonathan J. Samuel S. was born in Dighton, Mass., De- 
cember 5, 1797, and came to Bristol with his parents. He married Betsey Bolton, a 
native of Massachusetts, and had three sons and three daughters. His death occurred 
in Bristol, July 25, 1833, and that of his wife January 27, 1864. Billings H. was edu- 
cated in the common schools and is a general farmer, owning 230 acres where he resides 
and 160 in Nebraska. He has made a specialty of raising sheep and horses. In politics 
Mr. Case is a Republican. January 1, 1862, he married Nancy N. Case, a native of 
Bristol, born October 27, 1835, and a daughter of Isaiah Case. They have had two 
daughters. Alice B. and Effie M., who were graduated in Genesee Normal School, and 
both were teachers. Alice B. married William R. Allen of Bristol, and they have three 
children : Erastus H., RoUand C, and Gordon B. Mr. Case and family are members of 
the Congregational church of Bristol. 

Coykendall, Coe Haynes, Canadice, son of Jotham, was born February 20, 1833, 
where he now resides. He worked on the farm until he married in 1854 Caroline S. 
Purcell, daughter of John and Almira (Hubbard) Purcell, the former born in Hunterdon 
county, N. J., and the latter in Washington county, N. Y. Mr. Purcell settled in 1824 
in Richmond, coming with his father, Benjamin, and Mrs. Purcell came with her father, 
Solomon Hubbard, in 1813 to Gorham, and later to Canadice. Mr. and Mrs. Coyken- 
dall have had five children : George H., born in 1856, now a farmer in Lima: Frank 
B., born in 1857, also a farmer; Everett E., born in 1861, a street car conductor in 
Rochester; Grant S., born in Michigan in 1865, resides with his parents, and John P., 
who was born here in 1873 and is now in school. In 1864 Mr. Coykendall went to 
Michigan, where he remained four years, then returned and settled on the old homestead 
which was built by his father in 1849, and has been repaired by Coe H. The latter has 
been highway commissioner and collector. He is a Populist in politics. He owns 150 
acres of land and is engaged in general farming. 

Coons J. P., Naples, was born in Penn Yan, Yates county. May 1, 1837, a son of 
Philip Coons, and moved to Naples in 1840. The subject was educated at Naples dis- 
trict school. At the age of twenty-one he commenced learning the carpenter and 
building trade. He worked first with R. T. Porter of Naples, and the second year 



FAMILY SKETCHES. M 

entered into partnership with him, continuing only one year when he branched out for 
himself and has been engaged at the business in the village since. He has never taken 
much interest in politics. In 1891 he was elected excise commissioner. Mr. Coons has 
been married three times, first to Frances Vincent of Watkins, Schuyler county, and they 
have one daughter : Cora F. His second wife was Antoinette Maxfield, daughter of 
Elias Maxfield of Naples. His present wife was Mary J. Bowls, daughter of James 
Bowls of Naples. 

Clark, Nelson W., Naples, was born in Naples September 14, 1811, a son of Warren 
and Artamecia (Pomeroy) Clark of Berkshire, Mass., who came to Naples with his 
father. Major Benjamin Clark in 1791, They built the first saw-mill and grist-mill in 
Naples, and Warren Clark bought the first stock of goods ever in the town. Nelson is 
the only surviving member of his father's family, which consisted of five children. He 
was educated at the common and select schools of Naples, has held several county oSices, 
and has been side judge, deputy sheriff, justice of the peace and U. S. revenue collector 
and postmaster eight years and during the war. He has practiced law in Ontario, 
Yates, Livingston, Monroe and Steuben counties. He was colonel of an artillery regi- 
ment, comprising six companies of members from Ontario, Livingston and Steuben 
counties, and has been a mechanic, merchant, farmer and real estate dealer, the latter 
in Chicago, Missouri, Iowa and New Jersey. His grandfather Benjamin married his 
second wife in Naples. Her name was Thankful Watkins, and the wedding was the 
first one in the town. Nelson W. lived a bachelor until sixty years old, then married 
(in 1871) Elizabeth B. Talcott of Bergen, N. Y. He has been one of the most active 
business men in the county, and is now enjoying his ripe age in overseeing his two grist- 
mills and one saw-mill, and other interests in Naples and vicinity and in the West. He 
remembers when there were more Indians than white people in Naples, and the sur- 
rounding hills were alive with the wild deer, bears and wolves. 

Cosad, David, Phelps, whose ancestors are traced back to the Huguenots of France, 
was born in Junius, Seneca county, February 13, 1832. His father was also named 
David Cosad, and was born in New Jersey. He died in 1886 at the age of eighty-three 
years. His wife was Martha (Yury) Cosad. The grandfather was Samuel Cosad of 
New Jersey, who came to New York in early life, where he died at the age of ninety- 
nine years, his sister dying at ninety- eight. David Cosad married first in 18G3 Sarah 
Clark of Sodus. She died in 1874 leaving one son, WilllisC The latter was educated 
at the University of Yale where he graduated in 1888. Willis G. Cosad studied law in 
the office of Judge Halsey of Norwich, Conn., and is now with the firm of Cadwallader, 
Strong & Co. 36 Wall street. New York. Mr. D. Cosad was again married in 1876 to 
Hattie, daughter of William Young of Lyons. He came to Phelps in 1865 and bought 
the farm of 125 acres on which he now lives. He makes a specialty of hop and fruit 
culture, having an orchard of seven acres with twenty-five acres of vineyard ; his new 
packing-house being notable in this region for the completeness of its appointments. He 
is one of the representative public-spirited citizens of the town He has served as su- 
pervisor of the town, has also been elected and served as member of assembly for this 
district. 



52 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Craft, Silas G., Gorham, a native of Seneca, was born August 5, 1817, a son of 
Thomaf, a native of New Pans, N. Y., who came to Seneca when a young man, and 
there married Martha Glann, by whom he had three sons and one daughter. Mrs. 
Craft died in 1820, and he married second Derinda Polmateer, by whom he had six 
children. He died in Michigan in 1870. Silas G. married December 8, 1842, Lydia 
W. Mellen, a native of Massachusetts, born March 25, 1823. She was a daughter of 
Collister and Lucinda (Denham) Mellen, natives of Massachusetts, the former born 
March 27, 1798. They were married, December 8, 1822, and had a son and a daughter. 
In 1823 they went to Gorham and settled on the farm Avhere subject now resides. He 
was assessor and superintendent of the poor seventeen year^. He was very liberal in 
all public enterprises, and died in Gorham, September 23, 1860. His wife died March 
21, 1879. Lucinda Denham was a daughter of Cornelius and Lydia (Wells) Denham, 
natives of Massachusetts. Mr. Denham died in 1829, and his wife in 1848. Subject 
and wife have two sons, Collister F., born November 15, 1844 ; and Charles B., born 
October 21, 1848. The former was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and July 20, 
1866, married Estelle Cole, a native of Michigan, by whom he had four children : Byron 
L., who was educated in Canandaigua Academy and is at present a graduate of the 
Medical University of Buffalo, and in the practice of his profession ; George H., who 
was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and is in the Medical University of Buffalo; 
Lula A., a teacher, educated in Geneseo Normal School; and Nellie, educated in Can- 
andaigua Union School, also a teacher. Collister F. Craft learned the drug business 
in Medina, and afterwards went to Quincy, Mich., where he was in business for him- 
self several years. He returned to Gorham, and in 1887 he engaged in the insurance 
business, and has been very successful. He represents the ^' American," of Philadelphia ; 
'' Royal," of Liverpool ; and "Caledonian," of Scotland; the " ^Eneta Live Stock," of 
Glens Falls, and "Security Mutual Life Association," of Binghamton. He also deals 
in real estate. Mrs. Craft is a daughter of Lyman and Julia (Sherman) Cole, natives of 
Jefferson county, who went to Michigan in 1835, and died in Branch county, he in 
1882, and his wife in 1875. They had nine sons and four daughters. Charles B. Craft 
married, August 2, 1871, Martha A. Lewis, of Gorham, born September 9, 1850, a 
daughter of James G. Lewis, son of Sylvester, who came to Gorham in 1808. He died 
in 1873, and his wife in 1879. James G. Lewis was born in Gorham in 1822, and mar- 
ried Ellen Yan Busum, by whom he had one son and three daughters. Mrs. Lewis 
died in 1885, and the father lives on the old homestead. Charles B. Craft and wife 
have one son, Lewis M., a farmer. In politics Mr. Craft is a Democrat. 

Crosby, Theodore. In the year 1813 Enoch Crosby, with his wife and a large family 
of children, emigrated from Dutchess county to Ontario county and took up their abode 
in the town of Phelps, about one and one-half miles south of the village (then known 
as Vienna). Here both the pioneer and his faithful wife died, he aged seventy-seven and 
his wife seventy-nine years. In their family were twelve children, and all of them are 
dead but two : Alfred, of Phelps, and Theodore, of Canandaigua. Theodore Crosby, 
the subject of this sketch, was born in Dutchess county, November 7, 1802, hence, at 
the time of his father's removal to Phelps was a lad of eleven years. Until twenty-two 
years old Theodore lived at home and worked on the farm, but in 1824 he started out 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 53 

to make his own way in life. He married Melinda, daughter of Elam Crane, and at 
once moved to a farm near the city of Rochester, where he remained five years, then 
sold his farm and returned to Ontario county. One year later he bought a farm in 
Hopewell and there he lived until 1861, when he moved to the county seat"and devotes 
the remainder of his active business life to dealing in cattle, sheep and general stock. In 
this pursuit he is still engaged, and although ninety-one years of age still retains all his 
mental faculties and enjoys business life seemingly as well as he did half a century ago. 
From what we have stated here it must appear that Mr. Crosby has led a very busy 
life, and we may say in addition that, notwithstanding the multitude of his business 
transactions and operations, he has never been charged with unfairness or deceit • on 
the contrary, it is said by his old acquaintances and associates that his business has ever 
been characterized by straightforward honesty and integrity, and his success has been 
as well merited as it has been abundant. Mr. Crosby married Melinda Crane in 1825 and 
their married life extended throughout a period of sixty years, and until her death in 
1885, at the age of eighty years. Of their children only one grew to maturity, Mar- 
ietta, who became the wife of Charles Hopkins, and now lives in Canandaigua. 

Cass, Thomas, Geneva, was born in Corning, Steuben county, June 10, 1854, and 
came to Geneva with his parents in 1860. He was educated in the public schools and 
grew up in the nursery business with his father. In 1870 he and his brother, William, 
embarked in the nursery business, under the firm name of W. & T. Cass. In 1890 they 
added floriculture to the above, doing a successful business in both lines. William was 
also born in Corning and came here with the family as above noted. March 9 1881, 
he married Mary Horner, of Brattleboro', Yt., and they have these children : Mar- 
garet A., Frederick F., William C, Lewis J., and Thomas H. William Cass, sr., was 
born in Ireland in 1820, and married Margaret Jordan of his native place. They came 
to the United States, locating first in New York city, afterwards in Corning, and then 
as above stated, in Geneva. He died in 1889. His wife still survives him. 

Connolly, Robert E., Phelps, was born in Phelps, April 1, 1860, one of four children 
living of Andrew and Julia Connolly of this place. He engaged in the dry goods and 
grocery busmess in 1880 in company with E. J. Ryan. In 1888 Mr. Ryan withdrew 
from the firm, and since that time Mr. Connolly has continued the business alone. In 
that year he added a clothing department. He employs two men to assist him in the 
business, which is in a flourishing condition. He married, June 8, 1886, Mary A. Som- 
mers, of Hopewell, daughter of Daniel and Mary Sommers. They have two children. 
John E., and Marie. Mr. Connolly was appointed postmaster at Phelps, June 13 
1893. 

Case, Jerome J., Bristol, son of Isaiah, son of Jonathan J., was born in Bristol, No- 
vember 27, 1828. Isaiah was born in Dighton, Mass., December 5, 1794, and came 
with his parents to Bristol in early life. Later he married Rachel Reed, who Avas born 
in Hartford, Conn., November 18, 1797,. daughter of George and Nancy (Bushnell) 
Reed. Isaiah and wife had six sons and four daughters. He owned a farm in Bristol 
of 225 acres. They died in the same town, he on the 17th January, 1877, and she July 
7, 1882. Jerome J. was educated in the common schools and engaged in the pursuit of 



<54 tllSTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

farming, purchasing, in 1867, a farm of 103 acres for the sum of $5,300, upon which he 
has made additional improvements to the amount of $3,000. On March 10, 1853, he 
married Lucina Dunham, born in Saratoga county December 27, 1832. Her parents, 
Ephraim and Mary (Wood) Dunham, removed from that county to Bristol in the year 
1834, and to them were born eleven children. Jerome J. and wife have two sons and 
one daughter: Horace H., Annis L., and Sidney J. Horace H. was born in Bristol, 
July 7, 1855. He has devoted considerable time to instrumental music, but his chief 
occupation is farming, hops being one of his principal crops. On October 7, 1876, he 
married Julia Reardon, born in Bristol, August 18, 1852, daughter of Dennis and Cath- 
arine (Gordon) Reardon, natives of Ireland. Horace H. is a member of the People's 
party, and has been justice of the peace for four years. He is a member of Eagle 
Lodo^e, No. 619, F. and A. M., of Honeoye, and the Farmers' Alhance of Bristol. He 
has one son and two daughters: Don A., born October 29, 1878; Edna, born January 
11 1887; and Lovisa, born January 6, 1889. Annis L., wife of Wm. McLemale, was 
born November 8, 1861, and resides in Canandaigua. They have one daughter, Grace, 
born April 14, 1890. Sidney J. was born December 18, 1864, and lives at home, being 
a farmer and also a violinist. Jerome J. is a member of the People's party. He and 
his family attend the Universalist Church. 

Draper, James F., Victor, was born at White Creek, Washington county ; was edu- 
cated in the public schools and at the Tecumseh branch of the Michigan University- 
studied medicine with his grandfather, James Post, of Adrian, Mich.; graduated from 
Geneva Medical College in 1846; began practice at Saline, Mich., in that year. In 
1853 he went to Chicago, remaining there until 1866; returning to Saline for three 
years; came to Victor in 1869, where he is now engaged in the practice of his profes- 
sion. He married twice, first, January 27, 1855, Adelaide Haywood, of Saline, Mich.; 
they had one son, Frank J. Draper, who is traveling salesman in the west for a New 
York city shoe house; second, October 30, 1801, Mary A. Hutchins, of Victor, who 
was born in the house where they now reside. They have Lad five children, three 
survive : Allen H., Mary L., and Mabel. Allen H. has been m the shoe trade since 
boyhood, and is now with Eastwood & Son, Rochester. Dr. Draper's father, Phillip 
N. was born in Dutchess county in 1800, studying medicine with the same Dr. James 
Post, then of White Creek, N. Y., graduating from the New York University, marry- 
ing Sila A. Post, daughter of his preceptor, with whom he began practice. In 1825 he 
removed to Manchester, Ontario county, and died in 1827. He was a member of Man- 
chester Lodge, F. and A. M. The last recorded act of the lodge was the resolution to 
attend his funeral. His grandfather. Friend Draper, was a Methodist minister, well- 
known in Western New York, who spent his last years on a farm at Bellona, dying 
at the age of ninety-one. One of his ancestors, William Draper, commanded a com- 
pany of minute men, and died at his post of duty while an the Ticonderoga expedition. 
A number of his ancestors were revolutionary soldiers. The Drapers are of English 
extraction. 

Dickinson, Charles F., of Victor, was a son of Charles F. and Abigail (Jones) Dickin- 
son, and was born in Norfolk, Litchfield county, Conn., February 7, 1803. In 1818 he 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 55 

emigrated with his parents, sister and three brothers : Lemira, William D., George, and 
Arah P., to Victor, the family settling on Boughton Hill, on the farm now in the pos- 
session of the heirs of William D., the old homestead occupied by them being still 
standing. He received his education at Norfolk and Victor, and was married in Jan- 
uary, 1825, to Minerva C, daughter of Jared Boughton, of Boughton Hill. In 1826 he 
removed to Rush, N. Y., known also as Webster's Mills, where, in connection with his 
lirother-in-law, Charles S. Boughton, he engaged in milling and in general merchandis- 
ing. In November, 1829, his wife died, leaving one son, Charles B., born in 1829, now 
a resident of Ripon, Wis. In February, 1835, he was again married to Ann Eliza 
Adams, daughter of Green and Sophia (Boughton) Adams, the latter being a daughter 
of Enos Boughton. The children of this union were : Julia E., born at Rush in 1840 
who married in September, 1861, William R. Dryer, son of the late William C. Dryer, 
of Victor, and died in June, 1873; and Ellen A., born at Victor in 1848, who married 
in November, 1878, the late Col. Henry P. Underbill, of Baltimore, Md., after whose 
death in October, 1S89, she returned to Victor, and now resides there. During his resi- 
dence at Rush he also acquired an interest in the mercantile business -conducted by his 
brother, Arah P. Dickinson at Victor, and in April, 1843, disposing of his interest at 
Rush removed to Victor village, and in 1845 purchased a property on Boughton Hill 
which had been the old homestead of Enos Boughton. Here he rebuilt the old resi- 
dence, and occupied it as a home for several years, returning in 1853 to Victor village 
where he resided, somewhat impaired in health, and engaged in no active business, 
until his death, June 14, 1869. His widow survived him, occupying the home at Vic- 
tor until her death, April 3, 1892. Kind and genial in his manner, though quiet and 
retiring; declining poUtical preferment and position repeatedly offered ; of unimpeach- 
able integrity and uprightness; he commanded the fullest respect and confidence of his 
entire acquaintance, and his counsel and advice in private and public matters were often 
sought, and when so sought freely given. 

Ditmars, George F., Geneva, was born in Schuyler county, January 18, 1862. He 
graduated from Cornell University with the class of '84, was admitted as an attorney 
and counselor-at-law in 1885, and came to Geneva in 1886 and began the practice of 
his profession. By diligent effort he has secured an extensive practice, and is now the 
senior member of the firm of Ditmars & Wyckoff. He was instrumental in organizing 
the East Geneva Land Company, a corporation that purchased the land, platted and 
started the building up of the village of Border City, Seneca county. He now holds a 
number of important positions, is interested in several manufacturing enterprises, is 
treasurer of the New York State Business Men's Association, a trustee of the village of 
Geneva, and one of the executors of the estate of the late John V. Ditmars. 

Doty, Erastus R., Canandaigua, was born in Bristol, Ontario county, August 10, 1818, 
a son of Chester and Cynthia (Reed) Doty. Chester Doty was born in 1783, and had 
eight children, two of whom are living: William, a blacksmith of Centerfield; and 
Lucinda, widow of Cyrus Witter, of Michigan. Erastu? R. was the third son, and when 
a young man moved to Niagara county, where he followed farming until 1869. Re- 
turning to his native county, he bought a farm of seventy-two acres, where he lived 



56 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

until the fall of 1886, when he bought a place of twelve acres on which he built a 
beautiful residence. July 8, 1887, he died. Mr. Doty was a firm Republican, but his 
interest in public affairs was small, as his time was all given to home affairs and busi- 
ness. He married Elizabeth B. McNair, of Bristol, who died in 1862. He married, 
second, Melissa D. Bedell, of Niagara county, and they had two children : one who 
died in infancy, and Bert B. of Centrefield. Mrs. Doty died April 14, 1881, and he 
married third, December 27, 1881, Julia J., daughter of Norris Bedell, of Royalton, 
Niagara county, and widow of Alexander C. White, of the same town. Mrs. Doty has 
one child, Rosa L. White, wife of John L. Hook, of Michigan. 

Dove, John, Geneva, was born in Yorkshire, England, August 5, 1821, and was a son 
of William, who came to Geneva about 1830, and who was a contractor and builder. 
John Dove was a builder here for many years, and also a manufacturer of brick. His 
son, William G., was born in Geneva, November 5, 1847, received a common school 
education, and when seventeen years old went to work with his father at the mason's 
trade. When twenty-one years of age he formed a partnership with his father. He 
spent a year at Defiance, 0., making boxes for the Standard Oil Company. In the fall 
of 187!) he was elected county clerk, and served three years. He next engaged in real 
estate and building, and in 1889 bought his father's interest in the brick yard. In 1892 
he started anew yard, with a capacity of 1,500,000 brick per year. He has been high- 
way commissioner and collector of his town, is a Republiean, and takes an active part in 
politics. In 1877 he married Anna E., daughter of William Chipps, and has two sons : 
Arthur G. and Paul M. He is a member of the F. & A. M. (No. 33). He built Christ 
church at Rochester, Warner's cottage at the Thousand Islands, and the North Presby- 
terian church at Geneva, besides many other buildings of note. 

Dempsey, Dominick E., Geneva, son of Daniel and Mary (Hanlon) Dempsey, was 
born in Kings county, Ireland, in 1851, and when he was three years of age his parents 
came to America and settled, buying a farm whereon subject resided until 1870, when 
he came to Geneva and clerked for several years. In 1877 he opened a wholesale and 
retail liquor store, and is the only dealer in the county having a wholesale liquor license^ 
In 1878 he married Mary O'Mally, of Geneva, and has one child, Mary Agnes. 

Deuel, George M., Canandaigua, was born in South Bristol, March 25, 1844, a son of 
Samuel H. and Priscilla W. (Randall) Deuel. The grandfather, Daniel, was a native of 
Dutchess county, and had six children. Samuel H. was born in Dutchess county, 
August 23, 1811, and came to Bristol about 1832, and married Almyra Coville and they 
had four children ; three died in infancy, and Joseph C. lived to be twenty-one years 
of age, dying August 2, 1858. Mrs. Deuel died December 26, 1839, aged twenty-seven 
years, and he married second Priscilla W. Randall, and they had one son, George M. 
Samuel Deuel enlisted in Company A, Eighth New York Cavalry, in November, 1862, 
and was killed at Berry ville by guerillas on his way to Winchester. The boyhood of 
George M. was spent in South Bristol, Canandaigua, Ontario, and Wayne county. He 
was seventeen years old when he began learning the harnessmaker's trade, at which he 
worked one year, and for one year worked on a farm. In 1872 he bought his present 
grain and dairy farm of seventy-three acres. In politics he is a Republican, and in 1887 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 57 

was elected commissioner of highways. He married in 1S64 Keziah V., daughter of 
Alonzo B. Lucas, of Canandaigua, who was a soldier in the One Hundred and Twenty - 
sixth Regiment in the Rebellion, and died October 5, 1892, aged seventy-two year.«, 
and they have four children: Myra A., wife of Alexander Hunn, of Bristol; Franklin 
H., married Eva Stiles, a farmer of Canandaigua; Louisa M., wife of William Montanye, 
of Canandaigua; and George M., who lives at home. 

Dibble, Newton Ward, West Bloomfield, was born in Stone Church, Genesee county, 
September 15, 1848. His father, Charles, at the age of twelve came with his father; 
Sineus, from Sheffield, Mass., to East Bloomfield in 1821, and soon after went with his 
parents to Stone Church, where he spent his early manhood. About 1851 he returned 
to East Bloomfield, where he followed farming until about 188,3, when he retired from 
active work and took up his residence in the village. He married in 1827 Eunice Ward, 
born in Connecticut in 1809, but a resident of Stone Church, by whom he had six 
children : Charles Adelbert, Maria L. and Mary (twins), Sineus Bridgeman, Cassius 
Horatio, and Newton Ward. His wife's father, John Ward, came from Connecticut, 
bringing with him his family to Stone Church. Newton Ward Dibble, son of Charles, 
came from Bergen with his parents in 1851 and graduated from East Bloomfield Acad- 
emy, then worked on his father's farm till twenty- three years old. In 1873 he removed 
to Massachusetts and carried on a coal and lumber business for three years, since which 
time he has engaged mostly in buying and selling produce at Miller's Corners. In 1870 
he married Emma Bennett, daughter of Abel Bennett, of East Bloomfield, and they 
have three children : Maria Louise, Leslie Newton and Henry. Mr. Dibble lives at 
Miller's Corners and is the present supervisor. Abel Bennett, father of Mrs. Dibble, 
was a native of Massachusetts, and lived many years in Nelson, Madison county. In 
1867 he came to East Bloomfield, where he died in 1886. His wife was Jane Keith, of 
Nelson, who is now living with her son at East Bloomfield. 

Dwyer, John J., Canandaigua, was born in Ireland in 1844, and when five years old 
left there with his parents for this country, locating in Canandaigua, where his whole 
life has been spent. His education was received in the common schools, and at the 
age of sixteen he went to work for the Northern Central Railroad, where he remained 
for about seven years, and then opened a saloon on Main street, Canandaigua, which 
he conducted until 1884, when he started the brokerage business, giving that up after 
two years to take up the insurance business, which he still conducts. In 1869 he was 
appointed deputy sheriff by Sheriffs Clark and Cheney, which office he held six years. 
In 1888 Mr. Dwyer was elected on the Democrat ticket to the office of police justice of 
Canandaigua, and in 1892 he was renominated on the Democrat ticket and endorsed by 
the Republicans. He is a member of the A. 0. U. W. and the C. M. B. A., and was a 
member of the Canandaigua Fire Department for seventeen years. 

Day, Henry N., Canandaigua, was born in the town of Ogden, Monroe county. May 
20, 1850. The earliest ancestor we find trace of was Eliphalet Day, who was born in 
Washington county, July 31, 1788. He came from that county to Monroe county in 
1837, where he died June 28, 1858. He was the father of ten children, four of whom 
are living; Oliver H., a retired farmer of Niagara Falls city ; Samuel E , of Spencer- 

h 



58 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

port, Monroe county ; Harriet Frances, widow of William Beadle of Canyon City, 
Colo. ; and Spencer E. Day of Churchville, Monroe county. Oliver H. Day, the first 
son, and father of our subject, was born in Washington county, September 11, 1816. 
His boyhood was spent in the county of his birth, and he was twenty-one years of age 
when his parents moved to Monroe county. He assisted on his father's farm until he 
married and then bought a farm for himself, but kept this one but three or four years, 
and after a year spent on another farm, he moved to Niagara in 1853, where he bought 
a farm of 200 acres, built stock yards and had a contract for feeding stock for the N. 
Y. C. R. R. Co., a business he was engaged m for five years. He was married October 
7, 1841, to Julia M. Wilder of Attica, and they are the parents of six children, five of 
whom are living: Helen D. Hawley of Round Grove, 111.; Eliza Davis of Buffalo; J. 
Marion Todd of Suspension Bridge; Oliver W. of Buffalo, and Henry N., our subject. 
The early life of our subject after he was three years old was spent in Niagara county. 
He was educated in the common schools, at Brockport Normal School, and Deveaux 
College at Niagara. In 1880 he established the first evaporator in Niagara, which he 
conducted for tvs^elve years, and from 1883 he conducted a farm in Niagara county 
which he gave up in 1891, and February 4 of that year he bought the 0. B. Sackett 
farm in Canandaigua. This is one of the best farms In Canandaigua, containing 200 
acres. The principal products are grain, hay and stock. Mr. Day and wife are mem- 
merabers of the Presbyterian church of Canandaigua. He married. May 16, 1883, 
Elizabeth K. Leach of Lyons, and had four children : Clarence Oliver, born Decem- 
ber 30, 1884, died June 12, 1893 ; Henry Ralph, born June 8. 1886 ; Edna Louise, born 
April 21, 1888 ; and Albert Leach, born April 10, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Day, parents 
of subject, still live in Niagara Falls, where they are spending a happy old age. 

Depue, Jno., Hopewell, was born in Hopewell, on the farm he now owns, three 
miles east of Canandaigua. His father, Moses, was born in 1756 in Sussex county, N. ' 
J., where he resided man}^ years. About 1806 he came to New York State and settled 
where subject now lives. The family descended from the French Huguenots. Three 
brothers, on account of persecutions, left France for Holland, thence to England and 
westward to America; settled near New York, one on the east side of the Hudson 
River, the others in New Jersey. They participated in the French and Indian war 
One took part in the Revolution of 1776. Benjamin Depue lived and died in Sussex 
county. His wife, Ocee Stuyvesant, was a descendant of Peter Stuyvesant. These 
were the parents of Moses Depue, father of Jno. Depue. 

Douglass, Samuel, Canandaigua, was born in Pittstovs'n, Rensselaer county, March 5 
1825. The grandfather, Samuel, was born in Rensselaer county about 1750. He mar- 
ried second, Priscilla Wood; and they had one son, Samuel, the father of subject. He 
was born in Rensselaer county, December 5, 1802. Until the last few years of his life 
he always made his home in this town, and was a very prominent man. He was super- 
visor a number of terms, and in 1844 was elected assemblyman from his district. In 
politics he was a strong Democrat until the war, when he became a Republican. He 
married at twenty-two years Asenath, daughter of Stephen Sherman, a native of Rhode 
Island, who lived in Rensselaer county, and they had eight children, six surviving: 



i'AMILY SKETCHES. 59 

George, in the mercantile business in New York; Mary S., wife of Nathaniel GifFord, 
of Canandaigua; Sarah Frances, wife of James Halkin, of Indian Territory; John, of 
Troy; Ellen, of Canandaigua ; and Samuel. Samuel, the father, died February 2. 1884, 
and his wife died June 21, 1886. The early life of our subject was spent in Rensselaer 
county. In politics Mr. Douglass is a Prohibitionist. He has been assessor of his town 
and he and his family are members of the Methodist Church. He married in 1847 
AVaity, daughter of Nathaniel Gifford, of Rensselaer county, and they have six children : 
Caroline A. ; Phoebe E.. wife of Isaiah Case, of Canandaigua ; Mary M., who lives at 
home ; Fred G. ; Estella F., wife of Ira P. Cribb ; and James S., who conducts his 
father's farm. He was educated in the common schools and at a select school. He as- 
sisted on his father's farm until about twenty-four years of age, when he bought a 
place for himself, which he conducted until 1857, when he bought seventy acres on the 
west shore of Canandaigua Lake, which he conducted for ten years, and then bought 
170 acres where he now resides. He has since added 106 acres to it, making one laro-e 
farm of 276 acres, devoted to hay and stock. 

Donnelly Peter, Victor, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, November 14 1822. 
October 28, 1843, he married Catherine McNeilly, of County Down, and they have eif^ht 
children ; four were born in Ireland and four in the United States. In July, 1850, thev 
came to America, locating at Canandaigua. Mr. Donnelly was educated in the Queen's 
College at Belfast, was also trained in the National Training School for school teachers 
at Dublin. He taught school in Ireland e'ght years. Upon his arrival here he tauo-ht 
school six months, devoting his time mornings and evenings assisting the agent a Mr. 
Ross, with his accounts. In the fall of 1850 he was appointed genera] ticket agent of 
the Elmira, Canandaigua and Niagara Falls Railway Company, which position he filled 
until 1859, when the company failed. He was retained a year to close up the accounts. 
In 1861 he spent conisderable time traveling- in the West. In the fall of 1861 he tauo-ht 
school at Seneca Falls, and afterwards entered the employ of the New York Central, 
assisting the station agent, McFaggan. On the 11th of June, 1864, he received the ap- 
pointment of station agent at Canandaigua from the president of the New York Central 
Railroad Company, Dean Richmond, and held the position until he died March 19, 1886. ' 
His honesty and integrity were appreciated by the railway company, and his obliging 
and pleasing manners by the traveling public. 

De Bow, James C, Farmington, was born in Canandaigua, May 30, 1832. He was 
educated in the common schools and Canandaigua Academy, and has always followed 
farming. October 14, 1856, he married Luzetta, youngest child of twelve living of 
Leonard and Marcy Knapp of the town of Hopewell. They have two children, both 
sons, Hiram and Jefferson T. ; both were well educated at Canandaigua Academy and 
Rochester Business University, and are farmers at home. Mr. De Bow's father. Garret, 
was born in the Mohawk valley in 1798, and came with his parents to the town of 
Canandaigua when a year old. He married Almira Thurber, formerly of New Hamp- 
shire, and they had two children : James C, and Mary J., who married Thomas W 
Cost of Hopewell. Mr. De Bow's grandfather, John, was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
War from this State. Mrs. De Bow's father, Leonard Knapp, was born in Rensselaer 
county in the year 1785, and came with his parents to Hopewell when eighteen years 



go fitSTORt 05* ONTAftiO COUNt^. 

old. He married Marcy Brown of that town (born in New Lebanon, R. I.), and they 
had twelve children who grew to maturity : Lucinda, Chloe, Clema, Leonard H., Sally 
A., Henry, Marcy, Elizabeth, Fidelia, B. Franklin, Hiram, and M. Luzetta. Mrs. De- 
Bow's father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and both families were among the first 
settlers. Mr. De Bow is a Democrat. Henry F. Thurber, recently appointed private 
secretary to President Cleveland, is a first cousin to James C. De Bow, and is a son of 
Jefferson Thurber. 

Day, Rev. Samuel Mills, Richmond, is of the seventh generation from Ralph Day, 
who came from England in 1G36 and settled in Dedham, Mass. Our subject was born 
in Richmond, August 8, 1827. His grandfather, Orion, or Orin, a native of Dedham, 
enlisted in the army of the Revolution at the age of seventeen. He was at West Point 
at the time of Arnold's treason, and remembered well the anxiety of Washington when 
reviewing the troops at that place. After the war he married Joanna Everett of Ded- 
ham, and settled in Sharon, Vt. They had eight children, of whom Warren, the oldest, 
was born October 1, 1789. He graduated in 1814 from Dartmouth College, and there had 
private instruction in theological studies. He came with his young wife, Sarah Kel- 
logg of Hanover, N. H., to Richmond in 181G as a licentiate, and began his ministry 
here at the First Congregational church of Richmond Center. He was ordained and 
installed pastor of the church March 3, 1819, and remained until November, 1828. He 
then went to Orangeville and was pastor of the church there two years. He was agent 
of the American Tract Society at Geneva seven years, pastor at Enfield four years, 
returned here, and was pastor of the Center Chprch five years. He went again to 
Orangeville and was pastor a second time four years, after which he resided with his 
son. Dr. Fisk H. Day, in Wauwatosa, a suburb of Milwaukee, nine years. In 1865 he 
returned to Richmond the third time, making his home with his son, S. Mills, until his 
death in 1864, May 19. He was buried in the old cemetery at Richmond Center, and 
two years later a monument was erected to his memory by his old parishioners and his 
sons and daughters. By his first wife he had four children: Orrin W., who died 
early ; Ann D., wife of Charles Works of Rockford, 111. ; Mary Lydia, wife of John 
Allington of Freeport, 111. ; and Parsons Everett, a lawyer and real estate dealer of 
Brooklyn. He married a second time in 1823, Lydia L. Holbrook of Rushville, a native 
of Cummington, Mass., and a schoolmate and near neighbor of William Cullen Bryant. 
She died July 14, 1880. Their children were : Sarah, wife of the late Marcus C. 
Riggs of New York; Fisk Holbrook, M. D., now of Milwaukee, Wis. ; S. Mills, Edward 
Warren, and Warren Edward. The last two died young. S. Mills Day graduated 
with honors from Union College, class of 1850, where he delivered the valedictory 
address. He pursued theological studies at Auburn, graduated in the class of 1852, 
and was ordained and installed pastor of the Presbyterian church at Hammondsport, 
June 30 of that year. In April, 1857, he went to Havana, N. Y., and was pastor of the 
Presbyterian church there four and a quarter years. In 1862 he became pastor of the 
Congregational church at Honeoye, and has been here in that capacity ever since. He 
married in 1852 Lucy E. Maxwell of Geneva, a sister of the Maxwell brothers, the well 
known nurserymen there. Their children are: Fannie Maxwell, born in 1853, died in 
1875; Minnie Everett, born in 1855, wife of George Patterson, a blacksmith and jus- 



t^AMlLY SKETCHES. 61 

tice of the peace of this town ; Maxwell Warren, born in 1865, graduated at Williams 
College in 1887, now an electrical engineer at Lynn, Mass. ; and Lucy Holbrook, born 
in 1866, wife of Warren McNair, stenographer, of Springfield, 0. For more' than 
thirty years Mr. Day has been pastor here, during which time the changes and inci- 
dents that have occurred would make an interesting volume. 

Dixon, Walter J., West "Bloomfield, a native of Mayfield, Fulton county, came with 
his father Jacob to Gorham in 1826. He was born August 28, 1814, and died August 
16, 1891. He began his business career by working a farm at East Bloomfield for 
Mrs. Pairchild, and later came to Gorham, near Reed's Corners. He married Adaline 
Roat, a native of Jerusalem, Yates county, and daughter of John Roat of Orange 
county, who settled in Gorham near Hopewell, where he died. Walter lived twenty- 
seven years in Gorham and came to this town in 1863, where he bought the farm now 
occupied by his widow and her daughter Addie. He was supervisor here two years, 
and was a Democrat. Of the three daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Dixon, the oldest. Mary 
L., married H. A. Metcalf, and died in Lima. Hannah E. married Thomas Lubbock 
and resides near Battle Creek, Mich. Addie, the youngest daughter, resides at 
home. 

Dryer, William R., Victor, was born in Victor, February 3, 1841. He was educated 
in the public schools and Lima Seminary. He was discount clerk in the Flour City 
Bank of Rochester three years; bookkeeper in the State Treasurer's office in Albany 
four years until 1879, and after this became cashier of the First National Bank of 
Abilene, Kan., for five years, returning to Rochester in 1885. For some time he has 
been vice-president of the Genesee National Savings and Loan Association of Rochester. 
September 18, 1861, he married Julia E., daughter of Charles F. Dickinson of Victor 
who died June 1, 1873. They had two children, Carrie E., who married Prof. Elmer 
Sherman of Port Jervis, and died in November, 1886; and William C, a farmer on the 
old homestead, who married Clara Outhouse of Canandaigua, and they have one son, 
Truman C. Mr. Dryer's father, William C, was born in Victor, March 28, 1810, and 
married Phoebe M. Ball, sister of Drs. Wm. and Chas. Ball, of that place. He died in 
Victor, February 21, 1891. They had two children: William R., and Caroline C, 
who died when sixteen years old. Mr. Dryer's grandfather, Rufus, was born in Stock- 
bridge, Mass., in 1780, and came to Victor in 1798. He married Lydia Cobb in 1804, 
formerly of Conway, Mass. They had five children: Selecta, Minerva, George, Will- 
iam and Truman. His grandfather was a R. A. Mason, and his father a Master 
Mason, and Mr. Dryer himself a thirty-second degree Mason. In politics the family 
have always affiliated with the Democratic party. His father was postmaster under 
General Jackson and others for twelve years, was United States marshal four years 
under Buchanan's administration, a presidential elector several times, and member of 
the Democratic State Committee ten years. 

Davison, Calvin P., East Bloomfield, a native of West Bloomfield, was born July 3, 
1824, a son of Enoch S., a son of Christopher, a native of Connecticut, who there lived 
and died. Enoch S. was born in Connecticut in 1802, and was reared as a mason. He 
came to West Bloomfield in 1822, and there married Lucretia S. Beebe, a native of 



e^ History of Ontario county. 

West Bloomfield, and daughter of Adonijah M. Beebe, a native of Connecticut, and an 
early settler of West Bloomfield. He had four sons and four daughters. The death of 
Mr. Davison occurred in 1890, and that of his wife in 1881. Calvin P. received a 
common school education, and early in life learned the mason's trade, and followed it a 
number of years. In 1867 he came to East Bloomfield and purchased seventy-seven 
acres of land, and has there since resided. In politics he is a Republican. In 1857 
Calvin married Ann C. Chase, a native of West Bloomfield and a daughter of Joseph 
Chase of that place, and they had one son, Frank J., born May 15, 1859. He received 
an academic education, and is a farmer. Mr. Calvin and family attend and support the 
Conf^regational church at East Bloomfield, of which his wife is a member. 

Doolittle, Frank, Canadice, was born here May 4, 1S51. He was educated in the 
common and Honeoye Select Schools. His father, William S., was a native of Ver- 
mont and came with his parents at the age of nine years to Canadice. The latter was 
a son of Thomas Doolittle, and married Cleora, daughter of John Adams, whose farm 
he subsequently purchased and located upon, and where Frank now resides. There 
were four children, one of whom died in infancy. Lucy Jane married Sydney Gaskey ; 
Eliza P. deceased, was the first wife of D. W. Beam. Frank Doolittle married in 1871 
Emma Hartson, daughter of Asa Hartson of this town, and they have had four chil- 
dren : Arthur, born May 12. 1873 ; Jennie B., born May 8, 1877 ; Claud D., born Feb- 
ruary 3, 1886; and Bessie L., born July 24, 1887. Mr. Doolittle follows farming, and 
has 240 acres in the north part of the town. His father built the residence about 1864. 
Frank is a Republican, and has been collector two years. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the M. E. church. 

Dewey Eugene B., Victor, was born in the village of Victor, November 7, 1833, was 
educated in the district schools and has always been a farmer. November 7, 1857, he 
married Augusta Cooper, of the town of Farmington, and they have had two children : 
T. Emmett wh'^ married Arra Etter, of Abilene, Kan., where they reside ; and Bernie, 
who resides at home with his father. Mrs. Dewey died March 31, 1876. Mr. Dewey's 
father. Lanson, was born in Madison county, April 2, 1805, and came to this place 
Auo-ust 14 1826. He was a farmer by occupation. He married Mary E. Felt, of Vic- 
tor and they had five children, all living: Bernard M. ; Eugene B. ; Gertrude, who 
married James Frost, of Victor ; Ellen, who married Peter Plumb ; Ida M., who mar- 
ried Marvin A. Wilber, now of Victor. Mr. Dewey's father was supervisor of the 
town eleven years, and represented the assembly district in the Legislature two terms, 
1862 and 1863. He died the last week of February, 1886, and his mother about the 
year of 1852. 

Dake, M.D., Mrs. Addie B. Crowley, was born in Mount Morris, Livingston county, 
and graduated from Cleveland Homreopathic Medical College in 1886. She settled in 
Geneva, where she has since practiced medicine, making a specialty of women's and 
children's diseases. 

Dakin, Elbridge, Geneva, was born in Concord, Mass., October 19, 1802, and came to 
this.State when a young man. He located first in Buffalo, and soon after in Geneva, 
where he resided and conducted business. He married first Mary Ann Brizee, of Ge- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 63 

neva, by whom he had one son, George Brizee, who died in 1859; and second Mrs. 
Nancy Stearns Spalding, of Gorham, Ontario county. They had two daughters and a son : 
Sarah P., wife of Elisha C. Deane, of Buffalo, by whom she had two children : Isabella 
S., and Elbridge G. ; William 0., who married Eveline Shepard, of Toledo, 0. ; and 
Mary 0., who lives in Geneva. Mrs. Dakin died April 12, 1881, and Mr. Dakin March 
4, 1893, in his ninety- first year. He was the oldest Mason m this part of the State 
being'a member of Ark Lodge No. 33 of Geneva F. & A. M., and its treasurer over 
thirty years. He was a man of integrity in all his dealings with his fellow rnen. He 
conducted a coal and wood, Portland and Akron cement business for more than thirty 
years on Castle street. His great-grandfather, Colonel Barrett, on his mother's side, 
commanded at the battle of Concord, Mass. 

Ellis, Bolivar, Victor, was born in Victor, February 25, 1833. He was educated in 
the public schools, and in early life was a farmer, surveyor, and conveyancer many 
years. Has been supervisor of his town three years, and justice of the peace twenty- 
four years. In the fall of 1882 he was elected county clerk and served three years. 
Was also loan commissioner three years. Mr. Ellis is a member of Milnor Lodge No. 
139 F. & A. M., and has been its master for some years. He is a member of the Ex- 
celsior Chapter No. 1G4 R. A. M. of Canandaigua, and of Munroe Commandery K. T. 
No. 12 of Rochester. June 30, 1874, he married Frances M., daughter of Jacob L. and 
Joannah (Farr) Lobdell, of V'ictor, and they have one daughter, Isabel. Mr. Ellis's 
father, Henry, was born in the town of Florida, Montgomery county, December 10, 
1798, and was a farmer. December 29, 1823, he married Isabel Bennett, of Duanes- 
burg, Schenectady county, and came to Victor April 5, 1824. They had six children, 
four survive : Nancy M., who married Thomas C. Turner (now deceased) ; Jane E., who 
married James B. North (deceased) ; Bolivar, and Daniel. Mr, Ellis's father, Samuel, 
was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The ancestry of the family is Welsh and 
Scotch. Mr. Ellis is one of the deacons in the Universalist Church. 

Ellis, James A., Canandaigua, was born in Fleming, June 3, 1839, a son of Arthur, a 
farmer of that town. When fourteen years of age he went to Honeoye, where he 
served his apprenticeship of four years as a gunmaker. In the spring of 1862 he came 
to Canandaigua, where he joined in partnership with Lefevre in manufacturing guns, 
and was with him five years. In 1867 Mr. Ellis bought out the interest of his partner 
and has ever since conducted the business alone at 157 Main street, where he handles 
hardware, sporting goods, cutlery, etc. He is a Mason, a member of Canandaigua 
Lodge No. 294. He married in February, 1869. Martha S. Robertson, of Canandaigua, 
and they have five children : Arthur C, a clerk in the New York Central freight office; 
Ada E., Ina M., Herbert J., and George Robertson. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis are members 
pf the Congregational Church of Canandaigwa. 

Eddy, Charles A., Geneva, was born in Smithville, Chenango county, August 26, 1854. 
He was educated in the public schools. His early years were spent on a farm until the 
age of twenty- one, when he learned the carriage trade at McDonough in that county, 
and worked at it in various places until he came to Waterloo. There he worked six 
years when the Seneca Falls Carriage Company was formed, Mr, Eddy being its super- 



64 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

intendent. In the spring of 1891 the Geneva Carriage Company was incorporated with 
a capital of $30,000, afterwards increased to $50,000. Mr. Eddy is superintendent of 
this company. Mr. Morrell is one of its directors. This company has from its incep- 
tion been a success. June 23, 1887, he married Belle M., only daughter of Isaac and 
Elizabeth Ide, of Waterloo, and they have two children, Francis B., and Blanche L. 
The Eddy family is one of the oldest in the county. Mrs. Eddy's father, Isaac Ide, was 
born in Geneva, January 15, 1835; he married Elizabeth Mensch, of Waterloo, and 
they had two children : Belle M. and Frank P. Mr. Eddy is a partner with Mr. Morrell 
in two valuable inventions in connection with the carriage business. 

Embry, Frank W., Victor, was born in Victor, April IG, 1845. He was educated in 
the public schools and Eastman's Commercial College at Poughkeepsie, from which in- 
stitution he was graduated in May, 1864. May 7, 1878, he married Florence L. Ellis, 
of Weedsport. Mr. Erabry's father, Thomas, was born at Arlington, Vt., November 
28, 1804, and came to this State when fifteen years old, locating in Avon and after- 
ward in Victor, where he became a prominent merchant. In the year 1835 he built 
the stone store recently destroyed by fire. February 12, 1828, he married Sarah Wil- 
cox of that village, who was one of the teachers in the public schools. Later on he 
became a farmer, and followed that vocation for twenty-eight years. In the year 1865 
he returned to the village and lived a retired life. He died November 5, 1890, and his 
wife February 22, 1886. December 14, 1864, Mr. Embry entered the employ of the 
New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company at Syracuse, as a clerk in the 
freight house. He came to Rochester August 25, 1867, and was employed at the Roch- 
ester station in the same capacity until December 31, 1873. He then resigned to accept 
the management of the Merchants'. Despatch Transportation Company, which position 
he held until June 13, 1877, when he was made freight agent of the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. 
R. Co., succeeding the late W. H. Cumings, which position he holds at the present time, 
1893. At the time the New York Central leased the West Shore and Rome, Water- 
town & Ogdensburg railroads, Mr. Embry was made agent of those roads also, and still 
holds that position. Mr. Embry is a member of the Athletic Club, Point Look Out Club, 
Rochester Whist Club, Frank R. Lawrence Lodge, F. & A. M., Monroe Commandery 
K. T. No. 12, Rochester Consistory of Scottish Rite, and is also a member of the Re- 
form Club of New York city, of which Hon. Chas. S, Fairchild is president. He is a 
member of Christ Church parish; and in politics he is a Democrat. 

Elton, Jabez, West Bloomfield, came from Bristol, Conn., to Canandaigua about 
1816. He was a farmer and married in Connecticut Olive Holcomb. Their children 
were: Sarah, James, Noah, Eliza, Luther, Lovina, Nathaniel, Hiram, Nancy and John. 
Nathaniel moved to Richmond about 1833. He married in 1841 Mary J. Paul. They 
subsequently lived in Farmington and Perrington, and came to this town in 1854^ 
Nathaniel was a farmer and produce dealer. Their children were : John" P., James, 
and Mary E., wife of John M. Baker, of Bristol. Nathaniel died April 1, 1883. John 
was born September 4, 1843. He was a farmer and hay dealer, and was supervisor of 
the town in 1886. He married Jennie C. Leach. They iiad born to them four chil- 
dren: L. May, 0. Louise, Alice P., and Richard.'^: John died Noveiiber 19. 1890. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 65 

James was born October 27, 1845. He is a farmer and hay dealer. His fine farm is 
on the State road, midway between the village and East Bloomfield line. He married 
in 1877 Alida E. Shepard, and they have three children: Raymond J., Carlotta A., and 
Leila J. Mr. Elton was formerly a Democrat, but some years ago he was a member of 
the grand jury when seventy-seven were indicted, over seventy of which were liquor 
cases. He and some others of the jury have since this been Prohibitionists. Mrs. 
Nathaniel Elton now makes her home with her son. Her father and grandfather were 
both named William Paul and came from Massachusetts at an early day to this town. 
Her father returned to Massachusetts in 1811 and married Prudance Case. They lived 
in the south part of the town on the line of Richmond and had seven children. 

Eldridge, Thomas, Canadice, was born December 20, 1836, in Naples. His father, 
Barber Eldridge, of French descent, came from Connecticut about 1813, and married 
Lucy Ann Koon of Springwater, where they lived most of the time, and where he died 
in 1863, aged fifty-three years. His widow survives him, aged seventy-eight years. 
Of their eight children six are now living : John M , now of Yates county ; Charles, of 
Springwater ; Lucy Ann, who married and died in Branch county, Mich.; Thomas, of 
this town ; Harriett, married and lives in Michigan ; Barber, died in Springwater; Sarah 
Jane, now living in Livonia ; and Harrison, who resides in Springwater. Thomas was 
educated in the common scnools, and worked at farming. In 1860 he married Ellen 
D. Purcell, who was born February 11, 1837, a daughter of WiUiam and Jane Purcell, 
of Springwater. The same year they s^ettled on the farm they now occupy, which he, 
Eldridge purchased of the heirs of Homer Blake. He built^ his residence in 1870. 
They have two children : William B., born June 29. 1865, who married Minnie Henry, 
and is a farmer of this town, and Emma E., born November 13, 1869, wife of Edmund 
Doolittle, of Springwater. Mr. Eldridge has 100 acres in his home farm, and fifty- one 
acres in Springwater. He is engaged in the raising of thoroughbred Oxforddown 
sheep, and also horses. He has been highway commissioner two years and assessor 
three years. He was supervisor in 1888-89. 

Frisbie, Dr. William, Phelps, was born in Saratoga county. May 22, 1769. He at- 
tended lectures at the Medical College of Albany, Avhere he graduate! He was the 
first physician of that name that came to the village of Vienna, Ontario county. It was 
afterwards called Phelps, and is now known by that name. In the year 1819 he moved 
with his wife (Elizabeth Davidson, of Peterboro, N. H.) and their six children, from 
Pittsford, Rutland county, Vt., to Phelps. He resumed his practice of medicine ; he 
was eminent in his profession, a man of great moral worth, and exerted a strong and 
healthful religious influence in the town ; he continued steadfast in the maintenance of 
sound principles, beloved and honored until his death, which occurred at Phelps in 
1857. His oldest son. Dr. E. Willard Frisbie, was born at Pittsford, Vt., on May 12, 
1799. He came to Phelps when he was twenty years old, having graduated at Castle- 
ton, Vt., about the time the family removed to Phelps. He went into practice with 
his father, who had a large and extensive business; they owned an acre of land, which 
was a beautiful garden, in the center of the east village, just across from the old Ed- 
monston tavern. When the boom struck the town in 1837 he sold it and purchased 



66 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

the Redfield property, just half a mile west of the village, on the street leading to Clif- 
ton Springs. Herein this ample and beautiful Christian home, the pooi- and outcast of all 
classes and color found a shelter ; it was renowned for being one of the Underground 
Railroad stations. Here the drunkard or homeless found firm friends in the doctor and 
his wife (who was Miss Sophronia Boynton, the second daughter of Hon. Jonathan 
Boynton, of Walworth, Wayne county.) They had six children : Ann Elizabeth, Frances 
Maria, William, Irene Caroline (who died at Phelps, 1857), Garret S. and Mary Boyn- 
ton. Garret S. Frisbie is the only one of the family who is living now at Phelps. He 
married Jane Hubbell, the only child of Geo. Hubbell, of Phelps. They have four 
children : Gertrude, Julia Etta, (xeorgia, and Charles. 

Died, at his residence in Phelps, Ontario county, near Clifton Springs, on Tuesday, 
July 31, 1860, Doctor E. Willard Frisbie. 

Doctor Frisbie had for many years been extensively known. He was eminently a 
religious man and devoted much of his time, talents and substance to the cause of 
benevolence. He was among the first to embrace the doctrines and practice of temper- 
ance, and his love of liberty was no silent, calculating sentimentalism, but a living, fear- 
less, outspoken principle, and regarding all men as made by the great Author of our 
being of one blood, and entitled to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, he claimed 
equal freedom for all. His education with his strong and well disciphned mind enabled 
him to make his influence felt. In the early periods of these reforms he experienced 
the truth of the declaration that "they that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer 
persecution," and it was none the less trying to have a full share of this persecution 
come from the church. His name has often been before the public as the nominee of 
the Liberty Party for high and responsible offices, and more than once as member of 
congress. At times his oppressors manifested great bitterness and hatred at the re- 
forms he advocated, yet such was his dignity and his justice that could but respect the 
the man. His course has been onward, never turning to the right nor left for popular 
favor. An incident is remembered which was so characteristic that we give it a record : 
At the first celebration of the West India Erjancipation at Geneva, about the year 
1840, a large number had gathered under the call and direction of a very respectable 
committee of colored people. A procession was formed with a band of music and with 
appropriate banners. But it was soon discovered that the procession was made up 
wholly of colored people except Doctor Frisbie, and the writer [the writer here referred 
to was his beloved friend, Hon. Henry Bradley, of Penn Yan], who, without thought 
or concert, had dropped into the line side by side, attracting the gaze and it was under- 
stood the sneeis of the fastidious and the refined, who thought they were opposed to 
amalgamation. On Monday night Doctor Frisbie went into his door yard to nurse a 
sick young horse. Thehoroe in its struggles kicked the doctor, striking him in the ab- 
domen. He returned to his house and told his family that he was fatally wounded. 
Viewing death as near at hand and certain, it might be expected that he would repent 
of his past ultraisms and adopt the popular conservatism to die by. Not so, he met 
death in twenty hours without shrinking, and died as he lived, a Christisn. 

Fisher, Charles, Victor, was born in Stockbridge, Mass.. November 30, 1796, and 
canie with his parents to Woodstock, Madison county, when he was two months old, 
and afterwards, in the year 1811, to Henrietta, Monroe county. In the year of 1814 he 
located permanently at Fisher's, in the town of Victor. He was among the earliest 
settlers here, and the place was named after him. He was justice of the peace for a 
term of years, postmaster, and entertained travelers until there was a ho'el started in 
the place. He married twice, first July 29, 1821, Rebeckah Gaskell, of Victor. They 



Family sketches. 67 

had two sons and three daughters : Harriet, Charles, now of Newton, Kansas, Altnira, 
Robert, an attorney of Victor village, and Mary R. Mrs. Fisher died September 7, 
1S48, and he married second Helen J. Pardee, on October 21, 1860. They had two 
sons: Henry P., born December, 27, 1851, died June 25, 1893, who married Lucy E. 
Bushman, November 9, 1875, and htd two children: Clara and Charles. William F. 
was born March 9, 1854; September 6, 1882, he married Addie C, daughter of Almon 
and Emily Preston, of Battle Creek, Mich. They have two sons, Almon P. and Henry 
S. Mr. Fisher was a producce dealer with his brother for some time, but is now farm- 
ing on the old homestead. He is a member of Milner Lodge, No. 139, F. & A. M., 
Victor, and Excelsior Chapter, No. 16-4, R. A.M., Canandaigua. 

Fisher, Henry P., Victor, was born at Fisher's, Victor, December 27, 1851. He was 
educated in the public schools, was a produce dealer for some time, aijd later a farmer. 
November 9, 1875, he married Lucy E., daughter of Abner and Phoebe P. (King) 
Bushman, of East Mendon, and they had two children : Clara B. and Charles H. 
Mrs. Fisher's father, Abner Bushman, was born in Monroe county, November 28, 
1801, was a school teacher, farmer, and also justice of the peace for twenty years. He 
married twice, Grst to Jane Ely. and they had one daughter, Mrs. Bentley Corby, of 
Pittsford. April 14, 1849, he married second Phoebe F. King, of Brighton, Monroe 
county, and they had seven children, three died in infancy, four survive : Hanford 
E., Lucy E., Clara M., and Julia who died at the age of eight years. A branch of 
her family named Hopkins dates back to the Mayflower. His grandfather on his 
mother's side, Silas Pardee from Columbia county, was a lieutenant in the Revolution- 
ary War, and Mrs. Fisher's great-grandfather, Rufus King, was in the Revolutionary 
War. Henry P. was a staunch Democrat. He died June 25, 1893. 

Farwell, John G., Geneva, son of Samuel P., was born in the town of Ischua, Cat- 
taraugus county July 17, 18G1, and when twelve years of age his father removed to 
Elmira, N. Y. John G. graduated from the grammar school and the Free Academy of 
the latter city, and in 1880 removed to Geneva and entered the law office of John E. 
Bean, esq. He was admitted to the bar at Buffalo on June 5, 1885, and in October of 
the same year was united in marriage with Minnie E. Goff. On the first of January 
following he opened an office in Geneva, where he is now practicing. He has been 
a justice of the peace since 1885, and was local editor of the Geneva Gazette for five 
years. Mr. Farwell is also an extensive dealer in Geneva and Buffalo real estate. 

Fisher, Harlan M., a native and resident of Bristol, was born February 25, 1850, and 
is a son of Alphonso G., a son of Nathaniel, whose father, Nathaniel, was a native of 
Dighton, Mass., who about 1800 came to Bristol and settled. Nathaniel, jr., was born 
in Dighton, Mass., and came to Bristol with his parents. He was a colonel in the War 
of 1812, and was a prominent man. He was held in great respect by the Indians, who 
often stopped on their hunting expeditions to stay over night with Ski-a-na-gha, as 
they called him, perhaps leaving some of their trophies of the chase as they departed in 
the morning. His wife was Lovice Phillips, of Dighton, Mass., who bore him one son 
and two daughters. He died in Bristol in 1855, and his wife in 1863. Alphonso was 
born in Bristol, November 16, 1816, and married Almeda, daughter of John Worrallo, 



68 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

who was lost on Lake Erie. Mr. Fisher and wife had two sons : Harlan M. and Edgar 
N., the latter a farmer of Bristol. Mr. Fisher was an active politician, yet never ac- 
cepted office. He died November 19, 1891, and his wife resides on the old homestead. 
Subject was educated in Canandaigua Academy, graduating in 1878, and taught school 
for nineteen years in connection with farming. He owns 165 acres of land, and is a 
general farmer. He makes a specialty of breeding bronze turkeys, Holstein cattle and 
Berkshire swine. He is a member of the Ontario County Agricultural Society, and for 
four years has lectured at Farmers' Institutes in New York, under the auspices of the 
State Agricultural Society, on various subjects connected with agriculture, and is con- 
sidered a drainage expert. He is a Republican, and was assessor two terms. In 1872 
he married Helen L., daughter of the late Benjamin F. Phillips, of Bristol. They reside 
on the farm settled by Elnathan Gooding, grandfather of Mrs. Fisher and the first 
settler of Bristol, who came there at the age of seventeen and remained alone the first 
winter. One incident is perhaps worthy of mention as illustrating the material of the 
sturdy yeomanry of New England who settled the Empire State. While young Good- 
ing was chopping down the thick forest to clear for crops, he heard a twig snap, and 
glancing over his shoulder saw a large savage standing back of him with a tomahawk 
raised to deal the deadly blow. Without deigning to give the Indian further notice, he 
kept on chopping, never missing a single stroke. The Indian, admiring his coolness in 
the trying circumstances, quietly slipped the tomahawk in his belt, with an " Ugh, 
white man no scare," disappeared in the dense woods. The children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Fisher are: Ethel L., Ada E., Harlan A., Rex P., Almeda L. and Marion E. V. Ethel 
L. is a student of Cook Academy at Havana, N. Y. 

Frary, Edward H., Canandaigua, was born in Lyndon, Catteraugus county, April 25, 
1840. As far back as 1640 the ancestors of this family have been natives of this 
country. When Edward was but five years old his father died. He was educated in 
the common schools and at Rushford Academy, and after leaving school learned the 
carpenter's trade. In 1860 he came to Canandaigua, where he followed his trade until 
August 20, 18G2, when he enlisted in Company A, Ninety-seventh Regiment N. Y. 
Vols., known as the Conkling Rifles, and saw service with the Army of the Potomac 
from Antietam to the Wilderness. He was wounded May 6, 1864, at the battle of the 
Wilderness by a ball passing through his left shoulder and lung. He was carried from 
the field and left for dead, but good care brought him around, though he was never able 
to do duty again. He was discharged February 15, 1865, on account of wounds, and 
returned to this place, where he has since lived. In 1869 he was elected collector for 
this town, and in 1870-71-72 held the office of constable. In 1872 he went into 
Cooley's store, where he spent about eight years. In 1S80 he was appointed census 
enumerator, and in 1880-81 was village collector; 1882-S3-84-85, school cc^llector for 
District No. 11, and from 1888 to 1893 collector of District No. 1. In 1887 he was 
elected on the Republican ticket justice of the peace, and re-elected in 1891. He mar- 
ried in 1860 Emily A. Cross, of Canandaigua (who died April 20, 1893), and they have 
three children: Nellie A., wife of H, E. Osborn, of Batavia; Edward W., of Canan- 
daigua ; and Minnie B. Mr. Frary is Past Commander of Albert H. Murray Post, 
G. A. R., No. 162. 



Family sketches. co 

Francis, John B., was born in Wethersfield, Conn., January 29, 1S13, of Huguenot 
ancestry. He was educated in the common schools in Wethersfield, and at the age of 
sixteen went with Daniel Dewey, of Hartford, Conn., to learn the trade of cabinet 
worker. He went to Bristol, Conn., in 1832, and worked for Seneca C. Hemenway 
and George Mitchell, the manufacturers of clock case.s, where he was engaged for five 
years. In 1837 he came to Waterloo, where he was with Hart Gillam & Co., in the 
furniture business, for about two years, and then spent about eighteen months conduct- 
ing a furniture store, and in April, 184], came to Canandaigua, where he worked for 
Mr. Kellogg one year, and then established a store for himself. About 1850 he added 
undertaking to his furniture business, and has ever since conducted it, making over forty 
years in the business in this town. He is now retired from active life, and is living in 
Waterloo. He is a Mason, and was until he moved from town the oldest Mason there • 
a member of Canandaigua Lodge No. 204, and Excelsior Chapter No. 164. He has 
also held a membership in the Monroe Command ry No. 12 K. T. Mr. Francis married 
April 22. 1838, Harriet Ives, of Bristol, Conn., daughter of Orrin Hart, of Canandaigua. 
They have never had any children. She died March 12, 1892, at seventy-three years 
of age. 

Ferguson, Harrison B., Canandaigua, was born in Phelps, April 22, 1842, a son of 
John H., a native of the county, a farmer and afterwards a merchant of Orleans. He 
had four children, of whom our subject was the second son. He was educated in the 
common schools and at Lima Seminary, and after leaving school spent two years in his 
father's store, and August 22, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth 
Regiment N. Y. Vols., and served with them until December 25, 1864, when he re- 
ceived his discharge from the army and entered the Ordnance Bureau of the War De- 
partment at Wa.shington, where he was employed until October 1, 1865. He thfn 
came to Canandaigua and engaged in the insurance business. He was also in the book 
business about five years. In the fall of 1875 Mr. Ferguson was elected county treas- 
urer, and afterwards re-elected. He entered the employ of the First National Bank of 
Canandaigua as clerk, and rose to the position of cashier, which position he held until 
the close of the bank, and assisted in its voluntary liquida ion. He is still engaged 
with Mr. Munger, who was the president of the bank. He is secretary and treasurer 
of the Canandaigua Gas and Electric Light Companies; treasurer of Union Free School 
District No. 1, and secretary of the Canandaigua Cemetery Association. Mr. Ferguson 
married in 186G Ella C, daughter" of Rev. Jacob A. Wades, of Orleans, and they have 
four children : Clara Louise, Julia May, J. Arden and Harry W. 

Foster, Frank F., Gorham, was born in Prattsburg, Steuben county, July 6, 1851, 
one of seven children of George and Ann (Stevenson) Foster, of Yorkshire, England, 
who in 1850 came to America and now reside in Prattsburg. In 1871 Mrs. Foster 
died, and he married Salina Horton. Frank F. was reared on a farm and educated in 
the common schools and in Prattsburg Academy. February 25, 1879, he married Flora 
L. Lord, a native of Gorham, born March 3, 1834. She is a daughter of Ethan and 
Paulina Lord. Mr. Foster follows farming, and makes a specialty of breeding draft 
hor.ses. He owns 130 acres, on which he has resided since 1880. Here he has erected 
fine buildings. Mr. Foster is a Republican. 



^0 HISTORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Fowler, Reuben W., Gorham, was born in Cuyahog'a county, 0., August 22, 1838, a 
son of Harvey, who was a son of Reuben W., a native of Connecticut, who married Sybil 
Sawyer, and had seven children. About 1800 Mr. Fowler came to Gorham and settled 
on what is known as the Stark farm. He bought the land of the Indians, paying $1 
worth of flour for an acre of land, carrying the flour on his back from Albany. He 
was worth at his death about $40,000. He died in 1854 at the age of seventy-five 
years, and his wife in 1875 at the age of ninety-four years. Harvey Fowler was born 
in 1811 on the homestead, and at the age of twenty-two married Fannie, daughter of 
James and Nancy Blair, of Pine Corners, and had six children, five of whom survive. 
He purchased a farm in Cuyahoga county, 0., and there resided several years, when he 
returned to New York and purchased the Deacon Hatfield farm. In 1876 he went to 
live with his son-in-law, John Wilson, where he died May 9, 1892. His wife died 
September 15, 1883. Reuben W. attended the Rushville Academy. March 11, 1861, 
he married Caroline Sawyer, a native of Marshall, Mich., born July 22, 1842. She is a 
dauo-hter of C. H. and Ruth A. (Comstock) Sawyer, who in 1851 moved to Hornells- 
ville and there died, November 12, 1853. His wife died March 11. 1876. Subject and 
wife have had two children : Charlotte A., wife of Frank C. Twitchell, a native of 
Middlesex, and a grape grower ; and Harris C, who died December 20, 1866, at the 
age of fourteen months. Mr. Fowler has been a successful grape grower for twenty 
years. He is a Republican, but never cared for public office. He is a member of the 
Royal Templars at Middlesex. 

Forsyth, Leander, East Bloomfield, a native of New London county. Conn., was born 
August 12, 1820, a son of Elisha, whose father, Lathan, was a native of Salem, Conn. 
Lathan was twice married and the father of seventeen children. He was a private in 
the Revolutionary War, and died about 1830. Elisha, a native of Salem, Conn., was 
born in 1787, and was a farmer and cooper. He married Sallie, daughter of Joseph 
Chester of Salem, Conn., who was born March 17, 1731, and died in 1803. Mr. Forsyth 
came to East Bloomfield and there spent the remainder of his days, dying in 1857, and 
his wife in 1861. They had three sons and two daughters. Leander was reared on a 
farm and received a common school education. At the age of seventeen he started in 
life for himself. Coming to East Bloomfield he worked by the month for two years, 
and then went to Michigan where he learned the cooper's trade, which he followed 
forty years, but after six years he returned to East Bloomfield where he has since re- 
sided. Of late years he has been engaged in farming, and for twenty years has been 
a successful growor of onions. May 24, 1847, Mr. Forsyth married Lucy Quick, a na,- 
tive of Lyons, born January 6, 1819, and a daughter of Peter Quick. Their children 
are: Kate, who was educated in East Bloomfield Academy, and Frank, a carpenter of 
■ East Bloomfield. He married a Miss Sage of Mendon, and they have one daughter, 
Lucy. Mr. Forsyth is a Republican in politics, and has been highway commissioner 
twelve years in succession and excise commissioner three years. He and family are 
Baptists. 

French, Seward, West Bloomfield, was born at East Bloomfield February 28, 1856. 
He was preparing for Hamilton College when his father died, and he was called home 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 71 

to attend to duties there. He became a school teacher and later a deputy sheriff, in 
which oliice he was successful in apprehending thirty-one men out of thirty-three war- 
rants had in one year. In 1879 he began the study of law in the office of the noted 
criminal lawyer, Hon. George Kaines of Eochester, with such close application that on 
his examination three and a half years later for admission to the bar, he was one of 
the foremost in his class of thirty. He practiced in Rochester until 1889, then removed 
to Miller's Corners, where he has one of the finest law offices in the county, and which 
is a museum of criminal relics and implements secured by his perseverance, as evidence 
incase-. He has also two other offices at East Bloomfield and Victor, and branch 
offices in Chicago and Sioux Falls for divorces for parties wishing these facilities. Mr. 
French devotes himself most especially to criminal law, and within five years was suc- 
cessful council, in ninety-two criminal and that line of cases, one of the most important 
being the celebrated John Kelly homicide case, which was three years in the courts. 
He tries a case with boldness and .'kill, and is a rapid thinker. His father, Reuben E., 
was born in East Bloomfield, and married Maria H. McMichael, born in Canandaigua, 
of Scotch-Irish descent. Reuben was three times supervisor and owned a fine farm 
near Miller's Corners, now owned by his son Seward, was born in Massachusetts and 
came to Victor among the early settlers. Subject is a 32d degree Mason, is notary 
public for Ontario, Livingston and Monroe counties. He married in 1876 Jennie L. 
Jefferson, daughter of John JefTerson of Miller's Corners, and they have three children 
living : Reuben, Lyra and Florine. One daughter. Floice, is deceased. 

Freer, Charles E., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua March 23, 1853, a son of 
Henry, a farmer of this town. Henry Freer was born in Allegany county near the 
village of Nunda, about seventy-four years ago. He was a bov when he came to Can- 
andaiga and lived with the Grangers, for whom he was»gardener and coachman many 
years. He married when twenty- two years of age Ann Eliza Pease of Canandaigua, 
by whom he had two children, but one now living, Mrs. Edna Randall of Bristol 
Springs. Mrs. Freer died in 1850, and he married second, Elizabeth, daughter of 
Thomas Price, a native of England, who came to America in 1819, and to Canandaigua 
in 1838, who had been a resident of New Jersey and later of this county. They had 
two children : Hiram residing on the old homestead, and Charles E., our subject. The 
whole life of the latter with "..he exception of three years, has been spent in this town. 
He was educated in the common schools and Canandaigua Academy, and made his home 
on his father's farm until twenty-five. He worked one year at Brigham Hall, and his 
father's farm on shares until 1880, when he bought eighty-nine acres in East Bloomfield, 
which he sold in 1883, and bought his present place of 110 acres in one of the most 
beautiful locations on Ihe lake shore, on which he has made many improvements, hav- 
ing set out fifteen acres for vineyard, 1,000 pear trees, 1,500 peach trees, and 500 
plums and considerable small fruit. He has made his farm one of the largest fruit 
producers of its size in this town. Has also erected new buildings and a commodious 
cottage on the shore. He married in 1878 Jennie, daughter of James Worroll of Can- 
andaigua, and they have two children : Eleanor, who is in her fourteenth year, and 
Grace in her twelfth year. James Worroll was a native of England and had been a 
resident of Canandaigua for fifty years. He died December 30, 1892. 



72 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Freshour, John C, Gorhara, was born March 25, 1840, a son of Edward A. (son of 
John) who was born in Hopewell October 10, 1816. December 30, 1838, he married 
Lany M. Brizee, a native of Woodstock, Ulster county, born September 7, 1818, a 
daughter of Cornelius and Sarah (Van Benschoten) Brizee. Her father was born in 
Columbia county, November 14, 1792, and her mother in Woodstock October 31, 1795. 
Mr. and Mrs. Brizee had four sons and three daughters. He died October 27, 1878, 
and his wife November 12, 1878. Edward A. Freshour and wife had two sons and a 
daughter, of whom John C. is the only one living. In 1854 Edward A. Freshour 
came to Gorham and bought a farm, but now lives retired. J. C. Freshour was edu- 
cated in East Bloomfield Academy and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. In 1882 he went 
to Boston, where he was engaged for a time in real estate. He has also spent some 
time as a florist, but is now engaged in farming and dealing in live stock. In 1863 he 
married Genie M., daughter of Olney and Jane Rice, early settlers of Gorham, where 
Olney Rice, sr., owned a carding mill. Mr. and Mrs. Freshour have one daughter, 
Rosabelle, wife of W. L. Lines, of New Haven, Conn. For some years Mrs. Lines re- 
ceived private lessons in Boston, in the languages and instrumental music, the latter 
under William H. Sherwood. She is now a noted pianist. She spent one year with 
the Emerson Pierce Grand Concert Company and has played in all the leading halls of 
Bo.sston. She has been highly complimented by the Boston press. Mr. Freshour is a 
member of Stanley Lodge No. 434 I. 0. O. F. and of Seneca Grange, and is a Demo- 
crat in politics. 

Frazer, John P., Victor, was born in Newton, Sussex county, N. J., February 28, 
1828, where he was educated in the district schools. October 17, 1845, at the age of 
seventeen years became to Canandaigua, and learned to be a tinsmith with his brother, 
B. P. Frazer. In 1849 he ca«ne to Victor and worked as a journeyman at his trade 
with A. P. Dickinson and others. In 1851 he began business on his own account, man- 
ufacturing and selling tinware, afterwards he added the hardware business, and has 
conducted it since. November 28, 1849, he married Abby J. Kenfield of Naples, Onta- 
rio county, and they have one adopted son, Charles. Mr. Frazer's father, John, was 
al-o born in New Jersey in 1788 and married Sarah Predmore of New Jersey, who was 
born November 21, 1786. They had seven children : Horatio N., Benjamin P., Mary 
A., Joseph P., William A., Sarah E. and John P. His grandfather, John Frazer, was 
born in Inverness, Scotland, and came to the United States when he was sixteen years 
old ; he was obliged to seek shelter here on account of playing Yankee Doodle on his 
bagpipe. Mrs. Frazer's father, John Kenfield, was born in Massachusetts in 1800, and 
married Ruth Bump of his native State. They had nine children, eight grew to matur- 
ity: Mary A., Salmon, Harriet, Lorenzo D., Abbby J., John, Wesley and Lucina E. 
They came to Naples in 1842. Mr. Kenfield died February 1, 1881. Mr. Frazer has 
been overseer of the poor of the town four years, also superintendent of the county 
poor six years, has been president of the village two years, member of the board of edu- 
cation six years, trustee of the M. E. Church for thirty years, and he and his wife are 
members of the same. 

Greenleaf, Horace D., Hopewell, was born in Lafargeville, Jefferson county, May 11, 
_;?*. 1845, a son of John D. Greenleaf, who was born in Guilford, Vt, December 8, 1803, 



FAMILY SKETCHES: 73 

and settled in Jefferson county. His wife was Julia Truesdale, a native of Quebec, 
whose parents came from France to Quebec where they died of cholera in 1832. Mr. 
Greenleaf and wife had two sons and four daughters, all now living. Mrs. Greenleaf 
died in 1881 and Mr. G-reenleaf resides at Hall's Corners. In early life he was a sailor 
on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Horace D. married, December 29, 1870, 
Ella F., daughter of John and Lucina Dixon, early settlers of Seneca, where both died. 
Mr. and Mrs. Greenleaf have two children : John D. and Lucy J. Mr. Greenleaf learned 
the carpenter's trade in 18G3 which he followed until 1887, when he was badly injured 
by a fall. In 1874 he came to Hopewell and purchased the Nathan Brundage farm, on 
which he has erected fine buildings at a cost of $5,000. He has been station agent at 
Lewis since 1890. He also deals in produce and coal, and has been in the mercantile 
business since 1888. He is a Democrat and has been justice of the peace four years. 
He is a member of Ark Lodge No. 33, F. and A. M. at Geneva, and became a Mason 
in 18G8. 

Gardner, Elisha^W., Canandaigua, was born in Farmington, November 26, 1826, a 
son of Elisha W. Gardner, a farmer of that town, born in Rhode Island and resided 
for a few years in Albany county, N. Y., where he married Sarah, daughter of General 
Patterson, of Revolutionary fame, and came to Ontario county in 1810 and settled in 
Farmington. They had twelve children, three of them now living : Rev. Sunderland 
P. Gardner of Farmington, Mrs. Miriam Sheldon of Barry, Orleans county, and Elisha 
W., our subject. The early life of our subject was spent on the homestead farm. He 
was educated at Macedon Academy, and taught in district schools and Macedon Acad- 
emy, preparing for college at Lima Seminary. On the formation of Genesee College 
he spent one year there. He practiced civil engineering for a few years and then en- 
tered the New York State and National Law University at Ballston Springs, graduat- 
ing with the degree of LL.B. in the fall of 1851. Chancellor Walworth was president 
of the University at that time. He was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court that 
same fall, and immediately opened an office in Canandaigua and has continued in prac- 
tice here ever since. In 1854 he was admitted to the United States Dist'ict and Circuit 
Courts, in which his practice has been quite extensive, and has argued a large number 
of causes at the General Term and in the New York Court of Appeals, and he has been 
a very successful lawyer. Mr. Gardner has been an active partisan of the Republican 
party since its formation in 1856, but has never been an aspirant to political office. In 
1856 and 1860 he made many speeches throughout the Slate in the interests of the new 
party. Mr. Gardner married in 1852 Sarah A., daughter of William Pound, of Farrn- 
ino-ton. Mrs. Pound "-as a sister of Rev. Dr. Goodell, well known as the Tuikish mis- 
sionary. Mr. Gardner has three children : Mary J., Helen A., and Edwin P., of On- 
tario County Journal. 

Gooding Family, The. George Gooding, whose parents were natives of Massachu- 
setts, was born in 1770, and came to this country about 1800. He married Naomi 
Wilder, a native of Connecticut, by whom he had twelve children : George, who mar- 
ried Achsah Reed, died in 1883, and left seven children ; Lovisa, married Allen Brown ; 
Erastus, married and had one child, who was drowned when a lad ; Russell was born 



74 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

in 1809, and married in 1839Betst-y, daughter of Samuel Thurber, of New Hampshire, 
who lived in this town. They had four children : Horace, born in 1840, served in the 
One Hundred and Sixtieth N. Y. Vols., and died at Washington Hospital in January 
1863; Sarah married m 1865 Spencer Martin, a lawyer of Saginaw, Mich , who died 
November 13, 1871, leaving two children, Russell and Wells; Edwin, of East Bloum- 
iield, who lives on the home farm ; and Ella, who married Roswell Lee, of East Bloom- 
tield. Again taking up George Gooding's family : Ann married Elizur Booth, and they 
had four children : Roxana, married Seymour Reed ; Naomi, married Samuel Taylor ; 
Chester, married Laura Booth, of Canandaigua ; Timothy, married Polly Hicks, of Can- 
andaigua, and died January 15, 1883, aged seventy-five years ; Wells, born in 1821, 
never married and died in 1881; and the youngest, Angeline, died in 1880, aged fifty 
years. One child died in infancy. Timothy and Wells Gooding accumulated large 
properties. 

Green, Dr. Lewis E., Richmond, was born in South Dansville, Steuben county, January 
13, 1850. His father, Philip, who was a native of Germany, came to this country when 
a young man, dying in 1891 at the age of seventy-five. He was a miller by trade in 
the old country and followed it in this country for many years. In later life he was 
also a farmer, owning between 400 and 500 acres and a grist-mill. He married Mary 
Woolfarger. They had ten children, of whom seven survive: Frederick, in the West; 
Alexander, of Conesus ; Dr. Lewis E. ; Mary E. ; William H., who lives on the home- 
stead ; Charles C, a physician in Hornelisville ; and Benjamin W., of Hammondsport. 
Dr. Lewis E. was educated in Rosjersville Union Seminary, studied medicine wiih Dr. 
L. B. Healy, of Cohocton, N. Y., attended the Medical school in Buffalo, and graduated 
from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in 1874. He practiced medicine 
ill Hemlock one year and came to Honeoye in 1875, since which he has gained an ex- 
tensive practice. He married in 1887 Carrie E., daughter of David A. Pierpont, and 
they have one son, Pierpont Lewis. Dr. Green has held the office of town clerk several 
terms and has been postmaster four years. 

Greene, Dr. Frank A., Geneva, was born in Virgil, Cortland county, December 12, 
1855. He was educated in the public schools, and resided in Ithaca until nineteen 
years old. He studied dentistry with Dr. E. D. Cair, of DeRuyter, Madison county, 
and began practising dentistry in 1877, locating in Geneva in 1881. October 1, 1879, 
he married Mary E., second daughter of Andrew and Eliza Crawford, of Ithaca. They 
have one daughter, Edna Crozier. The doctor is a member uf Ark Lodge No. 33 F. & 
A. ^^. ; of the Knights of Pythias; of the Seventh District Dental Society of the State 
of New York ; and also of the New York State Dental Society and American Dental 
As.^ociation. His father, Truman P. Greene, enlisted in Company B, One Hundred 
and Eighty-fifth N. Y. Vols., and was honorably di?chargtd at the close of the war. 

Garratt. William, Canandaigua, was born in Stanley, Seneca county, March 7, 1854, 
a son of Charles, a farmer of that town, who came to this country from England in 
1850. He had ten children, of whom William was the fifth son. The latfer's boyhood 
was spent in Seneca county, and he was educated in the common schools of Seneca 
and Ontario counties. His father moved into Gorham in 1865, where he died August 
26, 1889, at seventy- three years of age. Our subject lived on the farm until he was 



Family skctches. 75 

twenty-one years of age, and then engaged in the manufacture of carnage and wagon 
wpokes, which business he has since followed. In the fall of 1880 he moved mto Can- 
andaigua, where he bought out the small spoke factory of his brother John, and in- 
creased the capaciiy of the mill by the addition of new machinery, and enlarging the 
building. Mr. Garratt is also a dealer in all kinds of hard wood lumber and kindling 
wood. The spokes manufactured by Mr. Grarratt are shipped all through New York 
niid the Eastern States. Mr. Garratt also conducts farms in this viciniiy aggregating 
209 acres. He married in 1888 Carrie E., daughter of 0. E. Brocklebank, a carpenter 
of Canandaigua, and they have one child, Charles A., now in his third year. The mill 
i.s loca*-ed at the foot of Main street, and his residence is near on the Lake Road. The 
mother of our subject, Hannah (Hibbell) Garratt, is a resident of Canandaigua, now in 
her seventy-sixth year. 

Gauss, Ashman B., East Bloomfield. was born on the farm where he now resides, 
February 24, 1831, a son of Thayer and Electa (Beebe) Gauss. The grandfather, Ben- 
jamin, came to Bloomfield and married Sarah Codding of Bristol, (thelirst white woman 
married on the Phelps and Gorham purchase), and in 1769 left Berkshire, Mass., and 
settled on 320 acres of land where subject resides, where he lived until his death, Octo- 
ber 5, 1854, aged eighty-nine years. He served through the Revolutionary war, and 
lost his toes by being frozen. His wife died January 22, 1847, aged seventy-nine 
years. They had six children: Benjamin, jr., Thayer, Sally, Phoebe, Mary and Abbie. 
His son Thayer was born April 27, 1797, in the house where subject now resides. He 
was the owner of considerable real estate, and during the War of 1812 he traded in 
Buffalo. He was one of the trustees of the Congregational Church for over forty 
years, and contributed liberally to public improvements. He died December 19, 1879, 
nnd his wife February 11, 1883, aged seventy-eight years. She was the daughter of 
Ashman Beebe, an old settler of East Bloomfield. Thayer Gauss and wife had five 
children ; Eliza and Electa (twins). Lurinda, and Ashman B., besides one who died in 
infancy. Our subject has remodeled his father's and grandfather's home (which has 
been in the family since 1793), and occupies 160 acres of the half section taken by his 
grandfather. He married, October 21, 1858, Mary L., daughter of Lewis and Mary 
(Talmadge) Goodwin, who came from Plymouth, Conn., to Gates, Monroe county. 
Mr. and Mrs. Gauss have had three children : Lewis T., Lucy H., and Charles T. Mr. 
Mrs. Gauss is a member of the Episcopal Church. 

Gorman, Hugh, Farmington, was born in County Down, Ireland, May 18, 1820. Pie 
was educated in the schools of his day, and came to the United States in April, 1844. 
June 27, 1851, he married Rose A. Keenan, formerly of his native county. The cere- 
mony took place in New York city. They had these children : Edward, who married 
Hannah Daylor, and have one son ; Harry J., Henry and Mary, reside with their par- 
ents, and Rose, who married Garrett Burns, who is a hotel keeper in Snortsville; they 
have one daughter, Mary. Mr. Gorman located in Farmington in 1855, and has been 
a resident of this country forty- nine years. 

Gerow, Thomas H., Phelps, only son of six chikfren of Oliver and Lucy (Howard) 
Gerow, was born in Phelps, March 26, 1832. Oliver, the fathei, was born in West- 
chester county, and came to Phelps in early life. Lucy Howard, the mother, was born 



to HISTORY OF .ONTARIO COUNTY. 

in Dutchess county. Thomas H. married Harriet A. Pardee of Phelp?, daughter of 
Israel and Phirza (Crosby) Pardee, and they have three children : Gertrude (Mrs. Al- 
bert Williams), Hattie H., and Milton P. Mr. Gerow's farm of 100 acres is used prin- 
cipally for grain. He is a representative citizen, and has served the tov^'n as road com- 
missioner continuously for eight years. 

Gillis, Enos, Victor, was born in Argyle, Washington county, June 12, 1815, and 
came with his parents to Victor in 1826. He was educated in the district schools and 
has always been a farmer. He married twice, first on December 31, 1840, EHza 
Snedeker, formerly of New Jersey. They had two children, both deceased ; one died 
in infancy and the other lived to be twenty-seven years of age. Mrs. Gillis died June 
9, 1847, and he married second Catherine Wells, of Victor. They had one daughter, 
Jennie, who married Frank S. Gallup of this town, February 23, 1882. They had four 
children : Enos G., George M., Martha D., and Rose A. Mr. Gillis's father, John D. 
was born in Hebron, Washington cou'^ty, was a blacksmith for a number of years, 
and afterwards a farmer. He married Mary A. Smith, and they had six children : 
Margaret, Robert R., Enos, Martha, John S., and Rosena. Mrs. Gillis died November 
27, 181)2, and his father about 1873, aged ninety-six years. His grandfather, Robert, 
and four brothers were in the Revolutionary 'War, all killed but himself and Joseph. 
Mr. Gillis has resided on the same location sixty-seven years. 

Goodwin, Russell B., East Bluomfield, was born in Hartford, Conn., December 18, 
1810, a son of John and Anna (Belden) Goodwin, a shoemaker and shoe dealer in Hart- 
ford and a descendant of Deacon John Goodwin, who came from England and was one 
of the first settlers of Hartford, Conn. Russell B. was one of seven sons. He received 
a common school education, learned the tailor's trade, which he followed a short time, 
and was engaged nearly ten years in St. Louis. October 12, 1859, he married Eliza 
Steele, born in East Bloomfield June 6, 1823, a daughter of William and Eliza (Pitkin) 
Steele. Her grandfather Elisha Steele, lived and died at Bethlehem Corners. His wife 
was Susannah Strong, by whom he had these children ; Joel, Samuel, Rev. Nathaniel, 
Elisha, William, Rev. Julius, Joseph, Olive Hawley, Anna Sprague, Betsy, who mar- 
ried a Dr. Humphrey and died in Canaan, Conn.; Lucy Kassan and Margaret McKean. 
William Steele was born September lU, 1781, and died April 7, 1858, aged seventy- 
seven vears. He came to East Bloomfield when a young man where he engaged in 
farming until his death. His wife died May 30, 1886, aged eighty-eight. She was 
born May 13, 1797, in East Hartford, a daughter of Levi and Abigail (Belden) Pitkm, 
who had tluve children, Eliza, Nathan S. and Abigail. The children of William and 
Eliza Steele were; Eliza, William, Joseph, Henry G. and Edward, the latter deceased. 
Russell B. Goodwin died in 1884, leaving a widow. Mrs. Goodwin was a prime mover 
ill the organization of the Historical Society, of which she is secretary. She springs 
from Deacon John Steele, who came from Suffolk county, England, and was a pioneer 
of Hartford. 

Greenovv, Thomas, Gorham, a native of England, was born October 17, 1829, a son 
of David and Ann Greenow, of England, to whom were born two sons and three daugh- 
ters. David died in 1880 and his wife in 1892. Thomas came in 1852 to America 
where he worked by the month for some time and then worked rented land for sixteen 



Family sketcHr?!. r? 

years. In 1871 he purchased and improved 100 acres in Gorham where he has since 
resided. In 1853 Mr. Greenow nnarried Mary A. Greenow, a native of England, who 
when sevej years old came to America with her parents, Wiiham and Eleanor Greenow, 
who settled in Gorham and there died. They had three daughters and five sons. Mr. 
Wm. Greenow died in 18G4 and his Avife in 1880. The children of subject are: David 
L., of Ionia county, Michigan, who married Eunice Squires and has two daughters 
Jessie and Olive M.; Leonia, who died in 1884 ; Hattie A., wife of Charles Glew, died 
January 24, 1883 ; J. Frank, who married Emma E. Bender, resides in Gorham. Mr. 
Greenow is a Republican but has never been an aspirant to office. 

Gartland, jr., John, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua October 25, 1859, a son of 
John, a native of Ireland, who came to this co'intry in 1849 and located in Canandaigua. 
John, jr., was educated in the common schools and early in life engaged in butchering, 
which he has always followed. October 2G, 1887. he, in company with William Boyle, 
established a market in Canandaigua which they conducted together until August, 1892, 
when Mr. Gartland bought out the interest of Mr. Boyle and has since conducted the 
market alone. He has a commodious market at 153 Main street, where he carries a 
large stock of fresh and salt meats, game and poultry, and in the rear conducts a sausage 
manufactory. Mr. Gartland married, June 30, 1885, Jennie E., daughter of Terrence 
Clarke, and they are the parents of three children: Willie C, Annie M., John Leo Ed- 
ward. Mr. and Mrs. Gartland are members of the Catholic Church. 

Gunnison, Charles C, Farmington, was born at Milwaukee, Wis., June 20, 1850. 
He was educated in the public schools and spent two years at Canandaigua Academy. 
He is a wholesale produce dealer and commission merchant, as well as a farmer, at 
Mertensia. In April, 1892, he married Ellen J., second daughter of Joseph P. and Ellen 
A. Hathway, of Farmington, one of a family whose ancestors settled in the town in the 
seventeenth century. Henry, father of Charles C. Gunnison, was born in Claremont, 
N. H., about 1826, and came to this State with his parents when young. He married 
Esther L. Smith of Farmington, and they had four children : Louie, who died in in- 
fancy ; Charles C, Florence and Ellen V. S., who married Dr. Arthur L. Benedict, now 
a physician in Buffalo. Mr. Gunnison's home was built in 1800 ; the saw-mill in 1792 : 
and the grist-mill in 1794, by his mother's people. 

Gates, Curtis C, West Bloomfield, was born August 3, 1809. His father, Marvin, 
was born in 1757 and came from Colchester, Conn., a year later than his brother Daniel. 
In 1799 he built the house, now the prop rty of Curtis, and occupied by Charles Hop- 
kins of North Bloomfield. Marvin was a farmer, and in company with his brother 
Daniel was interested in a saw-mill at that place, also making brick there, early in the 
present century. January 16, 1798, Marvin married Rachel Coe of Granville, Mass., 
born in 1768. Their children were Orpha, Melancton, Marvin, Reynold and Curtis Coe. 
With Daniel and Marvin came their father, Captain Josiah Gates, a Revolutionary sol- 
dier, who was, however, too aged to enter into active work. Orpha, the oldest child, 
married John Lloyd of this place in 1819, by whom she had ten children, of whom 
Eunice now makes her home with her Uncle Curtis, both parents being deceased. Cur- 
tis C. has been three times married. His first wife was Mercy Malvina Leach, whom 
he married in 1838 and by whom he had one son, Robert Lewis, his only child, born 



?S mSTORY OF OiNTTARlO COUNTY. 



4 



in 1839. He was in the Seventh Ohio Infantry in the late war and was killed at the 
battle of Port Republic, Md., June 9, 1862. An interesting relic in the shape of an old 
Bible, brought by Mrs. Marvin Gates from Massachueetts, bears date of 1754, Edin- 
burgh. Mrs. Grates was a descendant in the seventh generation of Robert '' Cooe " of 
Milford, Suffolkshire, England, who, with his wife Anna and three sons, sailed from 
Ipswich April 10, 1034. 

Green, Isaac Baker, Richmond, was born June 29, 1837, in Rush, Monroe county- 
His father, Isaiah, was born in 1802 and died in 1872. He was a native of Plalf Moon, 
Saratoga county, and when ten years of age came with his father, Jonathan, to Rush. 
Isaiah married Sophronia Baker, daughter of William, and they had four children : 
Mary Jane, deceased; Isaac B, David W., and Marcus B., deceased. His wife died in 
1870. • Isaiah was a farmer, and came to Richmond in 1855 and bought the Barton 
Stout farm. Isaac B. was educated at Lima Seminary, and married in 1871 Margery 
A., born in 1845, daughter of John Reed and granddaughter of Wlieeler Reed. 
They had three children: John R,, born in 1872; Frank L., l)orn in 1874; Isaac M., 
born in 1884. In 18G7 Mr. Green bought the Jesse Stout farm, formerly a part of the 
Baker farm, containing 132 acres. He has seventeen acres of hops, and a fine llock of 
pure blood Merino sheep. 

Greene, Henry, Farmington. was born in Rochester, Monroe county, January 21, 
1841, and moved with his parents to Macedon, Wayne county, in 1840. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools and Macedon Academy, and for some years was a carpenter 
and joiner, and now a farmer. He has been highway commissioner twelve years, col- 
lector one year, and filled a vacancy for supervisor part of a term. December 17, 1873, 
he married Cynthia A., only child of Isaac L. and Sarah D. Carpenter, at Macedon 
Centre. Tney have had three children: Carrie E., who died at the age of twenty 
months; George W., and Joseph, who reside with their parents. Mr. Greene's father, 
Joseph, was b^rn in the State of Rhode I.sland, on the Island of Canonicut in James- 
town, January 28, 1806, and came with his parents to Cayuga county, this State, when 
he was four years old, and resided there until 1827, when he went to Rochester. June 
2, 1831, he mariied Rosanna Bunker, formerly of Ghent, Columbia county, who was 
born August 20, 1812. They had five children : Sarah A., Edwm, Henry, William, 
and Charles A. The ancestry of the family is English. One, John Greene, came to 
the United States, and was associated with Roger Williams in the Providence purchase 
in 1636. Mrs. Greene's father. Isaac L. Carpenter, was born in Dutchess county, Feb- 
ruary 22, 1812, and was educated in the common schools. November 10, 1836, he 
married Sarah D. Cornwell, of Henrietta, formerly of Westchester county, and ha<l one 
daughter. The ancestry of the family is English, Welsh and French. 

Gardner, Sunderland, P., was born in Rensselaer, Albany county, N. Y., July 4, 1802, 
and was the oldest of twelve children, two of whom, Mrs. Marium Sheldon of Barre, 
Orleans county, and E. W. Gardner, esq., of Canandaigua, survive him. His father, 
Elisha W. Gardner, was born in Rhode Island May 8, 1779. and on April 19, 1801 ; 
married Sarah Patterson, daughter of Sutherland Patterson, a soldier in Washington's 
Army, and one of those who accompanied the latter on his expedition to Trenton on 
Christmas Eve, 1776. The Gardners were of English ancestry who settled in Rhode 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 79 

Ishuid and Nantucket prior to 1020. The subject of this sketch came in 1814 with his 
parents to Farmington where he resided until his death, February 13, 1893. Having 
no opportunity of schooling save those common to a new country, but being a lover of 
learning and possessed of a superior mind he became a self-educated scholar. As a 
young man he taught, and was at one time commissioner of schools; but at about the 
age of thirty he was called to the ministry and eventually became a leader in the society 
of Friends of which he was a birth-right member. He was for sixty years a faithful 
standard-bearer in the church, for which he traveled extensively in the United States 
and Canada, and had, besides other gospel work, been called to attend more than two 
thousand funerals, many of them hundreds of miles from home and among various 
classes of people. He loved to study and teach the beautiful lessons in the Bible, of 
which he was a diligent student, and was able '' to give a reason for the faith that was 
in him." Being of a peace loving disposition he desired not controversy for its own 
sake, yet when attacked on doctrinal points by those who failed to understand the real 
principles of Quak.'rism he was ready and able to explain, and if need be, to defend 
what he preached. The sermons of Mr. Gardner during his long ministry were delivered 
extunipore, but many were taken down by stenographers and a few have been published ; 
he also made contributions to science which were received with favor by scholars, and 
have entered into standard works. He labored for the gospel without pecuniary re- 
ward, believing with the old-time Quakers the words of Christ, " Freely ye have re- 
ceived, freely give," until a few years before his death, when certain members of the 
so 'iely of Friends were impressed with the conviction that his burdens were too heavy 
to be borne alone, and nobly returned a part of the large amount he had so willingly 
expended in the cause of truth. Thus was fulfilled the promise, Ps. 41 :l-3. Mr. Gard- 
ner was married three times ; first to Mary Willets who survived but a few years, leav- 
ing with him a daughter, who married Nath. Powell of Mendon ; his second wife was 
Lament, youngest daughter of William and Eunice Gatcbel of this town; his third 
wife was Annette H., daughtt^r of William and Sarah (Lord) Bell of Crawford county, 
Peun. They had three sons, Sunderland P., Oscar B., and Anson L., all now living on 
tiie home farm. We make the following extracts from the Ont. County Journal, pub- 
lished February 17, 1893 : " It is not easy to find words to express an adequate meas- 
ure of the good and the great in the life that has ceased to throw its direct influence 
upjii the world. The life 'tself is that life's best eulogy. Loved by his intimates for 
Ins kind and genial p rsonal traits, admired by casual acquaintances for his rugged 
simplicity, reverenced by his parishioners for his nobility and charity of mind, esteemed 
by the community for the lessons of peace which his life embodied, his epitaph will find 
most thoughtful expression engraved upon the hearts of all who ever came within the 
human circle of his personality." Also from the same paper we take the following 
statement: '"In early life Mr. Gardner became a member of the Masonic order. In 
182(5 his religious objection to warfare compelling him to protest against rendering any 
military support, he was arrested and incarcerated in the county jail for failure to pay 
what was caMed the " training fine." During his confinement there those charged with 
the abduction of Morgan, the noted exposer of Masonic secrets, were brought to the 
jail and also imprisoned. Among them were the late Nathaniel W Chesebro and Sheriff 



80 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Bruce of Niagara county. From these men, thus imprisoned, Mr. Gardner, by virtue 
of his afKliation, learned the entire details of the affair, details which to-day are prob- 
ably known but by one person." 

Gridley, Harrison, Canandaigua, was born in Cazenovia, Madison county, in 1822. 
His early life was spent in Cazenovia, and he was educated at the seminary there. His 
first business venture after leaving school was as clerk in a dry goods store in Elmira, 
where he was from 1842 to 1857. In 1857 he came to Canandaigua, and engaged in 
the coal business, which he still conducts, now handling about 5,000 tons of Plymouth 
coal per year. His yard is located on Niagara street, and he employs three teams and 
five hands. The office is at 228 Main street, and Dr. Gridley's residence is at 32 Gibson 
street. Mr. Gridley married in 1854 Helen A. Lewis of Lenox, Madison county, and 
they are the parents of one child, H. Marietta, wife of Rev. John G. Blue of Waukesha, 
Wis. 

Gourlay, Norman, Farmington, father of Eli M. and Mark C. Gourlay, was born in 
Forfarshire, Scotland, May 22, 1836, and came with his parents to the United States, 
landing in New York when he was four years old. Afterwards they came to Glens 
Falls, where he was educated in the public schools and was a farmer until he retired. 
He married twice, first on February 24, 1858, Relief Moore of Queensbury, Warren 
county, and they had six children; two died in infancy, four survive: Keziah P., and 
Mark C, who married Franc M. Outhouse of Canandaigua, and has one child, a daughter. 
Eli M. who is at present engaged at farming with his brother, Mark C, and Grace F. 
Mrs. Gourlay died in 188G. April 27, 1892, he married second a widow lady in Victor. 
Mr. Gourlay enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Eighteenth N. Y. S. Vols., and 
was honorably discharged June 27, 1805. He is a member of Albert M. Murray Post, 
1G2 G. A. R. 

Gardner, Edwin J., Farmington, was born in Farmington January 22, 1853. He was 
educated in the public schools and follows farming. He is a justice oE the peace in the 
town of Farmington, also does some photographic work for his friends. March 30, 
1880, he married Roseline R., daughter of John J. and Lydia B. Doty of this town. 
Mrs. Gardner was born in Farmington September 15, 1860, and they have two children, 
Mary R., and Lindley J. Mr. Gardner's father, John W., was born in the town of 
Rensselaerville, Albany county, was one of a family of twelve children, was a brother 
of Sunderlin P. Gardner, and his father was Elisha W. He was born November 13, 
1814, and married Anna B. Colton of Farmington. They had eight children : George 
W., Sarah P., Anna E.,' Leonard W., Charlotte S., Marium A., Edwin J., and Charles 
H. John W. Gardner died February 23, 1875. Mrs. Gardner's father, John J. Doty, 
was born in Washington county July 15, 1812, and came here with his parents when 
he was a boy. He married twice, first in 1834 to Amy Lane, and had one son. John S. 
For his second wife he married, August 27, 1836, Lydia B. Wilson of Moriis county, 
N. J., and had five children: Mary W., Susan J., Charles E., John M., Roseline R. Mr. 
Doty died September 23, 1878. 

Howland, Chas. A., Manchester, was born in Manchester October 27, 1848. He 
received an excellent education and has followed farming since his youth. He owns a 
fine farm of seventy-five acres, which he purchased in 1876. Mr. Howland comes of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 81 

an old revolutionary family, who also participated in the War of 1812. He is a staunch 
Prohibitionist and a worker for his party. Mr. Howland is possessed of considerable 
ability and great energy. 

Howland, Pardon A., Manchester, was born in Manchester January 15, 1826. He 
was liberally educated in the. schools of Manchester, also attending the Canandaigua 
Academy, his four sons in after years also receiving instruction in the same institution. 
Mr. Howland received farm property from his father, Nicholas Howland, to which he 
has materially added, he and his sons owning about four hundred acres in the town. 
Mr. Howland is a strong Prohibitionist and has been nominated on that ticket to the 
office of supervisor of Manchester. His father was an influential member of the Whig 
party and repeatedly filled the office of supervisor, -etc. Mr. Howland was married in 
1847 to Margaret Wells of the same town, by whom he has had nine children, seven of 
whom are living, all residents of the town with the exception of one daughter who is 
engaged in stenography in Butte, Mon. Mr. Howland's ancestors originally came from 
Massachusetts and are of revolutionary antecedents. 

Hutchinson, Joseph, Geneva, was born in Aldby, Cumberland county, England, 
March 7, 1815. He was educated in their common and high schools, was a farmer and 
came to the United States in 1836. He took passage in the American ship Eagle, which 
was shipwrecked on a sand bar near Sable Island. The crew and passengers constructed 
a raft by which they were carried safe on the island. The British government had 
Captain Darby with schooner and men in that vicinity. He dispatched the schooner to 
Halifax and a ship was sent to rescue them, after they had been there twenty-three 
days. They were taken to Halifax and from there to the United States. Mr. Hutch- 
inson located near Geneva and has resided here and in the vicinity ever since. He has 
married twice, first on November 1, 1848, Mary Tucker of Geneva. They had four 
children: William, Charles, Sarah and Henry (who died in infancy). Mrs. Hutchin- 
son died in 1854. For his second wife, in 1856 he married Caroline Edington of Seneca 
(now Geneva). They had four children : George, Ann, Grant and Joseph. Sarah, 
of the first marriage, married Edward Berryman of Seneca county, and has two sons, 
Frank and Nestor. Mr. Hutchinson served as supervisor in the eventful years of 1861- 
1862, and when he resided in the village he was trustee; was also overseer of the poor 
and highway commissioner nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Berryman reside on the old home 
with Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson. 

Horning, A. V., Phelps, was born in Phelps, October 19, 1842, one of six children of 
John M. and Angeline C. (Garrett) Horning. John M., the father, was born in Con- 
necticut, and came here and settled when a young man, where he lived and died. The 
mother's family was also from Connecticut. The grandfather was Jacob Horning. In 
1880 Mr. Horning took possession of the farm where he now lives, of 185 acres, in- 
cluding ten acres of orchard. He married in 1871 Louise Hosford of Phelps, one of the 
five children of Ashbel and Emlie Hosford. They have two children, Nettie H. and 
Frank A., both of whom live at home on the farm. 

Hoeller, George, Geneva, was born in Nuremberg, Germany, December 23, 1843. 
He was educated in his native country^ and came to the United States with his uncle 

k 



82 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

in 1859, first locating in New York city. He came to Geneva in 1860, and by occupa- 
tion is a caterer and confectioner. April 20, 1869, he married Marion ZQbrist of 
Geneva, and they have three children : John, who resides in the West ; William, who 
is now the champion bicyclist of the the world ; and Georgia R., who resides at home. 

Hemiup, George M., Geneva, was born in Yates county, October 22, 1822. He re- 
ceived a commercial education and for many years was a successful merchant of 
Geneva. November 12, 1851, he married Maria, oldest daughter of Rev. Seth W. and 
Maria (Pickering) Remington, then of Geneva. Mr. and Mrs. Hemiup had two daugh-J 
ters : May L., who died at the age of eight years, and Vernie, who married James M. 
Haley of Brooklyn. Mr. Hemiup's father, Alexander, was born in Geneva in 1799, 
and married Mary Mills of Havana, N. Y. They had one son and two daughters: 
George M., Catherine, who married Pliilip Roof of Eddytown, Yates county ; and Cor- 
nelia, who married John Roof of the same place. Alexander Hemiup died in 1888, and! 
his wife in the same year. The grandfather, John, was a soldier in the Revolutionary! 
war, and came here with General La Fayette. He had some land given him for hisi 
military service, known as the Swan and Johnson tract. ^Irs. Hemiup's father, the 
Rev. Seth W. Remington, was born in Vermont in 1807, and married Maria Pickering, 
born in Massachusetts, a descendant of Col. Timothy Pickering. They had four sons 
and two daughters. Six grew to maturity : Chauncey P., Maria. Pierpont, William, 
Josephine and Lamartine. The late Col. S. Pierpont Remington served with distinction 
in the Eleventh Cavalry N. Y. Vols. Mrs. Hemiup's great-grandfathers were officers 
in the War of the Revolution. Mrs. Hemiup has written many articles of a scientific 
nature for the public press which attracted much notice, and is the author of a book 
entitled "Law of Heat," which has been received with a great deal of interest and has 
been much commended, and is now preserved in the educational exhibits of the State 
at Albany. Her name is recorded in the dictionary of English and American authors. 

Herendeen, Oscar D., Farmington, was born on the old homestead in the south part 
of the town of Farmington, March 30, 1841, was educated in the common schools and 
the Friends' Boarding School at Union Springs, and through the early years of his life 
was a farmer. March 13, 1860, he married Anne E., daughter of Peter and Rebecca 
Smith of Farmington, and they have one son, Louis D., born June 25, 1863. He was 
educated in the public schools, Macedon and Lima Seminaries, and November 22, 1886, 
married Minnie I., daughter of Morey E. and Esther Power, of their native town. 
They have one son, Howard D., who was born July 29,1887. Nathan G., father of 
Oscar D., was born in Farmington on the old place, February 21, 1813, and married 
Jane Sage of Hopewell. She was born May 31, 1816, They had four children: 
Marietta, Welcome G., Oscar D. and Caroline E. Nathan died February 22, 1855, and 
his wife April 15, 1854. Mr. Herendeen's grandfather. Welcome, was born in Smith- 
field, R. I., April 18, 1768. In 1769 his father moved his family to Adams, Mass., and 
in 1790 came to Farmington. He was twice married, first in 1794, to Elizabeth Durfee 
of Palmyra, by whom he had five children : Edward, Gideon, Anna, Huldah and 
Durfee. Mrs. Herendeen died in 1804, and he married in 1806 Mercy Gardner, who 
was born January 1, 1772, and they had three children: Elizabeth, Welcome W, and 



J^aMily sketches. ^3 

Nathan G. Mrs. Annie R. Herendeen's father, Peter Smith, was born on the old Smith 
homestead in Farmington, November 23, 1817, and in 1837 married Rebecca Mills, and 
had four children : Sarah E., Annie E., Abigail and John Q. Mr. Smith's father, Levi, 
was born in Adams, Mass., in 1774 and came to this State when a young man, where he 
married in 1798 Tabitha Culver and had ten children. Mrs. Smith's grandfather was in 
the Revolutionary army. 

Hubbard, T. S., Geneva, was born in Cameron, Steuben county, in 1843, and in ISGG 
he settled in Fredonia and engaged in grape growing, being the first man in the State 
to grow grape vines in large quantities. To-day the T. S. Hubbard Company in the 
largest producer of grape vines in the United States, growing yearly 100 to 120 acres. 
In 1888 Mr. Hubbard settled in Geneva, but has a general supervision of the business. 
The capital of the company is iji;50,000. 

Hofi'man, Frank C, Geneva, was born in Bavaria, December 10, 1849, and when eight- 
een years of age came to America and located in Manitowoc, Wis., and worked in a 
meat market for two years, then came to Buffalo, where he remained eight months, 
thence to Rochester, where he worked nearly six years, and then to Geneva, where he 
entered the employ of W. I. Higgin. In 1882 he bought out Mr. Higgin, and has car- 
ried on the business very successfully ever since. He has the largest market in Ge- 
neva, besides owning some half dozen houses. In 1880 he married Maggie Klepfer, 
and they have had two children, Annie and Lizzie. Mr. Hoffman is a member of Ark 
Lodge No. 33 F. & A. M., Geneva Chapter No. 36, and Geneva Commandery No. 29. 

Humphrey, W. F., Geneva, a native of Mississippi, and son of R. J. (editor and pro- 
prietor of the Poultney (Vt.) Journal, was born in 1856. He served his time at the 
printer's trade in Poultney, then completed his preparatory course at Troy Conference 
Academy and entered Hobart College, from which he was graduated in '82. He was 
assistant editor of the Geneva Gazette one year, and subsequently held the same posi- 
tion on the Geneva Courier two years. In 1885 he engaged in the printing business in 
Geneva in a small way. This enterprise developed rapidly, until now he has one of the 
largest and best equipped offices in Central New York. He has added a complete 
book-bindery, and employs thirty hands or more. He is a member of the Masonic 
Lodge, Chapter and Commandery in Geneva, of Damascus Temple A. A. 0. N. M. S., 
and of Geneva Lodge No. 231 K. of P. Mr. Humphrey married Ida P. Goff in 1881, 
and they have one son, Robert Elroy. 

Hallenbeck, D. W., Geneva, the present president and principal owner in the Torrey 
Park Land Company, and otherwise known as one of the leading business men of Ge- 
neva, was born in Columbia county, April 7, 1838. Early in life he prepared himself 
for mercantile pursuits, and, before coming to Geneva, Avas in business in Catskill, N. Y. 
Reading, Pa., Hudson, N. Y., and from the city last named came to Geneva in 1868, 
where he was for many years in the grocery business, and also connected with the 
manufacture and sale of cigars both in Geneva and Rochester. The Torrey Park Land 
Company was organized in 1889, and in its operations Mr. Hallenbeck has been the 
leading .spirit. He was the president of the People's Building, Loan, and Savings As- 



§4 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTT. 

sociation, and is now the treasurer of the Universal Savings and Loan Company. He 
is also in public affairs in Geneva and its locality, and lias held the office of village trus- 
tee. In politics Mr. Hallenbeck is an ardent Republican, yet in no manner a politician. 
He w^as first married in 1860 to EmraaL. Traver, by whom he had three thildren : Ells- 
worth L., Frank D., and Louise T. His wife died February 25, 1S85, and in January, 
1888, Mr. Hallenbeck married Bertha I. Pomeroy, of Geneva. 

Hawkins, Thomas W., Geneva, son of Thomas and Abbie (Rogers) Hawkins, was 
born in Manchester, N. Y., in 1859. He was educated at .Geneva, and in 1881 began 
business there, continuing five years. He has since that time been in the wholesale 
and retail liquor business, and is interested in several local manufacturing enterprises 
and in real estate. He has been trustee of the village six years. Politically a Demo- 
crat, he takes an active interest in politics. In 1881 he married Esther T. Smith, of 
Geneva, and they are the parents of six children. 

Hemiup, Charles N., Geneva, was born in Geneva, May 19, 1852, and is descended 
from pioneer stock in that county. He was educated in the public schools, entered 
Hobart College in 1869, and was graduated in 1873, being the valedictorian of the class. 
He read law with Judge Dusinberre, and was admitted in 1875 at the October General 
Term held in Monroe county. After admission and until July 1, 1879, Mr. Hemiup 
was the law partner of Judge Dusinberre, since which time he has continued his prac- 
tice alone. 

Hunn, Nathan S., Canandaigua, was born on a farm in Canandaigua, now occupied 
by his son, April 20, 1828. His grandfather. Rev. Zadock Hunn, was a native of Berk- 
shire, Mass., and came to this section in 1795. He, in company with Rev. John Ralph, 
organized the Congregational Society of Canandaigua. He married in Massachusetts 
Mary Morton, and they had five children, of whom James G. was the oldest son. He 
was born in 1781 in Massachusetts, and since the age of fourteen made this farm his 
home. At the death of his^ father he assumed the management of the farm. He mar- 
ried Eliza Gillette, also of Massachusetts, and of their eleven children two survive : 
Thomas, of Bristol, and George, of Gainesville, Wyoming county. Nathan S. was the 
youngest son. His whole life was spent on the farm, which has now been in the pos- 
session of the family almost a century. Mr. Hunn has erected on it a beautiful resi- 
dence, with fine barns, etc. He was a man of excellent management, and after the 
death of his father increased the farm from 150 to 350 acres. He was an upright and 
honest man and citizen. December 25, 1852, he married Marcia A., daughter of Shel- 
don and Roxana (Holmes) Squire. They have had three children : James G., who died 
February 10, 1878, aged twenty-four years ; Eliza A., wife of William H. Pierce, a 
farmer of Canandaigua ; and Frank S., who conducts the homestead farm. Nathan S. 
died October 26, 1879, mourned by all who knew him. Frank S. was born August 3, 
1863. He was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and took up farming for a living. 
He with his parents and sister united with the First Universalist Church of Bristol in 
1877. He is a young man of character, temperate, virtuous and honest in all his deal- 
ings. Feoruary 5, 1885, he married OIlie B. Totman, of Wisconsin, who died Decem- 
ber 23, 1888. He remained single over four years, when on the 4th of April, ,1893, he 
married Lida L. Monagle, of New York. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 85 

Huntly, Austin C, Oanandaigua, was born near Cheshiro, October 30, 1852, a son of 
Elias and Polly (Hutchens) Huntly. Rufus Huntly came from Massachusetts in 1811, 
locating in Oanandaigua. He had eight children, and finally moved to Ohio, where he 
died in 1S60. Elias married in 1824 Annie Austin, who died December 12, 1850, leav- 
ing one son, Ralph L., who died August 23, 1863, aged thirty-six. Mr. Huntley married 
again, May 6, 1851, Polly, daughter of John and Catharine (Wager) Hutchens, and 
they had one child, Austin C. He was educated in the Oanandaigua Academy, and at 
the death of his father, November 27, 1866, took charge of the farm. In 1889 he was 
elected on the Republican ticket commissioner of highways, and re-elected in 1893. Mr. 
Huntlv is a trustee of the Union Ohurch in Cheshire. He married iu 1871 Frances M., 
daughter of C. L. Randall, of South Bristol, and they have two children, Nellie M., and 
Lois A. 

Holmes, D.D.S., Horace Nathaniel, Oanandaigua. Dr. H. N. Holmes is the son of 
Nathaniel Breed Holmes and Almira E. Banks of the Hicks-Campbell families, well- 
known throughout New England. His father is a native of New Hampshire, and his 
mother of Maine. Dr. Holmes was born in Belfast, Waldo county. Me., in 1865. 
Paternal interests lying on the Pacific coast, the subject of this sketch went to Califor- 
nia, and at the age of eight was duly entered in the preparatory department of Liver- 
more College, graduating as a medallist in the class of '83. After a year in travel and 
two years as teacher (part of the time in his Alma Mater), Dr. Holmes entered the 
class of '89 at the University of Michigan, serving his class as president during one year 
and being elected to the several college societies in his department. While as student 
he was the protege of the distinguished Dr. Wm. H. Atkinson, of New York city, and 
of the present Dean, Prof. Jonathan Taft, enjoying hospital privileges and private 
clinics, which proved of incalculable benefit in after years. After gaining his degree 
he joined an old and noted practitioner. Dr. Ezra H. Stewart, of Joliet, 111., till the fall 
of 1891, when he came to Oanandaigua and assumed the extensive practice of Dr. G. 
H. Watson, who had recently gone to Germany as one of the dentists of the Royal 
court. Dr. Holmes has contributed some to the dental literature of the time, is a mem- 
ber of the Seventh District Dental Society of New York, and several fraternal organi- 
zations. 

Hyde, Caleb Briggs, Canadice, was born in Canadice, November 30, 1829. His 
father, James, was born in New Jersey in 1785 and died in 1855. The wife of the 
latter was Ann Grant, whose father was an Englishman. James moved first to Cayuga 
county, where he lived twelve years, then in 1824 came to Canadice and settled where 
Caleb B. now lives. Of his eleven children three now survive. John went west, and 
in 1849 took the overland route to California, the company consisting of fourteen 
wagons driven by ox teams. James F. and Warner L. reside at Oenterfield. Caleb 
B. was educated in the public schools and has always been a farmer. In 1856 he mar- 
ried Martha Partridge, of Prattsburg, Steuben county, who bore him three children . 
Ervie L., Lewis J., and Arthur M. The latter is traveling in the west. Mr. Hyde mar- 
ried second, in 1884, Lucina E. Butler, whose father was from Pennsylvania, and her 
mother from New Jersey. Mr. Hyde has been commissioner of highways six years> 
and supervisor in 1880-81-90-91. He is a Republican and a Methodist. 



86 HISTORY OF ONTARIO CX)UXTY. 

Howey, Joel M„ Canaadaisna. was "rom in Canandaigua, Janaary 30, 1S19. His 
grandfather was a native of 2sew Jersey, born at'oni 1765. who moTed to Athens, Pa., 
when a yoong man. and married Lodema Harris. They were among the earliest set- 
tletB <^ iJTingston county, coming there aboat 1798. and moved to Canandaigua in 
1815. In 1833 he went to Oluo, where he died in 1835. He had seren sons and four 
dangfatos. John, the oldest s<»i. and father of Joel M.. was bom in Canada, in Sep- 
tMnber, 1795. during his pareists" brief residence there. He served in the war of 1812, 
and in 1818 he married Harriet Moore, daughter of Joel and Sarah (GiDett) Moore. 
In 1825 he bought a farm, wberahe spent his life. He was a Republican, and also took 
great intraest in church work, having been for many years a member of the M. K 
CSiun^ He died in Septembra-, 1S63. and his wife in Septemlter, 1848. Of their 
ogbt children the only survivor is Joel M. The latter was educated in the common 
schools and at Canandaigua Academy. The latter lived on his father's farm until 1848, 
when he removed to lois 77-78. then in 1885 came to the village and took up his 
present residence. He is a staundi Republican, and has held several town offices, 
among th»n being that of supervisor. He is now commissioner of excise. In 1841 
he married Letida. daughter of Lewis and Phoebe CConover) Johnson. Of their five 
diSdren only one is now living, Hattie H., wife of W. E. Booth, of Geneseo. The 
only s(Hi reaching adult age. John M., was bom in 1852. and was educated at Lima 
Seminanr, and married in 1875, Anna, daughter of Francis J. Castle, of Canandaigua, 
and they had two children, Martha M. and Louise L. John M. died April 25, 1884. 
Mrs. Howey, wife of Joel M., died Septemba- 15, 1883, and Mr. Howey's family is 
now otHnpoeed of his son's wddow and his two granddaughters. 

HaDenbeck, Dr. Oriando J., Canandaigua, was bom in Schenectady coimty in 1853, 
a SOD of Charles, a farmer of that county. He was educated in CobleskiU, Schoharie 
county, at the Union Free School From there he went to the Geneseo Normal 
SdKKtl, and graduated i^ the dassical course in 1875. He taught for two year?, and 
then entered Albany Medical College, from which he graduated in 1879. In the com- 
petitive examination he was recommended, and secured the position of resident phy- 
aoan and surgeon of Albany City Hospital, where he remained six months, and then 
came to Canandaigua. where he has enjoyed a lucrative practice. Dr. Hallenbeck was 
Seated in 1892, on the Republican ticket, coroner of the county. He married in 
1880, Eliza P. Ewer, of Mendon. and they have four children : Lois M, Clive E., Claude 
O., and M3dred. Dr. Hallenbeck is trustee of the Presbyterian Church and a member 
of the Board of Education : also secretary of the village Society of Physicians, and 
president of the Canandaigua Anglers' Association. 

Hereodeen, Nathaniel C, Farmingtnn. fourth child of Edward and Harriet Heren- 
deen, was bom August 2, 1827, in Farroington. He was educated in the common 
eciiools, and when fourteen years old had a severe fit of sickness which rendered him 
lame for life. October IL 1858, he married Helen M., daughter of Esquire and Esther 
Thomas of his natire town. She died July 8, 1878. They had four children : Ros- 
weD C, bom June 20. I860: Mary E., bora April 1, 1864, married, August 13, 18a5, 
William McC<Mnb, of Manchester, now of Chicago, III., a machinist, and they had one 
son, who died in infancy, and one daughter, Frances W. : Samuel died in infancy, and 



FAMILY SKETCHED. ?7 

Lydia M.. borr. Apri! 15. 1S66, who marrie'i Marcii !■;. i^r7. Ctarles E. Harrl::ri:n. :: 
Manchester, az-d I'^-ij had two chfldren : Helen M.. bom Decemb'er 2S. ISrr; azi 
Naihaniel C. bom Jane 20, 1892. The ancestrr of this branch of the familj is Welsh 
and Scotch. 

Hntchens. Hiram L.. Canandaigna. was bora in Canandaigua, April 15, 1839, a soo 
of Henry Hutchens. who TS'as a natire ^f Tares coontT. bom in Jerasaileni in 1816, 
who came to Canandaigna in lS-30. and t-ought a farm near Che^iire. He married 
PoIIv Livermore of this town, bv whom he had seren diildren. one died in infancT, 
and the others being Flovd and Xodiah. farmers ; Sarah, wife of Enos Booth : Dr. 
John Hntchens. of Cheshire : Charles, a carpenter : and Hiram L. H^ury Hnidiens 
died Novemt>er 19, 1S£9. and his wife is sriU living at seventy-fire years cf age. Hiram 
L. was educated at Canandaigna Academy, and 5tudie«i law one season with Edwin 
H'cks. In the fall of 18^2 he enlisted with the One Hondred and Forty- eighth New 
York Volnnteers, but was soon after transferred to the Quartermaster's department 
and was chief clerk of the Second Division of the Eighteenth Army Corps. He was 
afterwards connected with the Twenty-fifth Corps, After the taking of Richmond he 
was located in that city, where he had charge of stores that issned rati(His to the city's 
destitute. He was mustered out June 22, 1S6d. under general oniers. In 1?66 he lo- 
cated in the Eighth District of Virginia in charge of the Freetimans Bureau. wh«e he 
remained but one season, when he returned to Canandaigua and engaged in mercan- 
tile business, which he has since followed. He now ccnducts a mtisic store on Main 
street and carries a full line of musical instruments arJ sewing machines. He married 
in Decemt-er. 1859, Mary A. Townsend. of Canandaigna, by whom he has four chil- 
dren : William C. a manufacturer of gloves and mittens at Johnstown : Clara, wife of 
Royal E. Scott, a lawyer of Canandaigna ; Frank T., an artist of New York, and Floyd, 
of J. Levy's store, who is a Republican, a Mason, and is now serving his third year as 
master of the Canandaigna Lodge. No. 294 ; also a member of Excelsior Chapter. No. 
IW, R. A. M.. and its present high priest ; also a meml^r of the K. of P.. and of the 
G. A. R. 

Hulse, Daniel M. Canandaigna, was bom in Goshen, Orange eonnty, Septenber 26, 
iS36. His father, William Y.. was a native of Orange county, who moved into Yates 
county and settled in Jerusalem, where he died in the sixty-fifrh year of his age. He 
married Lucretia Millspaugh for his first wife, who died when Daniel was an infant- 
He married a second time Maria Mil'spaugh, daughter of Adam Millspaugh. He had 
two daughters by his second wife. H. EI;zat>eth. wife of Hon. F. O. Chamberlain : and 
Cornelia, wife of George Tuttle, a farmer of Branchport, Yates eonnty, Daniel was 
educated in the common schools of Yates county, and assisted on his father's farm 
until nearly of age, then went into the store of F. H. Briggs at Penn Yan. In 1559 he 
went into business for himself at Penn Yan. the store he conducted being burned oat 
in 1861. Daniel was one of the first to answer the call for volunteers at the outbreak 
of the war, and in August. 1S61, he enlisted in Company A, Fiftieth New York En- 
gineers, Captain Ford commanding. He served with this regiment three years and four 
months, and was in the great battles of Fredericksburg. Chickahominy, Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania, White Oak Church, Antietam. etc Mr. Hulse enlisted as a private and 



88 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

was promoted first in Washington to orderly sergeant, December 11, 1862; at the first 
Fredericksburg fight he was made second heutenant, and made first Heutenant after the 
battle of the Wilderness. He served as aid- de-camp on the staff of General Benham, 
and was appointed quartermaster of his old regiment, which position he held until 
mustered out of service. He returned to Penn Yan, and after spending one year as 
an oil speculator in Oil City, Pa., he came to Canandaigua, and for a year conducted 
the Rushville stage route, then went into the hotel business, afterward the grocery 
business, and in June, 1879, he went into the post-office as clerk under F. 0. Chamber- 
lain. In 1880 he was made deputy postmaster, and has held that r>ffice continuously 
ever since. He is serving his third year as commander of Albert H. Murray Post G. 
A. R., No. 162, is trustee of the village, and member of Canandaigua Lodge, No. 294, 
F. & A. M. ; also a member of the A. 0. U. W. Mr. Hulse married in 18G0, Marietta 
Hopkins, of Penn Yan, and they have four children : Ferdinand G., a telegraph oper- 
ator ; Harry E., an operator; M. Mae, and William Youngs, a student. Mr. Hulse is 
a Democrat. He has served five years as a fireman, a part of the time assistant fore- 
man of Steamer Company No. 1, and was sergeant of the Twenty-fifth Separate Com- 
pany for five years, receiving an honorable discharge. 

Hollister, Dr. Edwin 0., East Bloomfield, was born in Batavia, April 4, 1845, a son 
of Nathan E. and Margaretta (Wortendyke) Hollister, of Batavia and Hopewell, re- 
spectively. They had four children : Cornelia, Edwin 0., and Eugenia ; the other died 
in infanc}'. Subject was reared on the farm and had a district school education, sup- 
plemented by an academic course at Alexandria. He taught school in early days, and 
also spent a year in a store at Batavia. In the latter town he read medicine with Dr. 
Clark, then attended a course of lectures at Buffalo, and graduated from Bellevue Hos- 
pital Medical College, New York. In the fall of 1874 he located at East Bloomfield, 
where he practiced all his life, and was a skillful surgeon. He served in county and 
town offices, and was a Democrat and a Mason. He died October 8, 1887. He was a 
trustee of the Congregational Church, was one of the Board of Education for seven 
years. June 5, 1878, he married Sarah A., daughter of Henry W. and Sibyll (Sears) 
Hamlin, but had no children. He spent the last year of his life in the bank. The doc- 
tor was a member of County, State and National Medical Associations, and served as 
president of the County Society. 

Hill, Charles G., Victor, was born in the old homestead August 2, 1854, was edu- 
cated in the public school, and is a farmer. March 8, 1885, he married Sarah Gougerty 
of Victor, and they have two children : Gregory C, and a son not. named. (For the 
balance of the Hill family see Mrs. Jerome Hill's sketch.) 

Herendeen, Charles H., Farmington, was born on the farm which he owns, and on 
which he resides, June 13, 1840. He was educated in the public schools and Macedon 
Academy, and is a farmer. In politics he is a Democrat, and was elected supervisor of 
the town in the spring of 1892, the first Democrat in thirteen years, and has been re- 
elected. December 18, 1862, he married Julia M., daughter of Proctor and Mary L. 
Newton of the town of Manchester. Mr. Herendeen's father, W. Wilkinson, was born 
on the old homestead July 10, 1810, was educated in the common schools, and was a 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 89 

farmer. January 12, 1832, he married Caroline L. Arnold of this town, and had two 
children : William R., died in infancy, and Charles H. Mr. Herendeen's grandfather, 
Welcome Herendeen, was born in Berkshire county, Mass., April IS, 1768. He mar- 
ried twice, first in 1794, Elizabeth, daughter of Gideon and Anna Durfer, of Palmyra. 
May 18, 180(3, he married second Mercey Gardner, and they had three children. The 
Herendeen family of the old stock belonged to the Friends. Mrs. Herendeen's father, 
Proctor Newton, was born in Suffield, Conn., June 16, 1799. May 4, 1823, he married 
Mary Larned, who was born March 16, 1801, and came to the town of Hopewell in the 
year of 1830. They had seven children. The family are all Baptists. Mr. Heren- 
deen's father died December 16, 1892, and his mother May 8, 1887. Mrs. Herendeen's 
father died May 15, 1878, and her mother July 13, 1884. The Herendeen family en- 
tered their new log house in this town March 15, 1790. 

Harris, Charles, Gorham, was born in Gorham in 1881 on the farm settled by his 
grandfather Isaac. The latter married Jane Freier, and they came from Ulster county 
in an early day. The father of Charles was Francis, born in Ulster county in 1797, who 
came with his parents to Gorham. He married Harriet Johnson, and had seven sons 
and four daughters. Charles Harris married in 1850 Irene Metcalf, born in Naples, 
February 18, 1826, a daughter of Lemuel Metcalf, a native of Massachusetts, who came 
with his father, Jabez, to Naples and married Almira Parish, by whom he had nine 
children. He died in 1866 and his wife in 1867. Charles Ha'-ris has five children : 
Clara, born in 1859, died in 1873; Hattie, born m 1861; H. Stanley, born in 1862; A- 
Metcalf, born in 1862 ; Mary E., born in 1867. H. Stanley was educated in Canandai- 
gua Academy and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. He married Martha Caward, born in 
Seneca, a daughter of William and Martha Caward of that town, and they have one 
son, Raymond C. A. Metcalf Harris was born in 1862, and educated in Canandaigua 
Academy and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. He married Rosina B., daughter of Rob- 
ert and Ann Lightfoot, natives of England, who reside in Gorham. A. M. Harris and 
wife have two children : Nellie M. and Howard R. The Harris family are Methodists, 
and H. S. Harris and father are both holding offices in the church. Three of Francis 
Harris's sons were ministers: Hiram, a Presbyterian minister, and Horace and Isaac 

1.7 , 

Methodist ministers. 

Hawkes, Thomas, Manchester, was born in England, February 7, 1835. He received 
a liberal education in the public schools, and in 1854 came to this country and engaged 
in the business of market gardening. This branch of industry he has since been exten- 
sively connected with, owning market gardens both here and in the south. About 
three years ago he sold his southern interests, and has since devoted himself exclusively 
to his home trade. Mr. Hawkes married an English lady, Ann Harvey, and they have 
had nine children, some of whose bright intellects are recognized both in this country 
and far off Burmah, where a daughter of the subject has withstood the hardships of 
that climate for the past four years, engaged in teaching and missionary work. 

Hamlin, John S., East Bloomfield, was born in Bloomfield, July 14, 1842, a son of 
Henry W.. a son of Elijah, who was born in Great Barrington, Mass.. and came to 
Bloomfield prior to 180U, and settled on 220 acres near the village. He had eleven 
1 



90 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

children : Adolphus, John, Elijah, Calvin, Philo, Henry, Caroline, Esther, Lydia, Mary 
and Olive. Henry W. was born October 20, 1807, and died November 30, 1891. He 
was a farmer and speculator, and always lived in Bloomfield, where he accumulated a 
large property, owning over 1,000 acres. He served as supervisor and was a Republi- 
can. He married Sibyll B. Sears, daughter of Dr. John Sears, of Sharon, Conn., and 
she died in 1870. They reared six children: John S., Agnes D., Frank H., Anna B., 
Sarah A., George W. (deceased). John was reared in Bloomfield, and received a dis- 
trict school and academic education. At the age of twenty he began hfe for himself, 
first working a farm on shares for two years, when his father purchased 177 acres in 
East Bloomfield, where he lived about eight years. In 1874 he moved to the village, 
where he and his brother conducted a meat market several years, also a coal and lum- 
ber yard For three years he has been engaged in the bank which was started by his . 
father and Charles Steele in 1879. He now owns and operates several farms, compris- 
ing about 1,000 acres. He is a Republican and served three terms as supervisor. He 
has been twice married, first to Elizabeth, d^ghter of Hiram Holcomb and Eliza White, 
and by her had two sons : William H. and Frederic H. His wife died m December, 
1879, and he married second Minnie, daughter of George and Jane (Scott) Howell, of 
Steuben county, by whom he had two children • Marion H. and Sarah H. 

Howe, M.D., William A., Phelps, was born in Phelps, September 11, 18G2, one of 
seven children of John Q. and Nancy A. (Griffith) Howe. John Q., the father, was born 
in Arcadia, Wayne county, in 1818; came to Phelps when a boy and spent his life in 
the town, engaging for more than forty- five years in the active practice of medicine. 
Thomas Howe, the grandfather, was born in Vermont, and came to this State and set- 
tled about the beginning of the century, his ancestors coming to Vermont from Eng- 
land early in the seventeeth century. William A. married, May 17, 1892, Elizabeth M., 
daughter of Samuel S. and Frances (Bellamy) Partridge, of Phelps. They have one 
child, Margaret Partridge, born April 5, 1893. He graduated from the Phelps Union 
and Classical School in 1882; entered Hobart College in the fall of the same year, and 
graduated there in 1885. He then entered Columbia Medical College, New York, grad- 
uating in 1888, since which time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession 
in Phelps. 

Ham, Burton D., East Bloomfield, was born in East Bloomfield, Decembers, 1817, a 
son of Robert and Eunice Gyle Ham. The grandfather, Thomas, was a son of Gabriel, 
who came from Scotland and settled near Dartmouth College. Here Thomas, his son, 
was born, and he was the father of five daughters and eight sons, three of whom died 
in the war for independence. Robert, the fifth son of Thomas, the father of Burton D., 
was born near New Haven, Conn., and was a tailor by trade. He moved to New 
Hampshire, then in 180G came to Canandaigua, remained two years, then returned and 
brought his family. In 1808 he settled in East Bloomfield. He was one of the organ- 
izers of the First Universalist Church and was truly a conscientious Christian. He 
owned a farm in Hopewell on which he lived three years, then returned to East Bloom- 
field and died there aged eighty-three. He was twice married, first to a daughter of 
Governor Marsh, of Vermont, by whom he had two sons, Ida and (^arlysle, and two 
daughters, Cilvy and Orell. He married second Eunice, a daughter of Stephen Gyle, a 



Family sketches. 9i 

prominent man of his time, being general purveyor for the Army of the Revolution, and 
owner of nearly eight entire townships of land in Vermont and New Hampshire at the 
time of his death. Subject's father had nine children by his second wife, three sons and 
six daughters, two daughters and two sons are yet living. Moses F. Haram, a prominent 
and successful business man of Newark, Wayne county ; Helen Leste, of Marion ; Eunice 
Orcutt of West Bloomfield ; and Burton D. Ham, of East Bloomfield. Rev. Robert 
Ham, brother of Burton and Moses, was pastor of the Baptist Church at Oberlin, O., 
and died in Cleveland in 1860. His mother died in Hopewell in 1852, aged sixty-one 
years. Burton received a common school education, then taught school several terms, 
the first term when only sixteen years of age. He has been a farmer over forty years, 
and for many years owned several hundred acres of land in East Bloomfield, but now 
only cares for about two hundred acres. He was an active politician, first Whig then 
Republican, and for the last seven years a Prohibitionist. He has been a delegate to 
county conventions in all twenty-two years, and was constable and collector eight 
years in succession in the town of Bristol. He has been a collector of coins, Indian 
relics, and rare old books for the last thirty years, and now has the best library of old 
books in Western New York. He was one of the organizers of the Historical Society, 
and has been a frequent contributor on historical subjects to various journals. He mar- 
ried Evelina B. Spencer, daughter of George and Pamelia P. Spencer, and they have 
had three children : Adelaide, wife of Myron Codding ; Delia, wife of Jewitt Harvey ; 
and Georgianna B. Ham. 

Harkness, Deroy J., Canandaigua, was born in Potter, Yates county, February 3, 
1835, a son of Hiram, a farmer of that town. When three years of age his father, 
Hiram Harkness, moved to the town of Gorham, Ontario county. Deroy J. was edu- 
cated at the Rushville Academy, and after leaving school followed farming until 18G2. 
August 22 of that year he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-eighth N. 
Y. Vols., and saw service with the Army of the James, serving under General Butler. 
In 18G4 a connection was formed with the Army of the Potomac, and his regiment was 
at the battles of Drury's Bluff, Fair Oaks, Cold Harbor, in front of Petersburg, and 
many other engagements. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Fair 
Oaks, October 27, 1864, and was kept in hospital prison until February 6, 1865, when 
he was exchanged, after which he was mustered out in May of that year. Returning 
home he engaged in farming. In 188-4 Mr. Harkness was elected supervisor of the 
town of Gorham on the Republican ticket and re-elected in 1885 and 1886 by increased 
majorities. The fall election of 1891 he was elected county clerk over George Shepard, 
of Phelps, by a majority of nearly 700. Mr. Harkness married in September, 1865, 
EHza, daughter of John Dunton, of Naples, who died in October, 1881. He has five 
children: Hiram, a farmer; John, of the county clerk's office; Fred, a farmer; Fanny 
and Adelaide. 

Harkness, Daniel B., Gorham, was born in Potter, August 26, 1831, and was six 
years old when he came to Gorham with his parents. He was educated in the common 
schools and Canandaigua Academy, and farming has always been his occupation. 
October 12, 1854, he married Mary Whitman, a native of Gorham, born May 21, 1832. 
She is a daughter of Henry G. and Emeline (Stearns) Whitman, of Gorham, who had 



92 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

three daughters and one son. To Mr. Harkness and wife were born six children : 
Charles W., Albert H. (deceased), Ellen M., Anna L., Isabel C. and Frank H. Mr. 
Harkness is a Republican and has been justice of the peace for twelve years and assessor 
Six years. Mrs. Harkness's mother was a daughter of Ariel Stearns, a native of Massa- 
chusetts, and one of the first settlers here. His wife was Analine Mapes, by whom he 
had three sons and four daughters. The father of Daniel B. Harkness is Hiram, born 
in Potter, Yates county, January 2, 1809. His father was a native of Massachusetts, 
and an early settler of Yates county. His first wife was Miss Foster, and to them were 
born four children. His second wife was Fannie Earned, by whom he had four children. 
He was a physician and had an extensive practice. He died in 1819. Hiram Harkness 
married Eliza, daughter of Deacon Daniel and Sallie "White, natives of Massachusetts, 
who had two sons and four daughters. Air. Harkness was supervisor six, and assessor 
several years. For the last twenty years he has lived a retired life, and at present re- 
sides with his daughter Emma. He is now eighty- four years old, and has never missed 
an election, being a Republican. He has two sons and two daughters. 

Horton, Isaiah, Victor, was born in Springwater, Livingston county, August 27, 1831, 
was educated in the district schools, and has always been a fanner. February 21, 1856, 
he married Miss R. E. Adams, of Springwater, who was born August 28, 1830. They 
had six children : Hiram C, who married Ella Sanderson and has two children, Ruth 
and Genevieve ; Coe C, who is a railroad man and married Lillie Harrington, of Victor ; 
Amarilla, who married Alfred N. Crandall; Arabelle A. is not married, and is a teacher; 
Joseph M. is also a teacher; and Manly A., who died at the age of six years. All the 
children except Coe are graduates of Geneseo Normal School in the higher grades, and 
and are holding positions of trust and honor. Mr. Horton settled in the town of Victor 
in the year 1865. His father, Isaiah, was born in Scipio, Cayuga county, July 26, 1796 
and married Charlotte Chatfield, of his native county. They had ten children: Ama- 
rilla, Elisha, Miranda, Eliza, Hiram, Esther, Lucinda, Isaiah, Mary and Lewis. Three 
died when quite young. Mr. Horton was a member of the Republican party until 1872, 
when he identified himself with the Prohibition party ; in fact he was one of its earliest 
promoters in this vicinity ; he voted all alone in Victor township for this party for ten 
years. Mr. Horton's father was a soldier in the War of 1812. The ancestry of this 
family is English and Dutch. 

Halladay, Elmer, Manchester, was born m Michigan, April 4, 1856, where he was 
educated and lived until 1883. He then moved to this State, where he has since fol- 
lowed agricultural pursuits on a farm inherited from his grandfather, Thomas Howland. 
His wife was Lilla Crane, and they have one daughter. 

Herendeen, Wilkinson A., Farmington, was born Jan. 29, 1835. He was educated in 
the public schools, and has followed farming. February 10, 1858, he married Elizabeth, 
daughter of Alanson and Elizabeth Goodnow, of Ontario, Wayne county. They have 
had four children: Edward J., who died in his twenty-first year; Charles W., who 
married Mary A. Tuttle, of this town, and had four children : Elizabeth, Mabel, Edward 
W. and Ruth C. ; Harriet E. and Florence B. are residing at home with their parents. 
Mr. Herendeen's father, Edward, was born in the southeast part of the town February 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 93 

10, 1785, and was a farmer. He was county superintendent of tlie poor seventeen 
years. March 8, 1821, he married Harriet Cudworth, of the town of Bristol. They 
had eleven children : G. Maria, Lydia S., Nathaniel C, Mary E., Huldah A., Wilkinson, 
who died young, Wilkinson A., Welcome D., Gideon D., Edward F., and Henry M., 
who died in infancy ; Mary also died when she was thirteen years old. Mr. Heren- 
deen's grandfather, Welcome, was born in the town of Smithfield, R. I., and went with 
his father to Adams, Mass., in 1709, then to Farmington in 1790. He married Eliza- 
beth Durphy, of Palmyra, and had five children: Edward, Gideon, Anna, Huldah and 
Durphy. His great-grandfather, Nathan, was born in the town of Cumberland, R. I., 
in 1741. He was the father of Welcome, who went with him to Massachusetts, and 
he traded his property in the above place for 1,000 acres in Farmington, and came with 
his family here in 1790. Mrs. Herendeen's father, Alanson Goodnow, was born May 

24, 1796. May 8, 1822, he married Elizabeth Stewart, of Niagara, Upper Canada- 
They had ten children : Miranda, Charles, Alanson, jr., William, Willis, Andrew J., 
Elizabeth E., Truman W., Josephus and Lucius. Mrs. Herendeen's grandfather was a 
soldier in the War of 1812. The ancestry of the family is Danish. 

Higinbotham, William A., Victor, was born in Williamsburg, N. Y., November 20, 
1852, and came with his parents to East Bloomfield when he was about two years old. 
He was educated in the common schools and East Bloomfield Academy, and when a 
young man was clerk in his father's store. In the year 1875 he became a partner in 
the firm of F. Munson & Co., general merchants, continuing the business until 1882. 
In 1883 he removed to Victor, N. Y., and became junior member of the banking firm 
of Parmele,' Hamlin & Co. In 1888 the above firm was dissolved, and was succeeded 
by Higinbotham and Wilbur, who now conduct the business. October 2, 1878, Mr. 
Higinbotham married Anna B., daughter of Henry W. and Sybil S. Hamlin, of East 
Bh omfield. They have had five children : Jessie, who died at the age of seven years, 
Robert G., Agnes, Annie and George. Mr. Higinbotham's father, George, was born 
in County Cavan, Ireland, and came to the United States when a young man, locating 
in New York city. Was a clerk in the office of the Eveninr) Pod for some years 
when Wm. C. Bryant had editorial charge of it. He afterwards moved to East Bloom- 
field, where he was a respected merchant until he died in 18S7. He was identified 
with every measure that helped to elevate mankind. He was twice married, first to 
Catherine Adsit, of Valatie, Columbia county, by whom he had four children : George, 
William A., Frederick and Annie. Mrs. Higinbotham died in 1880. His second wife 
was Magdalena Mast, of East Bloomfield, by whom he had one daughter, Jennie M. 

Hathaway, Joseph P., Farmington, was born on the old Hathaway homestead in 
Farmington, August 31, 1833. He was educated in the district schools and m the 
Canandaigua Academy, and is now a farmer. February 20, 1801, he married Ellen A., 
second daughter of Arnold A. and Maria Bristol, of Macedon, Wayne county, and they 
have three children, as follows : Elizabeth, who married Andrew J. Hamm, of Macedon, 
Wayne county; Arnold B., a farmer with his father; and Ellen, who married Charles 
C. Gunnison. Mrs. Hathaway died June 12, 1874, and he married second, September 

25, 1878, Mrs. Helena Beach, of Victor. Perez, father of Joseph P. Hathaway, was 
born on the old homestead July 12, 1805. He was educated in the district schools, 



94 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

and March 7, 1822, married Hannah Lapham, by whom he had four children : Ehza- 
beth C, who died in her eleventh year ; Joseph P., Ann M., who married George 
Collins, and Rebecca J., who died in 1873. Mr. Hathaway's grandfather, Isaac, was 
the pioneer of the family in this town. He was born in Rhode Island, October 28, 
1755, and in 17S4 married Jemima Comstock, of Rhode Island, by whom he had two 
children, Isaac and Otis. Soon after their marriage his wife rode horseback from there 
here, and used a poplar sprout as a whip; on arriving home she planted the whip by 
their log house, which has since grown into a large tree. She died in 1793. For his 
second wife he married. May 4, 1794, Elizabeth Richmond, formerly, of Connecticut, 
and they had four children : Sylvester R., Charles, Phoebe and Perez. The family were 
of the Friends' faith. The fifth generation is now residing on the farm, a granddaughter 
of Joseph P. Hathaway. The first settler of the family bought GOO acres on these 
four corners, about 240 acres of which is still in possession of the descendants of the 
family. 

Hathaway, A. Chandler, Bristol, a native of Bristol, was born February 23, 1822, and 
is a son of Abial, a son of Seth, a native of Vermont, who came to Bristol about 
1804. His wife was Bathsheba Gooding, and they reared seven sons and four daugh- 
ters. He settled on a farm (part of which subject now owns). He was an Anti-Fed- 
eralist and was the first justice of the peace in Bristol, appointed by the governor. 
Abial was born March 1, 1786, and came to Bristol when a young man. He married 
Mary, a daughter of Isaac (born June 26, 1752) and Ann (born December 30, 1756) 
Pool, of Dighton, Mass. Abial had three sons and four daughters. He was engaged 
mostly in manufacturing woolen cloth at Bristol. He was a Democrat and was justice 
of peace many years and was a prominent Free Mason. He died November 5, 1843, 
and his wife June 12, 1859. Subject was reared as a wool carder and when sixteen 
years of age came with his parents to the farm he now owns, and has here since re- 
sided. He learned the cooper's trade and followed it a number of years, but farming 
has been his principal occupation. He married H. Augusta Cornell of Bristol, a daugh- 
ter of Isaiah S., who was a son of Stephen Cornell, and was born in Dighton, Mass., 
May 7, 1802, and married Eliza Gregg of Bristol, a daughter of George and Betsey 
(Gooding) Gregg, natives of Massachusetts. Mr. Cornell and wife had four sons and 
three daughters. The youngest son, Mer.vin E., was killed at the battle of Antietam 
at the age of twenty years. Mr. Cornell died in 1853, and his wife on May 14, 1843. 
To subject and wife were born two children : M. Agnes, who graduated from Gen- 
esee Wesley an Seminary, and is now a teacher ; and James M., formerly a teacher, but 
now a farmer. Mr. Hathaway has been a Republican since the organization of that 
party. He and family are members of the Universalist Church, and he has been chor- 
ister for fifty years. He and Billings T. Case formed the committee to raise money to 
build the church and carried it on very successfully, having the church paid for when 
built, also the parsonage. Mr. Hathaway missed but one meeting for twenty years in 
succession, and that was at the death of his mother. 

Hicks, M.D., W. Scott, Bristol, is a native of Bristol, born September 18, 1827, and 
a son of Aaron, a son of Jabez, a son of Aaron, who was a native of Rehoboth, Mass., 
and wiio came to Bristol about 1800. Jabez Hicks was a native of Dighton, Mass., and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 95 

there married Nancy Francis, born July 8, 1767. They came to New York in 1796, 
and settled at Bris'ol. He held various offices and was many years a deacon in the 
Baptist Church. Aaron was born December 12, 1788, in Dighton, Mass., and was eight 
years old when he came to Bristol. January 1, 1812, he married Hannah Cornell, a 
native of Dighton, Mass., born January 5, 1795, a daughter of Stephen Cornell, who 
traced his ancestry back to 1638, and who was a cousin of Ezra Cornell of Cornell 
University. Mr. Cornell died March 1, 1809, and his wife January 21, 1854. Aaron 
Hicks had nine sons and a daughter. Mr. Hicks owned a farm in Bristol, where he 
died. He was a Whig and Republican and held the offices of assessor, highway com- 
missioner, supervisor and commissioner of deeds. He died April 9, 1872, and his wife 
April 2, 1874. Dr. W. Scott Hicks was reared on a farm until sixteen years of age, 
and then engaged as clerk at Honeoye, remaining until twenty-one. He then began the 
study of medicine with Dr. E. W. Simmons of Bristol, and attended a course of lectures 
at Geneva Medical College, and in 1851 graduated from the Medical Department of 
Buffalo University. He then located at Bristol, where he has since practiced his pro- 
fession. He is a member of New York State Medical Association, Central New York 
Medical Society and Ontario County Medical Society. October 13, 1853, Dr. Hicks 
married Eleanor A. Mason, a native of Bristol, and daughter of Francis Mason. Dr. 
Hicks has been a Republican since the organization of that party, and has held various 
offices. He was commi.ssioner of loans for Ontario county, and was once a member of 
the Sons of Temperance, and a Good Templar. He signed the pledge under General 
Riley in 1844, and has always been active temperance worker. He and wife are mem- 
bers of the Universalist Church at Bristol, of which Dr. Hicks has been clerk many years. 
He is a also member of the First Universalist Society of Bristol, and clerk of that body 
The Hicks family is of English descent and traces its ancestry to Robert Hicks who 
came from England on the Fortune November 11, 1621. He was a son of James, who 
was a descendant of Ellis Hicks, who was knighted by Edward the Black Prince on the 
battlefield of Poictiers, September 9, 1356, for bravery in capturing a set of colors from 
the French. The wife and children of Robert Hicks came one the s\n^ Ann and arrived 
at Plymouth in July, 1622. The family settled in Duxbury, Mass., and two sons, John 
and Stephen, settled on Long Island about 1642. 

Hicks, Charles M., Gorham, is a native of Macedon, Wayne county, born June, 1838 
His father, Joshua, was a son of Simeon, a native of Long Island, who moved to Wayne 
county in an early day and there owned a large farm. His wife was a Miss Clifford, 
and they had two sons and one daughter. They died in Macedon. Joshua was a prom- 
inent citizen of that place, a manufacturer of fanning mills and a farmer, and a well 
informed man and a great reader. He was twice married ; first to a Miss Frye, of 
Montgomery county, by whom he had two sons and one daughter ; and second to Ana- 
line (Mapes) Stearns, by whom he had one child, Charles M. Joshua Hicks was killed 
by a team of horses in 1833. Mrs. Hicks was a daughter of Israel Mapes, a native of 
Coxsackie. Mrs. Hicks died October 16, 1874. Charles M. was educated in Walworth 
Academy, has always been a great reader, and is a well informed man. He was first 
engaged for about six years in the nursery business with T. G. Yeomans, of Walworth. 
In 1861 he came to Gorham with his mother. He now owns a farm of 280 acres, known 



96 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

as the Stearns homestead, on which he has made many improvements, incUiding forty- 
acres of orchards. He has always given liberally to the public. He is a Republican in 
politics. 

Hoppough, Lewis Frederick, Canadice, was born in Canadice, December 12, 1860. 
His father, Frederick D., was born in New Jersey in 1821, and his mother, Leah Coy- 
kendall, in 1825. They were married in 1843 and Frederick D. died in 1873, his wife 
surviving him, and making her home with her son, Lewis F. He was town clerk six- 
teen years, and was constable and collector. His father, Peter, came from New Jersey 
and settled at the ford on Canadice Lake. His wife was Margary Westbrook. Fred- 
erick D. and his wife had eight children : John P., Emery W., Margery J. (deceased), 
Mary E., Sarah M. (deceased), Adelaide B. (deceased), Adaline and Lewis F. The 
latter married, March 18, 1883, Adella N. Ingraham, daughter of Lorenzo, a prominent 
farmer of this town. They have three childi-en ; Leonia A., born April 6, 1884; L. L. 
Burdette, born January 14, 1889; and Bertha E. A., born April 27, 1891. Mr. Hop- 
pough makes a specialty of raising hay, and also of market gardening. He makes cider 
and cider vinegar, raising a large quantity of apples. He resides at the head of Cana- 
dice Lake, where he has a boat livery, and has built on the bank of the lake a house of 
entertainment for boarders and picknickers. 

Hill, Jerome, Victor, was barn on the home farm September 26, 1824, was educated 
in the public schools, and followed farming. January 22, 1846, he married Clarissa J., 
daughter of Cyrus and Polly Webster, of East Mendon, and they had six children : 
Emily S., who was married twice, first to Jerome Campbell, and had two children, 
Henry C. and Frank J., and her second husband was Palmer Cummings, and has no 
chddren ; Sarah Elvina married Hii am French of Victor, now left a widow in Le 
Moure, North Dakota, and her five children, Howard G., Edward K., Aribelle, Olive 
L., and Addie L., all living; Mary Esther, who resides at home; Charles Gregory mar- 
ried Sarah Gougarty, has two children ; Gregory C. and Charles C; Ella J. married 
Sidney Pimm, hfid three children: Millie L. died when six weeks old; Vel McDell, and 
Earl Jerome, living; Mrs. Pimm died at the age of twenty-nine years; Homer J 
married Francis Buckley of Victor. Mrs. Hill's father, Cyrus Webster, was born in 
Massachusetts, November 27, 1791, and married Polly Stiles of his county December 
29 1814. She was born April 1, 1793. They came to Mendon the year they were 
married, and had nine children : John C. Milo S., Trizah E., Henry M., Clarissa J., 
Julia S., Sarah A. and Mary Ette, who died when two years old; second Mary Ette 
now living. 

Harris, John, Gorhani, is a native of New York, born May 10, 1831. He is a son of 
John and Margaret Harris, who had two sons and one daughter. They lived on Lake 
Ontario a number of years. Mr. Harris died when John was seven years old, and the 
latter then lived with Ephraim Archer until twenty years of age. He next worked by 
the month and ran a threshing machine for some time, after which he purchased a farm 
of fifty acres (now owned by Mrs. Powell.) This he sold and purchased fifty acres of 
the old homestead, owned by the great-grandfather of Mrs. Harris. The house in 
which he resides was built by her grandfather, Gilbert Wood. January 22, 1868, he 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 97 

married Sylvia M., daughter of Joel Wood. To subject and wife were born three chil- 
dren : Albert J., Fred N., and Hattie E. Albert J. graduated from the Canandaigua 
Academy in 189t. and is now a teacher in Gorhara. Mr. Harris is a Republican, and 
attends the Congregational Church at Reed's. 

Hayes, Joseph Byron, Canandaigua, was born at Canandaigua in. 1834. His ances- 
tors were among the earliest settlers of Ontario county. He prepared for college at 
the Franklin Academy, Prattsburg, N. Y., and at the Canandaigua Academy, graduat- 
ing with the degree of A. B. from Williams College in 1854, and from the University 
of Pennsylvania with the degree of M. D. in 1860. He married Louisa A., daughter of 
Chester and Eliza R. Coleman, in 1861. He took a prominent part both in the County 
and Village Medical Societies, and was a deacon of the Congregational Church from 
early manhood until his death. Dr. Hayes died July 17, 1890. Three sons survive 
him : Edward Gr., George B. and Chester C. Hayes. 

Hutchens, M.D., John, Canandaigua, was born on a farm on the west shore of Can- 
andaigua Lake, March 16, 1849, a son of Henry and Polly (Livermore) Hutchens. 
Here his boyhood was spent, and he was educated in the common schools. His clas- 
sical education was obtained at Canandaigua Academy under Prof. N. T. Clarke. In 
the fall of 1867 he entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he spent 
one term, then entered the Medical Department of the University of Buffalo, from 
which he graduated in February, 1871. He immediately began practice in Cheshire, 
which practice rapidly grew, and in connection with this he estabhshed in 1873 a drug 
store, which he conducted till 1888. Dr. Hutchens is a member of the Ontario Medi- 
cal Society, and in May, 1879, he was appointed postmaster of this village, which office 
he resigned in November, 1892. In 1870 he married Luella, daughter of James E. 
Chase of Canandaigua, and they had four children, two of whom are living : Fred, a 
student of the School of Pharmacy of Buflfalo, and Julia L. Anna died in July, 1890, 
aged thirteen years, and Gordon, an infant, died in November, 1890. Mrs. Hutchens 
died November 22, 1889. 

Haskell, Levi, Canandaigua, was born in Belchertown, Hampton county, Mass., Jan- 
uary 18, 1811. His father, the Rev. Eh Haskell, was born in the town of Dudley, the 
same county, in the year 1783. He removed with his family to Bristol, Ontario county, 
in 1810. He was a well educated man for his time, and was ordained to the ministry 
in 1823, and became pastor of the Baptist church of Bristol, which he served three 
years. He then removed to Canandaigua and was pastor of the Fiist Baptist church 
for twenty-seven years. He died October 7, 1855. During his pastorate he preached 
267 funeral sermons, baptized 143 persons and married 113 couples. He did a great 
work in what was then new country, enduring hardships as a pioneer, and preach- 
ing the gospel as a missionary in different towns of the county. He was married in his 
native State to Elizabeth Tower, by whom he had eight children : Abel, a Baptist 
minister, who died in Penfield, December 21, 1865; Levi, a farmer, who died December 
16, 1889; Eli, a cabinet maker, who died in Wisconsin, August 16, 1860; Isaac and 
William (twins), both died in Michigan ; Jeremiah, ticket agent N. Y. C. R. R. Co., died 
in Batavia in 1870 ; Achsah married Samuel Shaw now residing in Mason, Mich. ; Nancy 



98 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

died April 9, 1844, aged sixteen. Levi, the second son, was educated in Canandaigua 
Academy, and taught school several terms. He married Catherine L. Wilcox, who was 
a native of Connecticut, and settled on the farm where he spent the remainder of his 
life. He always took a keen interest in public affairs, was a man of strong conviction 
and very determined in what he believed to be right. He was identified with the First 
Baptist church of Canandaigua. They had six children : Edson, who served three 
years in the army, died July 8, 1877, aged forty-one years ; Sarah E. died October 31, 
1852, aged fourteen ; Mary died April 4, 1880, aged forty-six ; Salem, who now resides 
on the farm owned by his father; Abel, a resident of Canandaigua, and Gilbert E., the 
youngest, residing on a farm adjoining the old homestead. Salem attended school at 
Canandaigua Academy. He is a Republican, is interested in public affairs and is now 
one of the assessors of the town. He with his brother Gilbert now owns the old home- 
stead and the adjoining farm. He married May 26, 1880, Annette Green, daughter of 
Kelley W. Green of South Bristol. They have one child, Anna E., born November 2, 
1883. Gilbert E. also was educated at Canandaigua Academy, and spent seven years 
as a teacher, and then located on the farm where he now resides. He is a Republi- 
can and interested in public affairs. He has always taken an active interest in Sab- 
bath school work, is a member of Academy Grange No. 62, is one of the directors of 
the executive committee of the company, and for two years was master of the Ontario 
County Grange. He married March 13, 1878, Carrie E., also daughter of Kelly W. 
Green. They have two children : Katherine A,, born March 20, 1881, and Martin G., 
born January 4, 1890. 

Housel, Joseph, Canandaigua, was born in New Jfersey, May 13, 1807, and 
came to Gorham with his parents. His father, Jasper, had seven children, of whom 
Joseph was the oldest. He was educated in the common schools. His father 
bought a farm of seventy-five acres on the Academy Tract, which Joseph secured 
soon after and bought up land in this section, until at his death March 11, 1865, he 
owned 290 acres. He took an interest in pubhc affairs and was assessor many 
years, commissioner of highways, school trustee, and a member of the Ontario County 
Agricultural Society. He was charitable and liberal to a fault, and had many 
friends. By Caroline, his wife, he had ten children, four survive him : Henry A., 
painter of Naples ; James M., a farmer of Grand Rapids, Mich. ; Clara, wife of Lucius 
Goodnow, a commercial traveler of Coldwater, Mich. ; and Francis B., who conducts 
the home farm. Mrs. Housel, the mother, was born in Albany county, May 11, 1816, 
and came to Ontario county when but four years old. He had ten children who reached 
maturity. Francis B. Housel was born on the home farm July 30, 1857, and now 
manages the same, on which is one of the most beautiful residences in the locality, 
built in 1885. He married in 1880 Inez S., daughter of James and Maria (Bastdii) 
Hind, natives of England, and they have two children : Charles F., born June 25, 
1882; and Marion C, born September 19, 1886. 

Johnson, John, Canandaigua, was born on his present farm in Canandaigua, 
August 19, 1823, a son of Robert, a native of Ireland, who came to this country 
HI 1817. He first located in Canada, where he spent a year, and then came to 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 99 

Canandaigua, where he bought a farm of fifty acres. He married, in Canandaigua, 
Lovina Thurston of Onondaga county, by whom he had one child, John. The whole 
life of our subject has been spent on this farm. He was educated in the common 
schools and has made a successful farmer, as well as one of the most popular men in 
the southern part of this town. After the death of his father in 1864, he took charge 
of the farm which he has since increased to 122 acres. He owns besides, a farm of 
eighty- five acres in Bristol. He built a very comfortable and pretty residence with 
barns and outbuildings. He has never taken an active interest in politics. He married 
April 4, 1842. Rachael Sanford of Canandaigua, by whom he had four children, three 
of whom survive: Lovina. wire of Williams Hicks of Bristol ; Lyman D. of Cheshire, 
a contractor and builder; and Herbert E., with a Rochester firm located in Naples. 
Mrs. Johnson died October 31, 1855, and he married second, April 2, 1856, Mary E., 
daughter of Chauncey Curtiss, a native of Connecticut. They have had three chil- 
dren : John A., who conducts a vineyard in Canandaigua; Addie 0., wife of Frank 
Foster, died September 12, 1889, aged twenty years; and Jennie A., wife of William 
Johnson of Cheshire. 

Johnson, John A., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, March 11, 1859, a son of 
John and Mary (Curtiss) Johnson. The early life of John A. was spent on the farm, 
and he was educated in the school at Naples and at Glenwood Institute, Mattewan, N. 
J. He assisted his father on the farm and taught school winters until twenty-four 
years of age, when he bought fifty acres of land by the lake shore. At the time there 
were no buildings on the place and only a small portion was under cultivation, but Mr. 
Johnson has built a beautiful cottage, a substantial and convenient barn and other 
buildings. He has set out about 14,000 grape vines, divided among Concords, Dela- 
wares and Catawbas, and a few fancy vines. The vineyard is most favorably situated 
as by its location he is able to ripen his grapes early. His Delawares are his most 
profitable variety. In 1892 he cut from his vines about fifty tons of grapes and found 
a market for the grapes in Boston. Mr. Johnson married, March 14, 188.3, Ida A., 
daughter of George and Eliza (Ward) Curtiss of Cheshire, and they have one son 
Stuart Le Roy Johnson, born December 25, 1883. Mr. Johnson has never taken a 
great interest in politics. He is a member of Canandaigua Grange. 

Johnston, John, Geneva, was born in Scotland, April 11, 1791. He came to the 
United States in 1821, and after traveling about and visiting various localities, he 
purchased a farm of 112 acres on the east side of Seneca Lake, three miles from 
Geneva. To this place in 1822 Mr. Johnston brought his family, and on the same 
farm he continued to reside until 1877, when he came to Geneva. Mr. Johnston was 
deeply interested in every measure that tended to improve the condition or lighten the 
labors of the farming community of this country. He was the first man to use the 
tile drawing system for improving low or marsh lands, and although he was frequently 
ridiculed by his neighbors, who said he was burying his money, he nevertheless was 
the pioneer of a system that afterward came into generel use and proved of great 
benefit to the agriculturists of the whole country. For this and his general devotion 
he was presented in 1859 with a valuable and finely fashioned silver water service, 



loo HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

consisting of a pitcher and two goblets. Mr. Johnston was the inventor of the iron 
scoop-shovel, and was the first in this region to use a threshing machine, one of which 
he constructed and used on his own farm. The first tile patterns were sent for and 
procured by him from Scotland. Mr. Johnston was a successful farmer, beginning 
with small means but increasing his lands as .he was able to do through his earnings, 
until the homestead farm comprised 306 acres, all well stocked and in a fine state of 
cultivation, and he kept a flock of sheep, 1,000 in number, in Italy, Yates county, 
and brought them in the winter to his home farm. In 1877 Mr. Johnston and his 
daughters came to reside in Geneva, and here, in November, 1880, at the age of 
eighty-nine years, he died. His wife was killed by lightning in 1854. 

Johnson, Charles R., Canandaigua, was born on the farm where he now resides. 
February 22, 1848. The earliest ancestor on the paternal side we find trace of is 
Ebenezer Johnson, who was born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1734. He was a soldier 
in the Revolutionary War and had two sons also in that war, Ebenezer Butler and 
Rufus. Ebenezer married Deborah Seeley, daughter of Gideon Seeley, a native of 
Westchester county, N. Y., who emigrated to Onondaga county. Ebenezer B. was 
the father of three sons and a daughter : Isaac, Samuel, Rufus and Desin. Rufus was 
born in 17G0, and died in 1822. He was the father of one son, Rensselaer, who was 
born May 18, 1797. He married Betsey Cramer, and had one son, Russell Butler, who 
was born May 18, 1794, and married, February 20, 1817, Betsey Seeley Elliott, and 
they had six children. Seymour Van Rensselaer, father of our subject, was the sec- 
ond son. He was born September 3, 1821. Russell B. was the first to live in this 
county, coming here from Onondaga county in 1824, and settling on a farm in East 
Bloomfield, and in 1829 moved on a farm in Canandaigua, and in 1842 he bought a 
farm of 150 acres near Centerfield, which has since been in the hands of the family. 
Russell B. was justice of the peace for twenty years, colonel of the State militia and 
temperance speaker. Seymour V. R. was a man of good education and held many 
offices in the town. He was justice of the peace for twenty years and a man who had 
the confidence of all the people. He married, May 12, 1844, Diana W., daughter of 
Japheth Stiles, a native and farmer of this town, and had three children : Harriet A., 
married Homer A. Davis, a farmer of Canandaigua ; Helen R. married Ralph M. Sim- 
mons, a farmer of this town; and Charles; Seymour died September 16, 1865. The 
whole life of our subject has been spent on the old homestead. He was educated in 
Canandaigua Academy under Prof. N. T. Clarke. Mr. Johnson has always taken an 
active interest in the politics of his town, and has been the party leader of this sec- 
tion for many years. In 1885 he was elected assessor of his town, and has held the 
office continually since, now serving his third term. He married, January 7. 1873, 
Maggie Fitzmorris, daughter of John Fitzmorris, of East Bloomfield, and they are the 
parents of one daughter, Mary A. Johnson, now in her fifteenth year. 

Johnson, William S., Canandaigua, was born on the old homestead, a mile south of 
Cheshire, September 3, 1862, the second son of John L. and Caroline (Gillette) John- 
son. His early life was spent on the farm and he was educated at Canandaigua Acad- 
emy. In 1885, at the death of his father, he succeeded to what was known as the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 101 

Gelder farm of 266 acres, which he has since conducted. He married in 1890, Jennie, 
daughter of John Johnson, of Academy, and they have one child, Julia E., who is in 
her second year. 

Jeffrey, Charles, Farmington, was born in Warwickshire, England, November 29, 
1816, and came to the United States in 1833, sailing from Liverpool, May 14, landing 
in New York July 6, remained in the city one year, coming to Farmington in 1834. 
February 1, 1843, he married Mary, daughter of Samuel and Hannah Mason of this 
town. She died in 1892. They had two children: Hannah, who married Henry Her- 
endeen, of Macedon ; he died in 1873 ; and Mary, who married James Carson of this 
town and have three children : C. Edward, Sidney J. and Henry H. This farm owned 
by Mr. Jeffrey was bought by Samuel Mason from Nathan Comstock, who purchased 
it of Phelps and Gorham in 1789. Samuel Mason was born in Swansea, E. I., in 1772 
and married in 1797, Hannah Herendeen, at Adams, Mas.s. Thev came here in 1801. 

Isenhour, Newman, Hopewell, was born in Hopewell in 184], a son of Jacob who 
was a son of Leonard, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Seneca in 1807. He 
built the Flint grist-mill, was a soldier in the Revolution, and was taken prisoner at 
Jersey City. He died in 1816. Jacob Isenhour, a native of Pennsylvania was born 
October 28, 1796. His wife was Mary, daughter of Elisha Newman, an early settler of 
Seneca, and they had three sons and three daughters. He died in Hopewell, Septem- 
ber 26, 1875, and his wife August 3, 1882. Newman Isenhour has been a farmer ex- 
cept ten years, during which he manufactured headings and staves. In 1864 he mar- 
ried Cornelia Brizzee, born in Seneca in 1845, a daughter of Cornelius and Susan 
(Thatcher) Brizzee, who had two sons and two daughters. The grandparents of Cor- 
nelia were Cornelius and Sarah (Van Benschoten) Brizzee, early settlers of Hopewell 
Mr. Isenhour and wife have had two children : M. Newman, who resides in Elkhart 
Ind. ; and Maud E., at home. Mr. Isenhour is a Republican. 

Johnson, C. H., Gorham, is a native of Canandaigua, born" October 8, 1847. When 
two years old he came to Gorham with his parents. His mother died when subject was 
seven years old, and he was reared by J. Wesley Arnold, of Gorham, until sixteen 
years old, when he enlisted in Company C, Fifteenth New York Cavalry, and 
served two years and six months. He was in the battles of New Market, Winchester 
and Fisher's Hill, was wounded at the latter place and sent to a hospital, where he re- 
mained until his discharge in December, 1865. He returned to Canandaigua and 
learned the blacksmith's trade at which he worked for five years. He then went to 
Gorham and followed his trade until 1883, when he established a hardware business 
under the name of C. H. Johnson & Co. After four years he sold this. Since 1889 
Mr. Johnson has been postmaster at Gorham. In 1875 he married Lillie, daughter of 
the late James M. Pulver. Mr. Johnson is a Republican, a member of the Rushville 
Lodge No. 377 F. & A. M., of the E. K. 0. R., and of the G. A. R. at Gorham, and Sher- 
rell Post No. 313, and has been commander one year. 

Johnson, Frank A., West Bloomfield, son of Leman A., was born in Cazenovia in 
1839. He has resided in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Michigan, and came to Mil- 
ler's Corners in 1874, engaging in the mercantile business, and has kept a general store 



102 ttlSTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

since. He has been postmaster sixteen years. He married in 1862 Cornelia Morey, of 
Fenner, Madison county, and has two children : Clinton M , born in 1864, in business 
with his father, and Myrtie A. 

Johnson, Lewis M., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, May 1, 1856, a son of 
John L. The first ancestor of this family was Lewis, grandfather of Lewis M. He was 
a native of Monmouth county, N. J., and came to this county when about thirty-five 
years of age. He had six children, one of whom survives, Phrcbe, widow of Seymo'jr 
N. Gillette, of Canandaigua. John L., second son of Lewis, was born December 19, 
1820. in Monmouth county, N. J., and came when a child with his parents to Gorham, 
where they settled on a farm. He was educated in the common schools and chose 
farmmg for a living. His father first bought a farm about a mile south of Cheshire, 
where the family spent several years, and then for about fifteen years lived on a farm 
west of Canandaigua. In 1846 John L bought a farm below Cheshire, where he lived 
until 1876. In 1878 he moved to Cheshire and lived a retired life, dying here January 
14 1885. He was a very prominent farmer and took much interest in politics, though 
never an office seeker. His principal interest was in his home and his farm, and at his 
death he owned a large quantity of real estate. He married, November 19, 1844, 
Celestia C, daughter of Milton Gillette, of Canandaigua, who was a native of Connec- 
ticut. Mr. Johnson had four children: Helen S., the oldest, married Homer Chase, of 
Canandaigua, October 10, 1866, and died October 16, 1883 ; Julia E., married W. D. 
Crandall, of Canandaigua ; William S. is a farmer of Canandaigua. The whole life of 
Lewis M. has been spent in this town. He was educated in Canandaigua Academy, 
Geneseo Normal School, and Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie. He has de- 
voted part of his life to farming, and at the death of his father succeeded to the man- 
agement of the farm, residing on the homestead in Cheshire. October 4, 1888, he mar- 
ried Carrie E., daughter of L. M. Spaulding, a farmer of Canandaigua and a native of 
Gorham. 

Jeudevine, Albert, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, June 29, 1844, a grand- 
son of William, the first of the family to settle in this country, coming from Charleston 
with a three horse team. He located in the town of Richmond in 1805, where he took 
up a farm. He Hved there until about 1821, when he moved to Canandaigua. The 
family is of French extraction. William had five children : Henry, William, Luther, 
Patience, and Ann. William, the second son, father of our subject, was born in Charles- 
ton, November 5, 1800, and came with his parents to this State. He went to Geneva 
about 1817, and there he worked at his trade until the time his father came to Canan- 
daigua, when he located here and in 1845 bought a farm of sixty-two acres in the vil- 
lage, where he died June 28, 1873. He was a man of prominence in the town and held 
many offices. For nine years he was a trustee of the village and assessor of the town, 
plank road inspector, and commissioner of highways. He was a Whig and a Republi- 
can. Besides the old homestead farm, he owned the Wilson farm of eighty acres in 
Canandaigua, besides land in Michigan and Ohio. He married Sarah Mascho, and they 
had seven children, five of whom are living : Sarah M., Hannah and Frank live on the 
old homestead, and Charles G. and Albert. William, the oldest son, died August 4, 
1891, aged sixty-six years. Harriet, the oldest daughter, died June 30, 1889, aged 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 103 

sixty-two years. Albert was educated in Canandaigua Academy under Prof. Clarke, 
and took up farming. His first purchase was his present farm in Canandaigua, where 
he has erected a beautiful residence and new buildings. He married in 1875 Emma, 
daughter of Stephen A. Codding, of Bristol Centre, and they have four children : Frank 
H., Mary A., Albert L., and Sarah M. 

King, Irving D., Phelps, one of six children of Kendall and Anna Maria (Stilwell) 
King, was born in Manchester October 29, 1834. The father, Kendall King, was born 
July 25, IROl, and the grandfather, Joshua K., was born in Connecticut October 16, 1770 
and came to Manchester and settled when a young man, marrying Lucy Loomis in 1793 
Kendall King married Anna Eliza Spencer, who had two children who were living 
when he married Anna Maria Stillwell, who had four children. He came to Phelps 
with his family in 1837 and bought the old Elder Rice place. Irving D. King married 
in 1857 Harriet A. Moore of Michigan, whose ancestors were New Hampshire people. 
They had three children : Clarence M., Marshall W., and Alice M. Mr. King's farm 
comprises 135 acres used principally for grain and fruit. He is also manufacturer of the 
Northwestern Corn Planter. 

King, A. H., Manchester, was born January 4, 1851, in the town of Manchester, a 
son of Harvey King, who was born April 10, 1797, and died March 5, 1872, and Aman- 
da King, who was born November 19, 1815. April 24, 1872, he married Anna, daugh- 
ter of Henry Post of Port G-ibson. Mr. King is a farmer by occupation, and is an at- 
tendant at the TTniversalist church of Clifton Springs. The ancestors of this family 
come originally from Suffield, Conn., and settled in Manchester in 1802. 

Keeffe, Maurice, was born in Garrylaurence. Parish of Clanmult, Barony of Barry- 
more, County of Cork, Ireland, in May, 1836, and came to the United States, landing in 
New York March 14, 1856. He first located in Portland, Conn., where he remained a 
vear and returned to New York and located in Victor. February 6, 1863, he married 
Ellen Mead of this town. They have seven children, four sons and three daughters: 
David M., Mary A., Bartholomew V., John, Nellie L., Johanna, and Maurice Emmet. 
Mr. Keeffe has been assessor of his town nine years, is also at the present time member 
of the Board of Excise. 

Knapp, Walter H., Canandaigua, was born in Hopwell, March 13, 1856, a son of B, 
Franklin, a farmer of that town. He attended the common schools until he was four- 
teen years of age, then entered the Canandaigua Academy, where he was fitted for 
college under Prof. Clarke, and entered Amherst College in 1875, graduating as B. A., 
and commencment orator in 1S79. During his college days he took the Greek prize in 
1876, and in 1878 was editor of the Amherst Student. He was a member of the Greek 
letter society Chi Phi, and of the honorary society Phi Beta Kappa. After leaving 
college he went to California where he held the position of professor of mathematics 
and Latin in Placerville Academy. He remained there four years, and in 1882 was the 
Renublican nominee for member of assembly for El Dorado county in that State. Re- 
turning to Canandaigua in 1883 he entered the office of Comstock & Bennett, where he 
studied law until admitted to the bar in 1885, since which tmie he has been engaged in 
the general practice of law, He is now the Ontario county member of the Republican 



104 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Judicial Committee for the Seventh District. Mr. Knapp married in 1879, Mary, eldest 
daughter of the late N. K. Cole, esq., of Manchester, and they have three sons : Wal- 
ter Chandler, Robert Cole, and B. Frank. Mr. Knapp has been superintendent of the 
Sunday-school of the First Presbyterian church since 1884, and an elder in that church 
since 1885. He was county secretary of the Ontario County Sunday-school Association 
for three years. In 1887 he was a delegate to the First National Convention of the 
Republican Clubs of the United States, held at Chickering Hall, New York. He was 
president of the Young Men's Republican Club of Canandaigua in 1888, and is chair- 
man of the Executive Committee of the County League of Republican Clubs. His office 
is in the Times Building, residence 31 West Gibson street, Canandaigua. 

Kendall, D.D., Rev. Henry, East Bloomfield, was born in Volney, Oswego county, 
August 24, 1815, a son of John Kendal', who was born at Springfield, Mass., and 
emigrated to Oneida county in 1792, residing at Paris Hill till 1806, when he removed 
to Volney, Oswego county, then a perfect wilderness, remaining there till his death, 
which occurred in 1853. He was twice married. Our subject had a district school 
education, passing from there to the academy at Mexico, where he prepared to enter 
a sophomore in Hamilton College, from which institution he graduated in 1840. He 
then entered Auburn Seminary, from which he graduated in 1844. He was pastor 
of the church at Verona, Oneida county, until 1848, then came to East Bloomfield, 
ministerinar to the church there with great acceptability for nine years. He was 
three years at Pittsburg, Pa.; then went to New York, where he accepted a position 
as secretary of the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church, which he 
filled until his death, September 9, 1892. He was a trustee of Auburn Seminary, 
Hamilton College, and the Western Reserve College, also the Western University. 
April 28, 1848, he married Sapronia Luce, born in Winfield, Herkimer county, and a 
daughter of Almond and Anna (Spooner) Luce, a farmer and merchant. Rev. Henry 
Kendall and wife had five children : Frederick G., who died aged thirty-two. He was 
a graduate of Hamilton College and Auburn Seminary. His only charge was at 
Grand Rapids; Anna L., died aged seven years; Grace W., died aged eighteen years; 
Henry died at the age of two and a half years ; and Eliza Birdsall died aged three and 
a half years. The following is from the pen of the Rev. L. M. Miller, D.D.: ''East 
Bloomfield was his home retreat whenever respite from labor came. There he buried 
his children, and there still Mrs. Kendall remains. Strongly wedded to Central New 
York, he was interested always for the college on the hill, and for Auburn Seminary. 
When the roll of the class of '40 was called in the recitation room, Kendall, Knox and 
Miller answered side by side, so that we had the opportunity to know Dr. Kendall as a 
constant, conscientious and ready student. Genial, conservative, and decisive in his 
manners, he did nothing to antagonize those who differed from him, and by a frank and 
manly bearing maintained pleasant relations with the students as well as the faculty. 
These qualities he carried with him into his public life, and they guided him to suc- 
cess. But it was as a leading secretary of the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyter- 
ian Church that he won bis laurels as a great and good workman, in effctive service 
throughout the broad domain of its continually enlarging borders, and occupying with 
general commendation the important office for more than thirty-one years. Through 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 105 

much travel he was intimately acquainted with the needs and progress of evangelical 
work covering our republic. Inclose accord with the many hundred missionaries on 
the one hand, and on the other with societies and churches which furnished the means 
of aid, Dr. Kendall was universally acknowledged as leader and guide. All who knew 
him will bear testimony to his great love for the work in which he not only sought the 
Master's will, but as a patriot forecasted his country's weal, and as a Christian the wants 
of thousands of his countrymen perishing for lack of vision. An incident in the last 
G-eneral Assembly, held at Portland, Ore., illustrates the estimate in which he was 
held by the church. When Rev. Charles F. Goss voiced the feeling respecting him 
and his work as the 'lion-hearted, the tender-hearted, the loving-hearted Henry Ken- 
dall,' a name that 'stands for the broadest philanthropy, the purest Christianity, and 
the deepest consecration,' the large audience, in an outburst of sympathy, responded 
with heartiest applause. In 1884 he was sent to the Belfast Council of Reformed 
Churches to represent his denomination, as well qualified in the largest sense to care 
for its interests and declare its faith, usages and manifold charities. When we call to 
mind his manly presence in the meetings of our Board of Trust, and his active inter- 
est in its affairs, and his wise and ready counsels, we can understand why Auburn 
Seminary, the Western University and the Western Reserve College should elect him 
to the same relations in their institutions." 

Knapp, B. P., Hopewell, was born in Hopewell, August 16, 1829. His father was 
Leonard, a native of Rensselaer county, who about 1804 came with his parents, Ezra 
and Phebe Knapp, to Hopewell. Here Ezra purchase a farm of fifty acres, making 150 
acres (which subject now owns), where he and his wife died. Leonard Knapp mar- 
ried Mercy Brown, of Hopewell, and to them were born fifteen children. He died in 
186.") and his wife in 1861. B. F. Knapp was reared on a farm, and educated, in the 
common schools. In 1850 he married Harriet Warner, a native of Canandaigua. 
The children are : Chas. W., H. Edson, Walter H., J. Etta, Carrie E. and M. Mertice. 
Mr. Knapp carries on general farming, and is a Republican in politics. 

Ketchum, the late W. Nelson, was born in Victor, March 14, 1816, was educated in 
the common schools, and was a farmer. September 14, 1847, he married Nancy, 
daughter of George and Mary Blayney, formerly of Licking county, 0. They had five 
children: Amelia S., who married Burton H. Lobdell of this town, and have two 
children: Nelson L., and Marian F; Adelia, who resides with her mother; George 
W., who married Sarah L. Rose of Victor, they have two children: Arthur N., and 
Eugene H.; Charles N. married Ida Longyear of Victor, and had one child. His wife 
died February IS, 1886, and the child soon after; and Marian J., who died at the age 
of thirteen years. Mr.'?. Ketchum's father, George Blayney, was born in Virginia in 
the year 1800, and married Mary Sutton of Ohio. They had two children, Nancy and 
John. Mrs. Ketchum's grandfather, John Sutton, was a soldier in the war of lSr2. 
Mr. Ketchum died April 6, 1876. He was a member of the Universalist Society, and 
his wife is a member of that church. 

Kisor, Wallace, Hopewell, was born in Gorham, December 23, 1836. His father, 
Jacob, was one of the early settlers of that town. His wife was Anna Pulver, by whom 



106 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

he had three sons and two daughters. Mrs. Kisor died when Wallace was eight years 
of age, and he went to live with his sister, Mrs. Fiero, for five years. He next worked 
on a farm by the month. In 1862 he enlisted from G-eneva in Company F, One Hun- 
dred and Twenty-sixth N. Y. Infantry, and was wounded in his head at Maryland 
Heights and taken to the hospital, where he remained three months. In 1867 he mar- 
ried Mary Evered, born October 6, 1836, in Sodus, Wayne county, a daughter of Joshua 
Evered of Barnaby, England, born September 5, 1811. Mr. Evered came to Geneva in 
1830 and there married Alice Ward, by whom he had thirteen children. Mr. Evered 
and a brother first introduced the portable threshing machine in America. He died in 
Hopewell in 1886. He was a Democrat, and he and his wife were active members of 
the M. E. Church. Mrs. Evered died in 1884. In 1872 our subject came to Hopewell 
and bought property at Lewis's Station which he improved and converted into a very 
pleasant home. Mr. Kisor is a Prohibitionist, and has been excise commissioner for 
eleven years. He is a member of the G A. R. Albert Murray Post No. 1G2 at Canan- 
daigua. Mr. Kisor is engaged in the manufacture of barrels, and has built up a large 
business. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church ; he holds the office of 
steward and treasurer for the society, which offices he has held for several years. 

Knapp, Z. Franklin, Naples, was born in Urbana. Steuben county, January 9, 1840, 
and was educated at Dansville Seminary. He studied dentistry here for about three 
years and then moved to Naples in 1864, where he has since remained practicing his 
profession. He has also manufactured grape baskets and cultivated grapes. Mr. Knapp 
married, in 1863, Martha Townsend of Hammondsport, and they have eight children, 
four sons and four daughters, all of whom are living. Mr. Knapp has been town clerk 
eight years, justice of peace four years, and a member of the school board twelve years. 
Charles S., the oldest son, is manager of the Erie Railroad branch at Newburg; James 
F., the second son, is a graduate of the New York Dental College, and is now practic- 
ing dentistry at Geneva. The oldest daughter, Fannie L. is a teacher in the Union 
School at Naples; William E., the third son, graduated at the Naples Academy, and is 
now deputy postmaster in Naples. The remaining four children are attending school in 
Naples. 

Kingsbury, Sherman, Canandaigua, the subject of this sketch, was born of English 
extraction, his father being Hampton Kingsbury and his mother Linda Totman Kings- 
bury, who came from old British stock. The date of his birth was September 3, 1843. 
His parents were residents of the town of Bristol at which place they continued to live 
for several years after the birth of their son. When the family removed to Canandai- 
gua, Sherman, having obtained a schooling in the schools of his native town, was pre- 
pared to enter actively into business life, and with that object in view he went into the 
grocery establishment of George Phelps, desiring to acquaint himself with the nature 
of that business. Remaining in the employ of this gentleman for two years he at length 
entered the establishment of John McClure, continuing as a clerk there for an equal 
period. At the end of this time Mr. Kingsbury formed a partnership with T. C. Park- 
lun-st, of Canandaigua, with the purpose of conductmg the produce business. At length 
withdrawing from this partnership he entered into a partnership in the fall of 1870 with 



FAMILY SKETCHES. i07 

his brother, Addison Kingsbury, and George A. Wells at the city of New York, with 
the object of establishing an extensive commission house. He remained senior partner 
of this successful concern for nine years. At the end of that period he retired from the 
firm and shortly afterwards opened a large grocery establishment in the village of Can- 
andaigua, which was located at the corner of Main and Beeman streets. He remained 
at this location until the purchase of the old A. S. Lincoln stand, which he found in a 
doplorable condition, but which under his direction was made into one of the finest busi- 
ness stands of the village. In the year 1883 Mr. Kingsbury erected the elegant Kings- 
bury Opera House (now known as the Grand Opera House) on the corner of Beeman 
and Mill streets. For five years he conducted this excellent academy of music and the 
drama as sole owner and manager. During this period and for some time thereafter the 
subject of the sketch was actively associated with James McKechnie and Alfred Den- 
bow in extensive produce speculations, but upon the decease of his partners, owing to 
financial embarrassment issuing from misunderstandings between himself and the execu- 
tors of his deceased partners, Mr. Kingsbury retired from the business and has never since 
been interested in any local business concern financially. In LS68 Mr. Kingsbury was 
married to Miss Julia F. Jones, only daughter of Charles Jones, and they have one child, 
Miss Mary Kingsbury, who is a most talented young lady, being a graduate of the 
Granger Place School at Canandaigua and a most gifted student of music, having fin- 
ished a lengthy course of instruction under the direction of the well-known Professor 
C. E. Von Lear of Rochester. Mr. Kingsbury has always been an energetic, enterpris- 
ing business man and was always actively interested in any and all public benefits of 
his county. His characteristics of push and determination have been potently influen- 
tial in effecting numerous improvements in Canandaigua and throughout the county of 
Ontario where he is widely and favorably known. 

Lincoln, Samuel Grant. Geneva, was born in Geneva September 11, 1868. He was 
educated in the public schools, and since April 1, 1890, has held the position of mes- 
senger in the Geneva National Bank. Mr. Lincoln's father, George, was born Febru- 
ary 19, 1817, at Geneva, and was educated in the public schools of his day. He mar- 
ried Racliael Thompson of this place and they had nine children: Jennie A., Mary E. 
Louisa, Lavenia, Caroline, George, jr., Harriet, Frederick R. and Samuel Grant. Two 
died in infancy, three in their teens, one at thirty-four and one at thirty-six. Only 
two survive : Jennie A., who married Garrett S. Duffin of New York and has two 
daughters, Irene and Bijou; and the subject of this sketch. The grandfather Peter, 
was born a slave in Virginia in 1771. He was first owned by a Mr. Park, and after- 
wards by Robert S. Rose. Rose and Lawson, who were brothers-in-law, brought 
their slaves north, locating in Seneca and Ontario counties, 200 in number. On one 
occasion a man was sent for Peter's cradle. Peter refused to let it go. Sent for by 
his owner and asked why he refused, he said because he was held responsible for his 
tools. His master struck him with his cane at this answer, and Peter said he should not 
do it again as he was going to leave. His master said, " Go, and I will give ycu a new 
hat in the bargain." George, the father, died January 13, 1893, and Rachel, the mother, 
June 21, 1880. She was born November 26, 1826. 



toa HISTOHY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Lee, Roswell M., East Bloomfiekl, a native of East Rloomfield, was born September 
20, 1855. He has always been a faroaer and owns about 118 acres. Since 1879 he has 
been a successful breeder of American Merino sheep, and keeps registered stock. He is 
a member of the '' American Merino Sheep Association." Also for the last few years 
he has been engaged in the sale of agricultural implements, Walker's fertilizer manu- 
factured at Phelps, and Keystone wire fence. Mr. Lee is a Democrat and is at present 
highway commissioner, and has acted in that capacity for two years. He has also been 
deputy sheriff three years. March 7, 1878, Mr. Lee married Ella A., daughter of Rus- 
sell W. Gooding of East Bloomfield, and they have had four children : Bessie M. (de- 
ceased), Seth R., Hester A. and Pauline Gr. The parents of our subject were Seth L. 
Lee, born in East Bloomfield in 1823, and Sarah Peck, a native of West Bloomfield, to 
whom were born three sons and five daughters. Mr. Lee owned 238 acres of land in 
East Bloomfield. In politics he was a Republican. His death occurred March 20, 1875, 
and his wife now resides in Canandaigua at the age of sixty-five years. The father of 
Seth L. was Major Seth L. Lee, a native of Massachusetts and son of Captain George 
Lee. The wife of Major Lee was Sallie M., daughter of Benjamin Wheeler. Mr. Lee 
came to East Bloomfield about 1800, and there owned about 1,000 acres of land, a grist- 
mill and saw-mill, and was a large wool grower. Mr. Lee died in 1864, and his wife in 
1870. 

Loomis, Leslie G., Victor, was born in Farmington, Ontario county, April 9, 1857. 
He was educated in the public schools, Canandaigua Academy, and was a farmer until 
1877, when he came to Victor and entered the employ of E. S. Norton as clerk until 
1882. He then began business on his own account in company with Wilber C. Wood- 
worth, under the firm name of Loomis & Woodworth. They are doing a business this 
year of nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars, furnishing the best market for farm 
produce in this whole region. June 4, 1884, he married Delia M., daughter of Theodore 
and Clarinda Hunt of Newark, and they have two children : Leslie G., jr., and Harry 
H. Mr. Loomis's father, George, was born in Bloomfield, Conn., about the year of 
1818, and came to this State with his parents when about five years old, and married 
Hannah M. Ketchum of this State. They had six children : Aurelia E., Benjamin H., 
Ida M., Leslie G., Georgiana, and Charles P. 

La Rue, James H., Manchester, was born May 28, 1838. His ancestors were origin- 
ally from France. Mr. La Rue possesses a farm with his brother, Alvin E. La Rue, of 
seventy-five acres in the town of Manchester. He was a member of Company D, One 
Hundred and Eleventh Reg. N. Y. Vols., and is a prominent member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. His ancestors on both his father's and mother's side participated in 
the War of 1812. He married Martha Vanderbilt; they have no children. Alvin E. 
La Rue, was born August 15, 1852. He married Isadore Vanderbilt, and they have 
three children. He is a part owner of the farm, and both he and his brother are staunch 
Republicans. 

Leighton, Peter, Canandaigua. was born in Scotland and came to the United States 
at the age of twenty-two ; in 1870 he was employed as salesman by James D. Paterson 
who was at that time engaged in the dry goods business in this village. The following 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 109 

year he became engaged as salesman with the firm of Sibley, Lindsay & Curr of Eochester, 
N. Y., with whom he remained until 1880, when he associated himself with Andrew 
Johnston of that city, and bought out his former employer, Mr. Paterson in Canandaigua, 
when the firm of Leighton & Johnston continued in business until 1889, when Mr. John- 
ston retiring the business has been since conducted by Mr. Lighten alone, occupying a 
building 20 x 100 feet of two floors and basement devoted to general dry goods, fancy 
goods, cloaks, draperies, etc. In 1877 he married Jeannie Hall a native of Scotland and 
they have three children ; Frederick, Henry and Helen. Mr. Leighton has long been 
one of the trustees of the First Baptist church and is also president of the Vanderbilt 
Sash Balance Company, which was organized in 1892 with a capital of $10,000.00 for 
the manufacture and sale of spring sasli balances. 

Lauder, John W., Victor, was born on the old homestead November 24, 18.58 was 
educated in the public schools and Lima Seminary, and is a farmer. December ."30 
1883, he married CoraC, daughter of Charles and Eliza Marquis of Victor. They have 
five children : Pearl A., Ruth E., C. Maud, Erma F., and John A. Mr. Lauder's father, 
John A., was born in the town of Florida, Montgomery county, August 21, 1821 • he 
too was a farmer. In September, 1855, he married Ann Bowerman of Schenectady 
county, and they had one son, John W. Mr. Lauder's father died December 3 1883 
and his mother resides with him on the old homestead. His grandfather James and his 
grandmother Jane came from Scotland and located in Florida, where his father was 
born. The ancestors of the family are Scotch and German. 

Llewellyn, William, Clifton Springs, was born in England November 17, 1841. He 
learned the trade of confectioner and baker, and in April, 1865, came to this country. 
After being connected in different localities with his trade he established in 1887 a gen- 
eral commission business at Clifton Springs; the firm being W. & W. H. Llewellyn 
and composed of himself and his son William H. He has served as trustee of corpo- 
ration and school and is identified with the Masons. He married Julia Winiefred Cox 
of Gloucester, Eng. W. H. Llewellyn is also a partner in the banking house of Jack- 
son & Llewellyn. He married Miss Grace L. Briggs of this village May 4, 1893. 

Larkins, James E., Hopewell, was born in England in 1820. He is one of seven chil- 
dren of Henry and Ann (Coats) Larkins, natives of England, who came to New York 
in 1836 and settled in Genesee county, afterward moving to Ontario county, where in 
1843 Mrs. Larkins died. Mr. Larkins afterward went to Michigan, where he died in 
1865. James E. came to America with his parents, was educated in the common 
schools, and is a general and successful farmer. He married Cornelia H. Wells, a na- 
tive of Hartford, Conn., and they had two children : Edward W., who is in Colorado 
and Emma C, wife of James Swartz, of Dundee. After his marriage subject settled in 
Hopewell, but in 1868 bought his present farm. He always has been an active Re- 
publican, was justice of the peace eleven years, and assessor six years. He and his 
wife are members of the M. E. Church at Chapinville, and Mr. Larkin is at present one 
of the trustees of, the church. 

Lincoln, Cyrillo S., lawyer of Naples, was born July 18, 1830, in South Bristol, a son 
of Lucius and Amelia (Fellows) Lincoln, natives of Otsego county, whose ancestors 



no HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

came from New London. Conn., and were of the same stock as General Lincoln, of 
Revolutionary fame. Subject was educated at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, at 
Lima and Charlottesville Academies, and at Union College, from which he graduated in 
1854. He studied law in Rochester, was admitted to the bar in 1859, and at once lo- 
cated at Naples m the practice of his profession, where he has enjoyed a good patron- 
age. He is a Republican, and represented his district in the Assembly (in 1872) for 
four years in succession. He married Laura A. Clark in 1863, a sister of Noah T. 
Clark, of Canandaigua, and a cousin of Ex-Governor Clark. Mrs. Lincoln's grandfather, 
William Clark, was a colonel under Washington in the Revolution, and one of the original 
purchasers of the town of Naples in 1789. Mr. Lincoln and wife are members of the 
Presbyterian Church. They have two children : Mary C, wife of A. L. Parker, of De- 
troit, who is secretary of the Y. M. C. A. ; and Spencer F., a graduate of Cornell Uni- 
versity Law Department, and assistant editor of the North. Western Laio Revieio of St. 
Paul, Minn. 

Licht, Frederick, Geneva, was born in Germany, December 27, 1825, and came to 
this country with his parents m 1832, locating in Brooklyn, N. Y. He was engaged 
in the brewing business in Long Island for twenty -five years, and is at present vice- 
president of The Patent Cereals Company. He is the patentee of the process now used 
by the P. C. C. in the manufacture of the different wheat and corn specialties for brew- 
ing and family use. The P. C. C. mills were formerly located at Brooklyn, but as the 
business outgrew their old quarters, they removed to Geneva in 1888. 

Lacv, Ira E., Gorham, a native of Naples, was born June 7, 1849, son of John, a son 
of Somers Lacy, who was a native of Albany county, and married Alphia Andrews, by 
whom he had four sons and four daughters. He died in 1871, aged eighty-four years. 
John Lacy was born in Albany county in 1809, and at sixteen came with his parents to 
Naples. He was twice married, first to Isabelle Hoyt, by whom he had two children. 
She died in 1840, and in 1841 he married Julia A. Vosburgh, whose maiden name was 
Vinton. She was born May 18, 1815, a daughter of Howard and Betsey (Bryant) 
Vinton, of Connecticut. They had eight children. Mr. Vinton died in Monroe county 
in 1833. The family then moved to Naples, where in 1872 Mrs. Vinton died. By his 
second wife Mr. Lacy had one child, Ira E. Mr. Lacy settled on a farm in Naples, 
where he lived for thirty-two years. In 1871 he came to Gorham, where he died in 
1876. Ira E. was educated in Naples Academy. In connection with farming he fol- 
lowed teaching for many years. In 1874 he married Rosella S. Witter, born in Cen- 
terfield, December 3, 1853. They have five children: Isabelle J., Mary A., John W., 
Frank H., and Leo A. Mr. Lacy owns the farm of his father, upon which he has made 
many improvements. He is at present engaged in breeding pure Chester White and 
Suffolk swine. His place is known as the Maple Avenue farm. He is a Republican 
and a member of the Reed's Corners Grange. Mrs. Lacy is a daughter of A. S. Witter, 
a son of Lewis P., whose father, Isaac, Avas born in Connecticut in 1757. and married 
Margaret Owen, by whom he had seven children. He was a tailor by trade. In 1806 
he came to Gorham and settled the farm now owned by Lewis P. Witter. He died 
in 1843. Lewis P. was born in Orange county, December 26, 1803, and came with his 



FAMILY SKETCHES. Ill 

parents to Gorliam. He was twice married, first to Margaret Trotter, October 23, 1823, 
by whom he had four sons and one daughter. She died January 14, 18G8, and May 18, 
1870, he married Hannah, daughter of Ezekiel Birdseye. A. S. Witter studied medi- 
cine in Rochester, and settled in Branchport, where he practiced his profession. In 
18G0 he settled in Gorham and has since followed farming. 

Lord, Mariette, Gorham, was born in Gorham, and was reared on the old homestead 
where she now resides, and educated in the common schools. She donated quite largely 
in the building of the Middlesex Valley Railroad. Her father was Ethan Lord, a native 
of Sharon, Litchfield county, Conn., born December 24, 1798. In 1827 he married 
Paulina Parsons, a native of Sharon, and to them were born two children: Mariette 
and Flora. In 1830 Mr. Lord came to Yates county, and in 1831 purchased and settled 
on the farm in Gorham now owned by M. R. Boardman, and in 1835 moved on the 
farm now owned by his daughter. Mr. Lord made his own property. In politics he 
was a Whig, afterward a Republican. He died in Gorham in 1871 and his wife in 1892 
aged eighty-six years. His father was John Lord, a native of Sharon, where he died. 
II is wife was a Miss Everett. They had ten children. 

Lane, Ambert T., Victor, was born in the town of Farmington, Ontario county, Oc- 
tober 16, 1854. He received a common school and academic education. July 1, 1878, 
he married Amelia, daughter of Hiram and Apma (Dickinson) Parks, of Victor. 
They have two daughters, Laura E., and Florence M. Mr. Lane's father, Jacob, was 
born in Montgomery county in the year 1793. His parents went to Canada, and in 
the War of 1812 he espoused the American cause, and came to Ontario countv. The 
property was confiscated there, and he began anew a good American patriot. He 
married Rhoda Grinnell, and had six children: Andrew, George, Helen, Charles, Isaac 
and Ambert T. Mrs. Lane's father, Hiram Parks, was born at Scipio, Cayuga county, 
April 15, 1803 ; he married Apma Dickinson; she was formerly of Connecticut. They 
had eight children : Eveline, Edwin, Eliza, Maryette, Abigail, Thomas, Amelia, and 
Laura J. For many years Mr. Parks was an elder in the Presbyterian Church in Vic- 
tor. Mr. Park.s's father, Simon, came on foot from New England to Scipio, Cayuga 
county, and married there. In 1812 he moved with his family to Victor. In 1814 
he and his wife, Abigail, joined the Presbyterian Church in Victor by letter. He was 
a deacon in that church until his death. 

Lapham, David G., Canandaigua, was born in Manchester, January 17, 1839 a son 
of Anson S., a farmer of that town. Our subject attended the common schools of 
Manchester, and later fitted himself for college at Palmyra Union School and Macedon 
Academy. He entered Yale College in 1860, graduating m 1864. That year his father 
died and he conducted the farm for his mother three years, and then entered the office 
of Senator E. G. Lapham, with whom he read law for two years and was admitted to 
the bar in 1869. He spent one year longer in the senator's office and then opened an 
office for himself in the Hubbell block. He has since enjoyed a lucrative practice, and 
is considered one of the leading members of the profession in his county. In 1892 he 
was nominated on the Republican ticket for surrogate and the Democrat party recog- 
nizing his popularity, made no nomination in opposition. In 1885 he was elected sur- 



I 



112 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

rogate for the term of six years, expiring in 1891. He has held the office of town 
clerk for two terms and has been village clerk and attorney. He is a trustee of the 
Ontario Orphan Asylum and treasurer of the Red Jacket Club. Mr. Lapham married 
in 1872 Emily, daughter of Jonas M. Wheeler of Canandaigua, and they have two 
daughters : Anne Edith and Emily Marian. 

Latham, George W., Gorham, a native of Canandaigua, was born December 17, 1843, 
a son of Warren C, whose father was an early settler of Oneida county, coming there 
from Glasgow, Scotland, with his brother, who settled in California. Warren C. 
Latham was born in Oneida county in 1801. For many years he carried the mail on 
the Buffalo and Albany route. He married Sarah Youngs, a native of Gorham, by 
whom he had two sons and seven daughters. About 1835 he settled in Canandaigua 
and drove a stage between that place and Geneva for six years, then engaged in farm- 
in"- in Gorham where he remained until his death in 1884. Mrs. Latham noW resides 
in Kent county, Mich. George W. married in 1864 a Miss Augusta P. Lewis of Gor- 
ham born June 27, 1837. She is a daughter of Gustavus A. Lewis of Gorham, who 
was a son of Ebenezer of Revolutionary fame, who early settled in Gorham. He was 
twice married and by his second wife had three daughters and one son. Gustavus A. 
Lewis was born in 1801, and married Lany Manley of Amsterdam, by whom he had 
ten children. Mr. Latham owns and has improved the original farm of A. A. Lewis 
on which he now lives. He is a Republican and has been trusteo and deacon of the 
Congregational church many years, also superintendent of Sunday school fifteen years, 
and leader of Bible class ten years. 

Latting, Aldrich J., Hopewell, was born in Hopewell in 1859, a son of Jacob, born 
in New Paltz, August 3, 1822, whose father was John, a native of Dutchess county, 
born in 1790. When a young man John followed teaching several winters. He mar- 
ried Elizabeth Van Norstrand of Dutchess county, by whom he had twelve children, 
nine of whom grew to maturity, and at present three are living. During the winter 
of 1822-23 John Latting came to Hopewell Centre, then moved to Farmington where 
he remained two years ; when he retured to Hopewell and settled on the farm now 
owned by Jacob Latting, and his brother, John H., and situated. in the northwest 
corner of this town. Here he lived until his death in 1866. His wife died in 1856. 
Jacob was reared a farmer and has always followed that occupation. He married 
Lydia H. McLouth of Farmington, by whom he has two children : Aldrich J. and a 
daughter of Emogene, wife of Frank A. Ingraham, who resides in Cortland, N. Y., 
and owns part of the old farm. Jacob Latting is a Prohibitionist. His parents were 
Quakers and he is a birthright member, and attends South Farmington church. A. J. 
Latting married Emma Knowls, November 25, 1885, by whom he has two children : 
Mabel L. and Blanche B, Mr. Latting cast his first vote for Garfield. He afterwards 
voted for Cleveland, and is now a Prohibitionist. He is a member of E, K. O. R. of 
Manchester, and has also been master of Manchester Grange No. 501. He and his 
wife united with the First Baptist church of Manchester, April 17, 1892. 

Levet, Alfred B., Geneva, was born in Victor, November 23, 1869, was educated in 
the public schools of that town and took a course in mechanical draughting at 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 113 

Mechanics' Institute, Rochester, and is a cabinet maker by occupation. lie is also 
employed quite extensively m draughting for building purposes. October 8, 1892, he 
married Jennie A. Harrington of Geneva. Mr. Level's father, John H., was born at 
Islington, near London, Eng., in 1827. He was educated there and by occupation was 
a piano forte maker He married Emma M. Barlow of his native place, coming to the 
United States about 1852, locating first in Rochester, afterward in Victor. They had 
seven children, two died in infancy, five grew to maturity : Oliver C. married Agnes 
Gould ; Emily M. and Alfred B., two died after they grew to maturity, Walter J. and 
Alice L. Mrs. Levet's father, Elias W. Harrington, was born in Scipio, Cayuga county, 
November 4, 1827. January 15, 1850, he married Marietta Doty of Columbia county, 
who was born November 30, 1830, and came to Gsneva in 1861. They had four chil- 
dren : One son, Henry S., died at eleven years of age ; Lucy D., who married Alburtus 
B. Johnson; Sarah M., a teacher in Victor; and Jennie A. Mr. Harrington died De- 
cember 28, 1881. Mr. Levet's father died in 1871. Mr. Harrington's stepfather, Col. 
W. W. Jones, was the first white child born in Geneva and west of Utica. 

McKechnie, Frederick A., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua in 1865, a son 
of Alexander. He was educated at Canandaigua Academy and Swarthmore 
College, and after leaving school returned to Canandaigua, and in 1884 entered the Mc- 
Kechnie Bank as clerk. He was appointed to his present position as assistant cashier 
in February, 1890. Mr. McKechnie is a director and secretary of the Canandaigua 
Lake Steamboat Company, and is vice-president of the J. & A. McKechnie Brewing 
Company. Alexander McKechnie died January 28, 1883, in his sixty-second year, and 
the following year the J. & A. McKechnie Brewing Company as a stock company was 
organized, changing none in the management as the stock was held entirely by differ- 
ent members of the family. James McKechnie died September 12, 1889, aged seventy- 
four, I'^aving no children. Alexander McKechnie left at his death six children : Isa- 
bella wife of H. L. Howe of the Ontario Iron W( rks ; John D., president and treasurer 
of the J. & A. McKechnie Brewing Company ; George W. died August 16, 1889 ; he 
had been the vice-president, head brewer and superintendent in the brewery, and a 
man of more than ordinary businpss ability. His death was caused by heart disease. 
The other children are: Mrs. J. W. Swain of Philadelphia; Alexander, jr., died June 
30, 1884, who had been the assistant cashier of the McKechnie Bank, and the youngest 
child is Fred A., assistant cashier. 

McKechnie Family, The. In 1833 two brothers, James and Alexander McKechnie, 
aged seventeen and twelve respectively, left their native hoTie in Falkirk, Scotland, 
for America, landing in Canada, where they remained but a short time when they moved 
to Rochester, where their father and elder brother were engaged in th« brewing busi- 
ness. In 1843 these two young brothers discovered that Canandaigua offered the ad- 
vantage of a good spring of water and other facilities for the brewing business, so 
they moved to this town and the same year they bought out a small brewery. Start- 
ing in a very small way with an establishment having a capacity of 500 barrels per 
year, they gradually increased their buildings and business capacity until 1861, when 
we find they were making from ten to twelve thousand barrels per year. In 1861 the 



114 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

whole plant was destroyed by fire, but they were indomitable and immediately rebuilt 
and continued their business. In 1871 the establishment was rebuilt and since that 
time many buildings have been added, as the increase of business demanded, having 
now a capacity of fifty thousand barrels per year. 

Mapes, John W., Gorham, a son of Hiram, was born in Gorham, June 1, 1823. The 
Mapes family were natives of Wales. One of the older generations introduced Nor- 
mandy horses into England and for this act was knighted by the Cmwn and awarded 
a crest and coat of arms. The family came to this country and were among the earlier 
settlers at Greenport and Southold, L. I. Subsequently Phineas Mapes removed to 
Coxsackie, N. Y., where his son Hiram was born March 27, 1799. The family lived 
for a few years at Mendon, and there Phineas Mapes died. Hiram in early life went 
to Gorham, where he established a carding and cloth miJl. This he successfully man- 
aged for ten years and then took up farming, which he afterward continued. Febru- 
ary 24, 1821, he married Elizabeth Wyman, who was born in Gorham, September 1, 
1802. They had six sons and four daughters. Hiram Mapes died May 25. 1807, and 
his wife January 5, 1888. John W. was educated in the common schools and is a 
farmer. January 17, 1850, he married Minerva Barden, who was born in Benton No- 
vember 20, 182G. They have two children : Ella, wife of Richard M. Ringer, of Rush- 
ville, and Arlington, who was graduated from Cook Academy in 1879, and from Cor- 
nell University in 1883, receiving the degree of Ph. B. The parents of Mrs. Mapes 
were George and Dolly Witter Barden. They bad thirteen children, all of whom 
reached adult age. George Barden, born at Attleborough, Mass., February 28, 1788, 
was among the earliest settlers of Benton, coming there with his father, Thomas, in 
1799. The famil}' originally came from Plymouth, England. Mrs. Barden was a 
daughter of Elijah Witter, of Seneca, and was born at Lackawaxen, Pa., February 22, 
1789. 

McJannett Brother's. James P. was born in Canandaigua, October 16, 1847, and his 
brother, John A., was also born in the same town, November G, 1849. The father, 
David, was born in Dalrymple, Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1812, and came to this coun- 
try in May, 1840, settling in Canandaigua, first on the Metcalf farm, then the Bates 
farm. After various removals he finally settled on the farm now owned by Chester 
Welch, where he died January 24, 1861. He married in Scotland in 1837, Janet Dun- 
lop, by whom he had eight children, six now living : Robert M., a printer, of Naples, 
for many years editor and proprietor of the Naples Record^ and of late years J. P. of 
that town ; Margaret, now living with her brother; Mary, wife of Hiram Adams, of 
Richmond; Isabella, wife of Horace Outhouse, of Canandaigua; and James P. and 
John A. David W. died October 30, 1864, at Chestnut Hill Hospital, a member of 
Company H., Fourth New York Heavy Artillery. William died June 20, 1866, aged 
fourteen. John A. was a teacher during winter terms for several years. Our subjects 
have always lived in this town. They were educated in the common school at Canan- 
daigua and at the academy, and after leaving school engaged in farming. In 1863 the 
farm in the Academy Tract was bought by Robert McJannett, and sold by him to these 
brothers in 1875. In the spring of 1884 they bought a farm on lot eighty- three, which 



i^AMlLY SKETCHES. 115 

the still own, making now four hundred acres of land on which they do general farm- 
ing, with stock and hops a specialty. 

Moore, Daniel E., Geneva, was born in County Queens, Ireland, April 2, 1841, and 
was one of a family of six children of Matthew and Mary Moore, who came to Geneva 
in 1851. The parents and all the children except two are now dead. Daniel learned 
the trade of making sash, blinds and doors with N. H. Kipp, and later on became Mr. 
Kipp's success'^r in business. The old factory stood on Castle street, where the sub- 
stantial block is located, and where Mr. Moore still conducts the business. In local 
politics our subject has been quite active, he having been trustee of the Third Ward 
for more than twenty years, and town collector before holding village offices. Mr. 
Moore is and always has been a firm and consistent Democrat. He has been one of 
the police commissioners, and is now a member of the sewer commission, whose busi- 
ness it is to devise a thorough and complete system of sanitary sewerage for the vil- 
lage. He has been a large operator in real estate, and has developed and improved a 
number of unproductive parcels of land, especially in the northern part of the village, 
b}^ opening streets and building houses, some of which he sold at moderate prices and 
on eas)^ terms, so that many a thrifty mechanic has been able to secure a comfortable 
home. Being fully indentified with its business enterprises and prominent in all vil- 
lage affairs, he has done much to promote its growth and prosperity. 

Munger, Rev. Reuben Dewitt, Geneva, was born in Ithaca, August 26, 1837, and 
and moved with his parents to Watkins at the age of seven. He was educated in the 
public schools and attended Lima Seminary, where he remained two years. He also 
attended Genesee College, and graduated at the expiration of four years in 1861, re- 
ceiving the degree of A. M. from that college in 1864, and also the same degree from 
Syracuse University in 1874. He joined the East Genesee Conference in 1861. This 
was afterwards changed to the Central New York Conference in 1880. Mr. Munger's 
first charge in the ministry was at Big Flats, Chemung county. He has been nine 
years trustee of Geneseo Wesleyan Seminary, three years trustee of the Cornell Lib- 
rary Association of Ithaca, also three years Supreme Counsellor of the Royal Temp- 
lars of Temperance, and nine years member of the Board of Directors. He is also 
vice-president of the National Committee for effecting congressional action on the 
temperance question. He is, with one exception, the oldest member of Independent 
Order of Good Templars in the world. For many years Mr. Munger has been greatly 
interested in all the great questions of moral reform, and in addition to his duties as 
pastor has found time to advocate this course from pulpit and platform in many of 
the States of our great country. September 2, 1863, he married Estelle, daughter of 
Dr. George T. Hinman, of Havana, and they have two sons, George G., an able at- 
torney in Syracuse, and James D., who is in the mercantile business in St. Paul, Minn. 

Munson, Thaddeus, Canandaigua, was born on a farm in Canandaigua, December 18, 
1832, a son of Lacey, also a native of that town, born here, December 5, 1809. His 
father, Thaddeus, was a native of Connecticut, and came. to this country when a young 
man, where he died in 1814. He married, here, Eliza Van Orman, and they had 
five children, of whom Lacey (a twin) was one of the youngest. He was an influential 



lie HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

man in politics, but was never an aspirant for political honors. He married, March ], 
1831, Paulina, daughter of John Milton Gillett, of Canandaigua. a native of Connect- 
icut, who came here when a hoy. Lacey Munson had two children : J. Milton, of 
Cheshire, who lives on the farm where the father and grandfather on the mother's side 
both died, and Thaddeus. The latter was educated in the common schools, and his 
first business venture was as a school teacher, a profession he followed but two years, 
and then engaged in farming. In 1861 he bought the Harris farm of one hundred 
acres, and later bought sixty-one acres of the Stiles farm, making a farm of 161 acres, 
on which he has built a fine residence and other buildings. The principal products of 
the farm are grain, hay, and hops, the latter bemg a specialty, of which he has seven 
and a half acres. Mr. Munson is an ardent worker in politics, and has been commis- 
sioner of highways three years. He married, in 1853, Melissa J., daughter of William 
S. Durand, a native of Connecticut, who came here about 1800. Mr. Munson has three 
daughters: Ella E., wife of Edson Wolverton ; Sophia L., wife of Warren Davis, and 
Edna M., wife of Walter Wheeler, of Canandaigua. 

McKinney, Benjamin F., Geneva, was born in Bradford county, Pa., November 17, 
1843, a son of Henry and Amanda McKinny. In March, 1804, he enlisted in Company 
I, One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Vols., and was mustered out August 
3, 1865, as a corporal. He has been in the employ of the L. V. R. R. since November, 
1871. In October, 1884, he came to Geneva as local freight agent, and in 1872 married 
Laura Mallory, of Litchfield, Pa. They have two children : Lizzie M. and Carrie A. 
Mr. McKinney is a member of Swift Post G. A. R. No. 94, and was formerly a member 
of Perkins Post. He is adjutant of Swift Post. His father, Henry McKinney, resides 
with him. 

Moore, D.D., David, Geneva, was born in Westmoreland, England, March 28, 1822. 
and came to the United States in 1834. He was educated at Clarkson and Albion 
Academies, and was for seven years under eminent private instructors. He was or- 
dained as a Baptist minister in June, 1852 ; was pastor of Gaines and Murray Baptist 
church. New York, 1852-55; of Le Roy Baptist church 1855-60; of Washington Street 
Baptist church, Buffalo, 1860-64 ; of Washington Avenue Baptist church, Brooklyn, 
1864-76. In consequence of ill health he was compelled to resign, his resignation being 
accepted by his people with great reluctance and with substantial tokens of their affec- 
tion and esteem. He then came to Geneva and became pastor of the Baptist church 
here for seven years, when through failing health, both of himself and wife, he felt 
obliged to retire from the pastoral care of the church, but has continued to supply the 
pulpits of various churches, as he has been able, up to the present time, 1893. He re- 
ceived his degree of D.D. from Rochester University in 1866. In June, 1847, he was 
married to Edna 0. Alma, of Benton, Yates county, N. Y. She died in De Land, Fla, 
in April, 1884, and in August, 1886, he married Eliza McVitty. of Geneva. They have 
three sons: David, jr., John Bigelow and James Ashton. 

Mellen, John W., Geneva, was born in Clyde, Wayne county, April 21, 1861. The 
family came to Geneva about the year 1873. He was educated in the public schools 
and Hobart College, where he took the classical course. At the end of three years he 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 117 

left on account of failing health, and has held the position of cashier in Samuel South- 
worth's bank for several years. He was elected town clerk in 1892 and re-elected in 
1S93. He was appointed clerk of the Board of Education, on which he has served three 
years. Septenaber 16, 1891, he married 3. Georgiana Dininny, of Addison, Steuben 
county, and they have one son, John D., born November 11, 1892. Mr. Mellen's 
father, James P., was born in Hudson, Columbia county, and married Maria Rose, of 
Clyde. They have seven children, as follows: Charles R., Sarah, James, John W., 
Mary R., Catharine and Arthur H. Mrs. Mellen's father, John W. Dininny, was born 
in Oneonta, Otsego county, in 1822, and is an attorney. He married Sarah Coburn 
and they had four children : Harper J., William D., Carleton V. and S. Georgiana. 
Mr. Dininny served as colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-first N. Y. Vols., but had 
to resign by order of the regimental surgeon, by reason of impaired vision, which if he 
continued in service would lead to total blindness. 

Mead, Alfred M., Victor, was born at Macedon Centre, Wayne county, November 
21, 1S56. He was educated in the public schools, and graduated from the Macedon 
Academy. He studied medicine in, and graduated from, the Medical Department of 
the University of Buffalo, practicing successfully in the town of Victor since 1880. 
April 6, 1881, he married Hattie A., daughter of Robert K. and Mary Brown, of Union 
Hall, Wayne County. They have three children: Edgar R., Dora E. and M. Evelyn. 
The father of Alfred, John G., was born in Dutchess county, and was a farmer. He 
married Emma Cookingham, of his native county, and they had three children : Edgar 
who married Alice Smith, and had two children : Louie and Alvin ; Alfred M. and E. 
Louise, who married Dr. Charles Briggs, of Fairport. She died in March, 1881. Dr. 
Mead is a member of the Ontario County Medical Society, and of the Methodist church 
and was coroner of Ontario county two terms. 

Morrison, A. B., Geneva, contractor and builder. 

Mitchel, Dr. Charles T., Canandaigua, was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Jan- 
uary 30, 1836, a son of Charles and Betsey E. (Drake) Mitchel. His father was born 
in 1806 in Madison county, N. Y., and followed carriage making. He was a son of 
Elijah Mitchel, and one of fourteen children, but one of whom is now livino-, William 
E. Charles, the father of our subject, married in IS'Si Bet«ey E., daughter of Theo- 
dore S. Drake, of Leroy, Genesee county, to whom were born six children three 
daughters and three sons, of whom Charles T. was the oldest. His early life was 
spent in Paris, County Brant, Ontario, whither his parents had removed, where he at- 
tended the grammar school in that village until nineteen, then spent one year in War- 
saw (N. Y.) Academy, and the following year in the hardware store of Morris Buxton 
& Co., at Warsaw. He returned home and went into partnership with his uncle 
James E. Mitchel, in the manufacture of fanning mill^, remaining with him three years 
when he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. S. W. Cooke, of Paris. He 
spent the summer of 1862 in an army hospital in Washington, D. C, and o-raduated 
from the University of Victoria College, Toronto, Ontario, in 1863. after which he went 
into practice at Ionia, Mich., where he remained three years, then came to Geneva 
Hygienic Institute, where he remained three years, and began the study and practice 



lis HISTORY Q-p ONTAMO COUNTY. 

of hoQKeopathy. In the fall cf 1870 he went to Le Roy, N. Y., where he practiced for 
three years. The winter of 1874-75 he spent at the Homoeopatic Hospital College at 
Cleveland, 0., graduating at the close of the session, and immediately located in Can- 
andaigua, where he is now engaged in active practice. He is a member of the Homceo- 
pathic Medical Society of Ontario county, and present secretary and treasurer. He 
married in 1865 Cordelia Cooper, of Waterloo, and they had one child, Florence G., 
who was born in 1867, and died in 1878. Dr. Mitchel and wife are members of the 
First Congregational Church, of which the doctor is treasurer. He was high priest of 
Excelsior Chapter, No. 164, R. A. M., four years, and is the present secretary, and also 
master of Canandaigua Lodge, No. 294, F. & A. M., two years. He was one of the 
organizers and the first president of the Canandaigua Anglers' Association, and a fre- 
quent contributor to angling literature, both in poetry and prose. He is one of the 
orio-inal members, and has been secretary and treasurer of Canandaigua Microscopical 
Society for ten years past. He occupies a pleasant home at No. 2 Park Place. 

Mead James Gorhara, a native of Gorham, was born April 30, 1836. He is a son 
of William, a son of Amasiah, who was a son of Thaddeus. The latter was an early 
settler of Westchester county, where Amasiah was born February 14, 1770. He mar- 
ried Abigail Jessup, born March 20, 1769, a daughter of Sylvanus Jessup, and they 
had four sons and two daughters. He died June 7, 1844, and his wife January 13, 
1858. William was born in Westchester county, October 15, 1795. In 1821 he came 
to Gorham and finally bought the farm of 155 acres where subject now resides. Mr. 
Mead was twice married, first, January 24, 1821, to Sallie Baker, by whom he had 
two children. She died September 6, 1829, and October 19, 1831, he married Mabel 
Sterlino- a native of Lima, and they had two sons and four daughters. She was 
born November 3, 1810. Her parents were James and Mabel (Chester) Sterling, 
who had seven sone and two daughters. The father of James was Samuel Sterling, 
of Connecticut. William Mead died in 1858 and his wife in 1861. James Mead was 
educated in Spencertown Academy, Columbia county, and Canandaigua Academy. 
Febuary 18, 1864, he married Mary A. Dickerson, a native of Gorham, born January 
21 1842. She was a daughter of Selah Dickerson, a son of David Dickerson, of 
Pennsylvania, who early came to Gorham. Selah Dickerson was born in Gorham, 
August 27, 1806, and married Lucy A. Holton, of Gorham, born July 10, 1811, a daugh- 
ter of Francis Holton, born June 9,1781. Mr, Dickerson and wife had three sons 
and a daughter. He was assessor and highway commissioner, and died September 16, 
1869. His wife died February 1, 1888. The children of James Mead and wife are 
William M., Lucy I., Jennie L , and Mabel S. Mr. Mead is a Republican, and has been 
assessor one term. He has been vice-president and director of Gorham Agricultural 
Society, and is a member of Stanley Grange, No. 284, and is a very prominent member 
of the Presbyterian Church. 

Menteth, James Stuart, Canandaigua, was born at Menteth's Point, town of Canan- 
daigua, July 29, 1841, a son of Thomas Loughnan Stuart Menteth, who came to this 
country from Dumfries, Scotland, in 1832. Thomas was a son of Sir Charles Menteth, 
who was the father of seven sons and two daughters. Tiie oldest son, James Stuart 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 119 

Menteth, inherited the title at the death of Sir Charles Menteth in 1852. Tiiomas 
Menteth died in 1854, leaving three sons and two daughters. At the death of Sir 
James in 1870 the title reverted to James Stuart, our subject. Thomas L. was an Eng- 
lish army officer, and served from 1818 to 1830 in the service in India, retiring with 
tlie office of captam. He returned in 1830 to Scotland, where he remained till 1832, 
when he came to America and located on the west shore of Canandaigua Lake, about 
six miles from Canandaigua village. He purchased here an estate of over 400 acres, 
and built a flouring mill, which he conducted in connection with general farming. He 
lived to fifty-eight years of age, and died an honored and respected citizen. His chil- 
dren living are : Alice, wife of George Finley, of Canandaigua, and James Stuart. The 
boyhood of our subject was spent on the farm of his birth. He was educated in Can- 
andaigua Academy, Dr. Reed's Walnut Hill School at Geneva, Lima Seminary, and 
two years under Hon. John Raines as private tutor. In 1859 he went to California, 
where he was engaged in stock ranching for four and a half years and mining over two 
years, returning to Canandaigua in 1866, where he has ever since made his home, and 
has added to the original estate many improvements, being now an extensive grower 
of fruit, hops, grain, etc. He married in 1872 Helen G., daughter of Darwin E. Fay, 
Oswego county, and they are the parents of two children : Philadelphia Stuart Menteth, 
and Isabella Stuart Menteth, students of Granger Place School. 

McMillan, N<^rton, Canandaigua, the first son of Peter and Lusena (Towner) McMillan, 
was born on the old Granger farm in this town September 2, 1843. He was eighteen 
years old when the war broke out, but enlisted July 22, 18G2, in the One Hundred 
and Twenty-sixth N. Y. Vols., and participated in the battles of Harper's Ferry, Get- 
tysburg, Bristow Station, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and many others. December 25, 
18G4, at the consolidation of the regiment, which caused the discharge of part of the 
non-commissioned officers. Norton returned to Canandaigua, and engaged in farming in 
different places in the West and in New York. In 1878 he bought a farm of 105 acres 
in Canandaigua, which he conducted for four years, then sold, and rented the old Wilder 
farm, which he bought in 1885. This is a fine place of 115 acres. He married, March 
1(5, 1870, Anna, daughter of James Curran, of Livonia, Livingston county, and they 
have two sons: Peter A., born May 30, 1871, and Roy H., born December 4, 1876. 
Peter A. is a school teacher; Roy H. is a student of the Union School of Canandaigua. 

McCredy, Alonzo, Canandaigua, was born in Warren, February 22, 1822. His 
grandfather, Robert McCredy, came to this country the latter part of the eighteenth 
century, settling in Florida, Montgomery county, where Thomas, father of Alonzo, was 
born in 1795. When about twenty he moved to Herk.'mer county, at that time a 
wilderness, and bought a farm of about 100 acres, which he made into a good grain 
farm. He married Hannah Blatchly, of Peekskill, and they had twelve children, five 
of whom are living: James, a farmer of Michigan; Eliza, widow of James T. Yule, of 
Herkimer county ; Robert, of Clean ; Hanford, a retired farmer of Warren, Herkimer 
county, and Alonzo. The latter was given a common school education, and in 1856 
moved to Minnesota, where he spent four years, and then moved to Illinois, where he 
lived three years, and in 1863 returned to New York State, locating in this county. 



120 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

He bought a farm of 140 acres in this town, where he has ever since made his home. 
]Mr. McCredy lias never taken an active part in politics. He is content to be known 
as an honest, upright citizen and a successful farmer. He married in 1853 Louisa, 
daughter of Peter Rankin, of Herkimer county, and they have two sons : Elliott, an 
employee of the Sanitarium at Clifton Springs, and Dimmock, who lives at home. 

Muno-er, M. D wight, Canandaigua, was born in Connecticut, March 7, 1830. While 
he was very young his paren's moved to Byron, near Rochester, and in 1837 they 
moved to Canandaigua. Our subject was educated in Canandaigua Academy under 
Prof. N. T. Clarke. His first business venture was as a clerk and afterward a merchant 
in hardware at Penn Yann. He was there six years, from 1846 to 1852, and then re- 
turned here and spent one year in Senator Lapham's law office. He then went to 
Chicago, where he spent four years, and in 1857 returned here. From 1857 to 1864 he 
conducted a brokerage business here. In 18G4 the First National Bank of Canandaigua 
was organized by Mr. Munger with a capital of $75,000, and he was cashier for the first 
few years and subsequently president. In the fall of 1887 the bank went into volun- 
tary liquidation, going out of business. For the last seventeen years Mr. Munger has 
been manager and president of the Canandaigua Gas Company. In 1888 he bought 
out the branch of the Excelsior Electric Light Company at Canandaigua, and is general 
manager and president of the company, which is now the Canandaigua Electric Light 
Company. Mr. Munger was for three years president of the Steamboat and Navigation 
Company, and he is also president of the Board of Trade. He married in 1860 Mary 
S., daughter of Assemblyman Z. Barton Stout, of Richmond, who is prominent in poli- 
tics, and a man of considerable literary ability. They have two children : Jane C. and 
Christine. 

McCrossen, John Willard, Richmond, was born on the farm where he now lives 
March 20, 1816. His father, James McCrossen, son of David, was born in 1780 in 
Dungerry, County Tyrone, Ireland. David was a Scotchman, his mother being also 
Scotch. James came to this country when eighteen years of age, settling first in Phila- 
delphia, and eight years later came to Richmond. He had been a distiller. He bought 
at first seven acres on which was water power. Here he operated a distillery in 1806, 
which he continued until his death in 1820. He married Deborah, daughter of Alden 
Adams. She was born in Vermont in 1789, and died at the age of eighty-six. Of 
their five children, David died in Grand Rapids, Mich., aged eighty-three years; Jane, 
wife of William Pursell, died in Springwater, aged eighty- three; Susan, wife of J. D. 
Hazen, died in Grand Rapids, aged seventy ; John W., and James who died young. 
John W. was educated at the common schools, and in 1835 married Alida Westbrook, 
by whom he had these children : Erzilla, Mrs. Lyman Bowles, of Cohocton ; Alida, wife 
of James Capron, of Springwater. His second wife was Lucma Adams, whom he 
married in 1844. She was a daughter of Isaac Adams, a pioneer of the town, who 
came with Philip Reed in 1795. Their children are: Birdie A., who lives at home; 
Deborah, Mrs. J. M. Miller; Sylvia, Mrs. W. J. Short, of Michigan. Mr. McCrossen 
has 426 acres in his home farm, and 148 acres in Canadice. 

Mariner, Myron, East Bloomfield, a native of Sharon, Litchfield county, Conn., was 
born July 7, 1820, a son of Buell, a native of Connecticut, born January 6, 1775, and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 121 

the fourth of a family of six children. He married Esther Lord, a native of the same 
place, born August 10, 1784, and a daughter of John Lord of Connecticut. Mr. Mari- 
ner and wife had eight sons, four of whom are living. In 1823 he came to Yates county 
and spent a year, then went to Benton and bought a farm of 200 acres, on which he 
resided until his death January G, 1852. His wife died in 1877. His farm is now 
owned by his youngest son. Myron Mariner was educated in the common schools and 
taught for a short time, and then turned his attention to farming. In 1848 he purchased 
100 acres in East Bloomfield, which he now owns. He has added many improvements 
to land and buildings. For twenty years he was a breeder of American Merino sheep, 
for eleven of which he paid $2,500. Mr. Mariner has been twice married. First, in 
1847, to Ann M. Moody, a native of Seneca, and daughter of Benjamin Moody of that 
place. To Mr. Mariner and wife was born one daughter, who died in infancy. Mrs. 
Mariner died in 1849, and in 1852 Mr. Mariner married Abbie P. Marsh, a native of 
Litchfield county, Conn., and one of seven children of Horace and Electa (Beebe) Marsh, 
the former of Litchfield, Conn., and the latter of Canaan, Conn. Mr. Marsh died in 
1844, at the age of seventy-two years. Mr. Mariner has been a Republican since the 
organization of that party. He was highway commissioner twelve years, and was su- 
pervisor in 1887-88. His wife is a member of the Congregational church at East 
Bloomfield. 

Moore, Robert Bruce, Victor, was born in Victor May 21, 1819. He was educated 
in the district schools and in early life was a carpenter ard builder, was also a farmer. 
He married twice, first to Almira Fisher, and they had one daughter, Mary, who mar- 
ried J. M. Hitchcock of Chicago, 111. He married second, August 25, 1855, Rachel 
Williams of Lincoln county, Ontario, Canada. They have three children : Alice, who 
married Gardner Thomas, now of Livonia, Livingston county; Charles A., who married 
Libbie Craft of Victor, and William B., who resides at home. Mr. Moore's father, Ashel 
Moore, was born in Massachusetts, and came to this State when a young man. He was 
a farmer and married Lucinda Williams. They had fourteen children: Gustavus A., 
Theodore W., Caroline H , Eunice, William, Angeline, Robert B., Mary J., Lucy A., 
George B., Emily M., Julia M., Eliza and James W. Mrs. Moore's father, Nathan Will- 
iams, was born in Victor September 9, 1805, went to Canada when quite young and 
married Rachel Wilcox of Canada, and had nine children, three survive: Spencer, 
Albert, and Rachel. Mr. Moore's grandfather, Abijah Williams, was in the Revolution- 
ary War. His father died January 9, 1855, and his mother February 6, 1860. Mrs. 
Moore's father died October 29, 1881, and her mother March 8, 1870. Mr. and Mrs. 
Moore are members of the Presbyterian church. 

Miller, Luman Phelps, Victor, was born in the town of Augusta (now Oriskany Falls), 
Oneida county, November 9, 1818. On March 4, 1819, his father came with Jonas M. 
Wheeler, and located southwest of Victor on the land now occupied by subject, and 
immediately returned for their families, including the subject of this sketch, then only 
six months old. He was educated in the public schools and was a farmer. October 5, 
1859, he married Mrs. M. (Humphrey) Smith of Victor. They have had three children : 
Charles B., Orrin H., and Eugene H., who died at the age of nineteen ; Orrin H., at the 
P 



^ 



122 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ap:e of twenty months. Cliarles B. received his education in Canandaigua Academy, 
afterward graduated from the Rochester Business College, and is now a resident of 
South Norwalk, Conn., superintendent of J. J. Asche's Fur Cutting Factory. Mr. Mil- 
ler's father, Orrin, was born at Cooperstown, Otsego county, April 27, 1793, and came 
with his parents to Miller's Corners when a child. He too was a farmer, and married 
Abigail Thompson, formerly of Massachusetts. They had three sons and a daughter : 
Alonzo W., who died in Toronto, Canada, in 1891 ; Luman Phelps, Arthur H., and 
Sarah A., who married Hiram Humphrey of this town. Mrs. Miller's father, Rufus 
Humphrey, was born in Goshen, Conn., October 2, 1795, and came to Ontario county 
in 1818. He married Lurania Smith, formerly of North Carolina. Mr. Humphrey was 
a machinist and invented the first threshing machine used in Western New York; he 
was one of the first to encourage the public school system and a strong anti-slavery 
man, and was interested in all matters of public concern. His death was sincerely re- 
gretted by the whole community. Mr. Miller's father, Orrin, died March 6, 1872. Mr. 
and Mrs. Miller are members of the Universalist church, and Mr. Miller is one of the 
deacons. He has been superintendent of the poor three terms, poormaster of the town 
several years, was deputy sheriff during Sheriff Hildreth's term. His father was in the 
War of 1812. The ancestry of the family is English and Scotch. 

Middaugh, Albert, Gorham, was born in Phelps, Ontario county, April 13, 1834, a 
son of Eli, who was a son of Jasper, a native of Pennsylvania and one of the early 
settlers of Phelps, where he died. Eli was born in Phelps May 10, 1799. His wife 
was Mariah McCarty, by whom he had four sons and four daughters. Mr. Middaugh 
was a man of extensive reading and good judgment. He was a farmer and died in 
Phelps October 8, 1882, and his wife October 20. 1800. He was highway commissioner 
a number of years. Albert ma^-ried in 1800 Eunice Burnett, by whom he had one 
child, Orson W., born March 15, 1871. He was educated in the Phelps Union School 
and the Elmira School of Commerce, graduating from the latter in 1890. He after- 
wards engaged as manager for G. W. Krowl of Elmira. January 12, 1874, Mrs. Mid- 
daugh died, and June 0, 1875, Mr. Middaugh married Persis Humphrey, who died June 
9, 1879. April 30, 1884, he married Margaret Manzer, born in Otsego county January 
11, 1854. They have had one son, Albert B., born June 9, 1885. Mr. Middaugh's 
early life was spent in Phelps, but for many years he has resided in Gorham. He is a 
Democrat and has been poormaster three terms. He is a member of the Grange at 
Reed's Corners. Mrs. Middaugh is a daughter of Albert and Rosetta (Cummings) Man- 
zer of Otsego county. Mr. Manzer served eleven months in the war in Company D, 
One Hundred and Forty-fourth N. Y. Vols. 

Marks, Walter, Hopewell, was born in Hopewell in September, 1819, a son of 
William Marks, who was son of Ebenezer Marks, who came from Otsego county and 
settled in 1800 in the town of Eaton, now Hopewell. His wife was a Miss French, 
and they had four sons and si.K daughters. William was born in 1780, and married 
Betsey Knapp of Otsego county, and they had one son and four daughters. Her 
father was Ezra, and her grandfather was named Ebenezer. Mr. William Marks died 
in Hopewell in 1840, and his wife in 1855. Walter Marks was reared on a farm and 
educated in the" public schools. In 1840 he married Sena Benham, a native of Hope- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 123 

well, and a daughter of Bfrajzil and Electa Benham, early settlers of Hopewell, who 
had nine children. The children of Mr. Marks and wife are : William R. (deceased) ; 
Eugenia, wife of Gardner L. Archer, of Hopewell ; and W. Franklin, who resides! on 
the farm purchased by his father in 1840. He married Isabella Butler, and his chil- 
dren are: Jessie E., Ethel F., and Walter H. Walter Marks is a Republican, has been 
commissioner of highways; justice of peace twenty years; supervisor eight years, and 
county clerk. Mr. Marks owns a farm of eighty acres in Hopewell, which farm is 
separated from the farm taken by his grandfather in 1800 by a highway. 

McClure, Darwin, Hopewell, was born in Onondaga county, November 9, 1842, of 
Scotch Irish descent. The father of Darwin was Hiram, son of James, a native of 
Vermont, who came to Onondaga county in 1791, and there lived until his death in 
1852. Hiram was born on the old homestead in October, 1800. In 1822 he married 
a Miss Maker, and they had eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity. Mr. 
McClure died in 1857. Darwin McClure was reared on a farm, and educated in the 
common schools and Friendship Academjf. In 1864 Georgietta Miles became his 
wife, and they had one child, Georgietta. Mr. McClure is a farmer, and in politics 
tmtil 1872 was a Republican ; he has since been a Democrat. In 1865 he came to 
Hopewell and piuchased a farm of 110 acres, on which an old Indian village and bury- 
ing ground was located, and has there since resided. He was one of the organizers 
in 1877 of the Onta-io County Patrons' Fire Relief Association, was treasurer until 
1886, since which he has been secretary of the association. He has held several town 
offices, and is a member of Hopewell Grange No. 472. 

Macomber. Cyrenius, Manchester, was born in Farmington, August 30, 1817. He 
received his schooling in the district schools of the town, and in 1847 purchased his 
farm of ninety- ^ix acres in this town. Early in life he married Caroline M. Harmon, 
by whom he has had four children. Cyrenius Macomber has lived always an upright 
and conscientious life, known and beloved by a host of friends and neighbors and 
and acquaintances. And now in his declining years he may rest assured that all know 
that he has worn the white flower of a blameless life, and worn it well, without osten- 
tation or display. He is a staunch Republican in politics, and has held some local town 
offices. 

McLouth, Marshall, Farmington, was born in Farmington, August 30, 1815. He 
was educated in the public schools, and was a farmer until he retired. December 31, 
1838, he married Margaret, daughter of Ebenezer and Margaret (Spear) Pratt of the 
town of Manchester. They have had seven children, five survive: Lucy, who married 
Charles Converse, now of Michigan, and have eight children : Milton, Edward, Charles, 
Howard, LeRoy, Allison, Roscoe and Margaret; Mary, who resides at home with her 
parents; Louis H., who married Celia Thayer, and have three children: Wells, Hannah, 
and Marshall; Gustavus A., who married Mary Bloodgood, and have five children: Eva, 
Harriet, Jessie, Carlton, and Sarah. Jessie married Edwin A. Adams. Mr. McLouth's 
father, Peter, was born in Taunton, Mass., in 1761, was a brick manufacturer and 
school teacher by occupation. He came to Farmington in 1800. He married twice, 
first Lavina Wells, of Williamstown, Mass., and had one son, William W. For his 



124 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

second wife he married Lydia Osgood, formerly of the State of Vermont. They had 
eleven children, eight grew to maturity : Walter, Lonson, Thomas, jr., Cyrus, Harriet, 
Lyman, Peter and Mar.'^hall. His father, Peter, and four of his brothers served in the 
Revolutionary war. Mr. McLouth served two years as supervisor of his town in 
18G4-65, and was a right loyal man during the late war. His grandfather was edu- 
cated in the Maynooth College, and after coming to the United States taught a gram- 
mar school in Massachusetts. John Hancock was one of his pupils. Mrs. McLouth's 
father, Ebenezer Pratt, was born in Berkshire county, Mass., came to this county in 
the year 1795, and married Margaret Spear, formerly of Keene, N. H., and had seven 
children, .six grew to maturity : Electa, Dighton, Achsah, Ebenezer, Meritt and Mar- 
garet. 

Millard, Rev. Benjamin F., Naples, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Naples, was 
born in Cayuga county November 1, 1820, a son of Jesse and Lucinda (Loomis) Mil- 
lard, both from New England. The ancestors of the family were French Huguenots, 
Welsh and Scotch, and they trace their lineage to the Mayflower. Jesse Millard was a 
merchant and a prominent man in the neighborhood. He was for many years a jus- 
tice of the peace and postmaster, and a deacon of the Presbyterian church. His wife 
was a relative of Professor Jjoomis, of Yale College. Our subject was educated at 
the Western Reserve College of Ohio and at Yale College, Theological Department, 
and was ordained about 1847. He was the first pastor of the church at Lansing, Mich., 
when the place had less than 1,000 people. He came to Naples when a young man, 
as pastor. After a few years, on account of failing health, he resigned his pastorate 
and studied law, and practiced successfully for several years. He was also editor of 
The 'I'rihune for some time in Chicago. During the Civil War he became business agent 
of the New York Christian Commission, and associate pastor of the New York So- 
ciety's Mariners' Church, and afterwards was again called to Naples as pastor of the 
church there. He is a man greatly esteemed by the community. He was first married 
in 1847 to Francis Mann (who died in 1879), by whom he had two sons: Franklin 
Mann and Chalmers S., both deceased. September 12, 1881, he married Mrs. Margaret 
(Andrews) Monier, widow of the late James L. Monier, a merchant and real estate 
dealer, who died April 3, 1870. 

McMillan, Peter H., Canandaigua, was born at Conesus, Livingston county, May 15, 
LS18. His father, John McMillan, was a native of New Hampshire, where he was 
born in 1766. He was twice married and had seven children by his first wife. He 
married second Rhoda Jackson, mother of subject, and widow of John Reeves, by 
whom she had five children. By his second wife Mr. McMillan had three children; 
two of the children of John are living: Mrs. Rhoda Howe, of Lyons, Ionia county, 
Mich., and Peter H. John McMillan died in Livingston county in 1840. Peter H. 
was educated in the common and select schools, and in August, 1841, removed to On- 
tario county, locating on a farm owned by Francis Granger. He conducted this for 
nine years, then bought a farm of_ninety-five acres on the town line of East Bloomfield 
and Canandaigua, where he lived about six years. He then sold the land in East 
Bloomfield and bought in Canandaigua 125 acres, having now about 200 acres. Mr. 
McMillan is a Democrat, and he has been three terms assessor of Bast Bloomfield. He 



Family skrtches. 125 

married in 1840 Lusena Tower, of Saratoga. They had eleven children, nine of whom 
are living: Horton, a farmer of Canandaigua; John, of Kansas; Mary Porter, of Will- 
iamsport, Pa.; Rhoda Berry, of Canandaigua ; Converse, on a stock farm in Indiana; 
Lusena, wife of Lyman Cooley, a civil engineer of Chicago ; and Peter, George, and 
Henry, all farmers of Canandaigua. Mrs. McMillan died July 25, 1880, and he mar- 
ried second Nancy Clapp, of Canandaigua, who died October 25, 1S8G. His present 
wife was a daughter of Stephen Francis, of Bristol, who died October 18, 1892, aged 
eighty- six years. Mr. McMillan was one of the earliest breeders of American Merino 
sheep in this section. 

Mather, Zachariah, Canandaigua, was born in Middlesex, Yates county, November 
20, 1819, a son of Lucius and Jane (Ackerman) Mather. Zachariah, the grandfather 
was a native of Connecticut and had two sons, Eleazer and Lucius. Lucius was born 
in Connecticut about 1787, and came to Fayette, Seneca county, when a youno- man. 
He married Jane Ackerman, of Fayette, and they had five children: John, Zachariah 
Abraham, G-eorge, and Luoind^. The early life of our subject was spent in Middlesex. 
He assisted on his father's farm until twenty- nine years of age. In 1849 he moved 
to Ontario county, and bought a farm on the Academy Tract in Canandaio-ua, where 
he has since made his home. He has increased the size of the farm to 120 acres, and 
erected a fine residence and barn. The principal products of the farm are fruit and 
stock, and the place is known as Maple Grange. Mr. Mather has occupied various of- 
fices of trust in his neighborhood. He married in Middlesex in 1849 Theodocia, daugh- 
ter of Chauncey Adams, an early settler of Middlesex, and they had one son Lucius 
Chauncey. Mrs. Mather died October 29, 1883, at fifty- eight years of age. Lucius C. 
Mather was born November 11, 1849. He was educated in the Lima Seminary and is 
a farmer and veterinary surgeon. He is interested in the breeding of fancy stock, 
and has taken many prizes at county fairs. He is an active member of the Canan- 
daigua Baptist Church. In 1877 he married Jennie, daughter of Erastus Green, a resi- 
dent of Montana, but a native of Yates county. Mr. Mather has two children : Ethel 
L., born July 27, 1880; and Theodocia A., born January 12, 1883. Mr. Mather is a' 
member of Academy Grange No. 62, and has held the office of master eio-ht vears 
and is secretary and present lecturer, and master of County Grange four years and secre- 
tary two years. He has been vice-pre.sident of the Ontario County Agricultural As- 
sociation for three years. 

McNulty, Francis X., Canandaigua, was born in Ottawa, Canada, in 1848, was edu- 
cated in the common schools and learned the mason's trade, becommg a contractor 
in 1864. In 1865 he came to New York, where he worked for one year, and was in 
Palmyra one season. In 1868 he had the contract for the Gibson block in Phelps ; 
the next season he built the Foster block in Clifton Springs, and the school buildin"-. 
In 1872 he came to Canandaigua, and ever since has had nearly all of the brick work. 
He built the Union Free School building, Tillotson block, Masseth House, Flanniiran 
and Times block. Water Works plant, McKechnies' lager beer brewery, and many 
others. In 1881 he began the construction oE buildings for the New York Central 
Railroad Company, and has done a large portion of their mason work between East 



126 mSTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Syracuse and Buffalo, including buildings, walls, bridges, and culverts. He is one of 
the trustees of the Union School, and police commissioner of this village. He is a 
Democrat, but not an office seeker. He is a member of the A. 0. U. W., and married 
in 1885 Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Moran, of Canandaigua, by whom he has 
one child, Katherine Reg'na. 

North, the late Jam.es B., Victor, was born in East Bloomfield, July 24, 1825 was 
educated in the public schools and followed farming. February 20, 1856, he married 
Jane E., daughter of Henry and Isabella (Bennett) Ellis, of Victor. The Ellis family is 
one of the oldest families of the town. They had four children: Nettie E.. Frank 
A., Harry E., and Lydia J., all residing at home, the sons running the farm. Mr. 
North's father, Edwin, was born in Groshen, Litchfield county. Conn., and came with 
his father to East Bloomfield when he was sixteen years old, and October 9, 1827, mar- 
ried Lydia M. Cooley, of Canandaigua. They had five children : James B., Elisha, 
Lyman C Horatio B , and Ellen M., who died April 9, 1840. James B. died December 
27, 1891. His father, Edwin, died April 20, 1873. The family are members of the 
Universalist Church. Tne ancestry of the family is English, S-otch, and Welsh. 

Nethaway, George N., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, February 7, 184(i, a 
son of George and Rosana(Prouty) Nethaway. George, sr., was born on Long Island, 
August 27, 1799, and came with his parents to Ontario county when seven years old, 
and settled on the farm adjoining their present one. George was a Democrat and held 
many offices in his town. He married in 1839 a daughter of Ezra Pronty, of Canan- 
daigua, and they had four children, two of whom survive: Melissa, wife of C. M. San- 
ford, a farmer of Canandaigua ; and George N. The latter was educated in the com- 
mon schools, and assisted his father on the farm until his majority, when he worked 
the farm on shares. At the death of his father, November 26, 1871, the farm was 
left to the two children, who conducted it for eij;ht years, when George N. bought 
out his sisters interest. The farm now contains over one hundred acres, the princi- 
pal crops being grain and wool. Mr. Nethaway has always been active in political 
work, and was but twenty-one years of age when he was elected to office; when 
thirty- two years of age he was elected commissioner of highways on the minority 
ticket, and after three years re-elected by a large majority, holding the office six years. 
He married, December 25, 1873, Adelia M., daughter of Alonzo B. Lucas, of Canan- 
daigua, and they have one son, Henry Fay, a student of Canandaigua x\cademy. Mrs. 
Nethaway died June 29, 1892, at thirty-six years of age. 

Nicholas, John, Geneva, was a native of Virginia, and settled in Ontario county in 
1803, at what is now known as White Springs. He was a lawyer by profession, 
and was the first judge elected in Ontario county. His son, Robert C, was but a year 
old when his father moved here. He engaged in farming, representing his county 
several times in the Legislature. He was one year State Senator, and was a member 
of the Constitutional Convention in 1846. He married Mary Selden Rose, daughter of 
Robert S. Rose, about 1826, and they had four children : John C, George W., Robert 
R., and Jane. John C. is dead ; Jane married Z. S. Claggett, and lives at HagerstOAvn, 
Md. Robert C. died in 1854 and his wife in 1837. Hon. George W. Nicholas was 



FAMILY SKETCHES. • 127 

born October 12, 1830. He graduated from Hobart College in 1850, read law with 
Judge David Buel in Troy, and attended law school at Ballston Spa. He was ad- 
mitted to the bar in January, 1852. He practiced in Chicago two years, then re- 
turned to Geneva, where he has since resided. In 1855 he engaged in the farming 
and nursery business, and was supervisor of Geneva during the war and for five years. 
In 1870 he was elected member of the Legislature, and has been justice of the peace 
since 1881. In 1854 he married Olivia M. Gallagher, daughter of George Gallagher, of 
New York. 

Nelson, Melvin H., Gorham, a native of Wisconsin, was born August 7, 1858. His 
father was James W., a son of Lester, a son of Calvin, who was a native of Vermont 
and there married Ruth, sister of old Colonel Remington of Canandaigua. They had 
nine children. In 1819 Calvin came to Canandaigua. He died in 1847, and his wife in 
1845. Lester Nelson was born in Rupert, Vt,, in 1798. At the age of twenty one 
years he walked to Canandaigua where he married Polly Hanchett, a native of Onon- 
daga county. Her mother was a Miss Bush, whose father came from Scotland and 
settled in Onondaga county. He served in the Revolutionary war and for his services 
drew a section of land on which he spent the remainder of his life, living to be about 
100 years of age. Mr. Nelson and wife had five children. He died in 1884, and his 
wife in 1882. James W. Nelson was erfucated in Canandaigua Academy and followed 
teaching several years, and then went to Terre Haute where he remained five years. 
He returned to Gorham and married Lydia Herrington, a native of Hoosick, Rensselaer 
county, born in 1829. He again went West and invested in property, but after thirteen 
years he returned to Gorham and purchased his father's farm. He now owns 140 
acres on which be has put many improvements. He is a Republican and held the 
office of town clerk in Wisconsin. Melvin was educated in Canandaigua and Cook 
Academies. He followed teaching several years and is now a farmer. In 1887 he 
married Jean F. daughter of William Tlioms^on, sr., and they have two children: Eva 
J. and Edna L. Mr. Nelson is a Republican. In religion he is a Baptist and his wife 
a Presbyterian. 

Norris, A. M., J. Carlton, Canandaigua, was born in Palmyra on the farm settled by 
his grandfather, Silas, and owned at the present time by his father, Jacob. The early 
life of our subject was spent in the town of his birth, where he received his first 
education in the district school and at the Marion Collegiate Institute. In 1866 he 
entered Phillips Academy at Andover, Mass , where he remained two years. In 1873 
he became principal of Walworth Academy, and filled that position until coming to 
Canandaigua Academy in the fall of 1885. The patronage of the academy has greatly 
increased under his management and he has now over 100 students under his care, 
(See history of academy). ' Prof. Norris married in 1872 Julia Helen, daughter of J. 
D. Bennett, esq., of Walworth, by whom he has one son, now in his eighteenth year. 
Prof. Norris is one of the board of police commissioners of Canandaigua, a deacon in 
the Congregational church, and a member of Walworth Lodge No. 254 F. & A. M. 

Nichols, the late Edward H., Farmington, was born June G, 1819. He was educated 
in the common schools and was a merchant. He married twice, first on January 1, 



128 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

1843, Mary A. Adams of this town and had one son, George E., who married Mary 
Gue on December 24, 1868. Mrs. Nichols died April 4, 1844, and he married second, 
November 14, 1852, Ann E., daughter of George and Eliza (Wright) Stevens of this 
town, formerly of England. They had one daughter, Lillie A., who has charge of the 
store with her mother. George E. Nichols died September 2, 1885, aged forty-one 
years. His father, Charles H., was born in Boundbrook, N. J., April 15, 1788. He 
married Rhoda Lish and had seven sons and one daughter. His grandfather, Benj- 
amin Nichols, was born in New Jersey in 1754. Mrs. Nichols's father, George Stevens, 
was born in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, Eng., in 1799, and married Eliza Wright of 
his native place. They had eleven children, who grew to maturity. Mrs. Nichols 
and daughter are members of the M. E. church. The ancestry of the family is 
Scotch on the paternal side, and English on the maternal. 

Norton, John M., East Bloomfield, was born at East Bloomfield, December 5, 1842, 
a son of Moses and Rhoda (Merwin) Norton. The grandfather, Medad, was a son of 
Miles, who was a son of Ebenezer, son of Samuel of Durham, Conn., who descends 
from Thomas D. Norton, who came from England in 1639 and settled near New Haven. 
Miles was born March 30, 1740, and was three times married. His eldest son, Medad, 
was born May 30, 1759, and entered the continental army for his father, who was 
drafted. He came to Bloomfield in 1802, where he died August 17,1837. His wife 
was Martha Rice by whom he had ten children : Anson, Harmon, Uri, Moses, Will- 
iam R., Sarah, Clara and Ora, and two who died young. His wife died August 12, 
1841. Moses was born August 31, 1802, in Bloomfield, where he lived until his 
death, July 18, 1878. He had two brothers who served in the War of 1812. He 
reared four children: Harley, Mary A., William R. and John ' M. His wife was 
born in Hudson, N. Y., a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Guthrie) Merwin, natives of 
Connecticut and New York respectively. She died June 28, 1870. John M. Norton 
was raised on a farm and had a district school education, supplemented by a course 
at the Academy of Fine Arts, Le Roy, N. Y. His principal occupation in connection 
with farming is. animal portraiture, making a specialty of sheep. He owns a farm of 
fifty-eight acres, and takes an active interest in politics. 

Norton, Theodore M., Victor, was born in the town of Ogden, April 4, 1839. He 
was educated in the public schools and Macedon Academy, and has been a contractor 
and builder, also has conducted a lumber and coal trade until his partner, John J. 
Snyder, died in 1889. He then sold out the business to Loomis & Woodworth. He 
married twice, first on March 30, 1865, Chloe, daughter of Calvin and Perces Payne. 
She was a member of one of the oldest families of the town of Farmington, and they 
had one daughter, Hollis E. Mrs. Norton died June 19, 1884, and he married second, 
December 14, 1886, Mrs. Minerva Snyder, daughter of George Johnson, formerly of 
Montgomery county. They had two children : Everett J. and M. Marie. Mrs. Norton 
had four children by her first marriage: Catherine J., who died at the age of thirteen 
years; Anna E., George J. and Jennie E. Mr. Norton is a member of Milnor Lodge 
No. 139 F. & A. M., and Newark Chapter No. 117 R. A. M., is also one of the trustees 
of the Cemetery Association, and has been justice of the peace for ten years. His 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 129 

grandfather, Eber, was born at Goshen, Conn., and came to East Bloomfleld about the 
year 1787. Mr. Norton's father, Alfred, was his youngest son, was born in that town 
in 1709, and married Emehne Deming, daughter of the late Simeon Deming, of Stock- 
bridge, Mass. Mrs. Norton is a member of the Universalist church, and he of the 
society. 

North, Lyman C, Canandaigua, was born in East Bloomfleld, September 19, 1832, a 
son of Edwin A. North, a farmer of that town. He was educated in East Bloomfleld 
Academy under Prof. Kellam, and after leaving school engaged in the blacksmith and 
machine business, which he followed until about 1875. In 1867 Mr. North went to 
Nashville, Tenn., following his trade, and in 1872 went to Niagara county, where he 
remained until he removed here in 1875. He is the superintendent of the Canandaigua 
Gas Light Company, which position he has held since 1875, and he, with one exception 
— the president of the company — is the only one of the officers living that were of the 
board when Mr. North came here. In 1882 Mr. North was elected trustee, and in 1883 
the president of the village and again in 1891, which office he now fills. Mr. North 
and wife are interested in the Universalist church of Victor. He married in 1859 Susan 
A. Crandall, of Niagara county, and they have one child, Stanley C, a gas engineer of 
New York. 

Outhouse, Horace D., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua June 14, 1839. His 
father, William, was born in Dutchess county, September 4, 1797, and came to Canan- 
daigua when a young man, where he bought a farm of 196 acres north of Cheshire, 
where he died May 26, 1865, and his wife December 24, 1867. He married at about 
twenty-one Rebecca Mather, daughter of a Quaker preacher of Dutchess county, and 
they had eleven children, seven of whom survive : Catharine, Abb^y Jane Adams, Orrin, 
Maria Brockelbank, H. D. Outhouse of this county ; William H., of Madison, Wis., and 
George H., of Grand Rapids, Mich. The whole life of our subject has been spent in 
this town. He was reared on the farm his father settled on, and educated in the com- 
mon schools. When twenty-three years of age he bought a farm of 101 acres in Can- 
andaigua, which he sold three weeks later and bought his present farm. In 188G he 
erected on this farm a beautiful residence, its location commanding a fine view of the 
lake. County history is not the place to describe works of art, but the house of Mr. 
Outhouse is entitled to more than passing mention. His barns and other outbuildings 
are on a par with his residence. The farm contains 175 acres of fertile land^ the prin- 
cipal products being grain and fruit. He has five acres of vineyard, from a part of 
which he sold in 1892 eighteen tons of grapes. He married in 1862 Sarah, daughter of 
Joseph Housel, and ihey had five children : Mary, wife of Chauncey Roger.=, of Can- 
andaigua; Charles, Frank B., William and Elmer J. Mr?. Outhouse died October 19, 
1883, and he married in 1886 Isabelle McJannett, of Canandaigua, by whom he has one 
child. Burton A., born June 13, 1887. Mr. Outhouse is a member of Academy Grange 
No. 62. 

Ogden, Nelson, Richmond, was born in 1822 in Kent, Conn. His father was Robert, 
born in 1777, and his grandfather was killed by the Indians at the Wyoming massacre, 
while his grandmother fled with the children to the older settlements. Nelson when 



130 HISTOEY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

thirty-three years of age came to this county. He married Charity Iloagland, of Cana- 
dice, daughter of Henry Hoagland. After spending ten years at Havana, where three 
of their children were born, they came to Richmond in 1855, where Mr. Ogden pur- 
chased a farm near Allen's Hill, on which he now resides. Of his children, Anna Jane 
was born in 1846; Henry G. in 1849; George N. in 1853, and Carrie G. in 1856. He 
built the tile factory now owned by Mr. Abbey, and conducted the business for seven 
years. His wife died in 1890. His son, George Nelson Ogden, was born in Havana 
in 1853, and came here with his parents. He was educated at Le Roy Academy and 
Lima Seminary, also at East Bloomfield Academy. For six years he was engaged in 
the grocery trade at Canadice Corners, but for the past ten years has been in charge of 
the homestead farm. He married in 1873 Emma C, daughter of Sebra L. Case, of 
West Bloomfield, and they have two children : Harry B., born in 1878, and Hattie B., 
born in 1883. He is custodian of the imported stock horse "Halifax," owned by a 
company of which he is a member. Carrie G. Ogden, daughter of Nelson, married B. 
F. Phillips, of Bristol, a farmer, whose grandfather, Jonathan, from Massachusetts, was 
a pioneer of this section and settled the farm now owned by his grandson. 

Odell, B. F., Phelps, was born in East Chester, West Chester county, N. Y., October 
17, 1833. His father, Thomas, was born in the same place. He was a soldier of the 
War of 1812. His wife, Mary Ann (Howe) Odell, came from Connecticut. Benjamin 
Odell, the grandfather, was also a native of West Chester county. B. F. Odell came to 
Phelps in 1861, and five years later moved into the village and engaged in the grocery 
business, which he followed successfully until 1881, when he sold the business. Since 
that time he has been engaged in the real estate and insurance business. In 1874 he 
built the Odell Block. Mr. Odell has served the town as supervisor two terms, and is 
now serving a second term as president of the village. He married in 1856 M. B. Burtis, 
of West Chester county, and they have four children : Alice (Mrs. A. B. Jones, of Syra- 
cuse) ; Edgar B., of Utica ; Frank S., of Sandcoulee, Mont., and Charles W., of Tor- 
rington, Conn. Benjamin Odell died in his eighty-eighth year. Thomas Odell was 
born January 31, 1796; died March 8, 1890, in his ninety-fifth year. 

Purdy, Richard, Canandaigua, was born in Ireland May 12, 1819, and came to this 
country in 1846. He first located at Farmington where he lived four years with Isaac 
Hathaway, then went to Canandaigua, spending eleven years with Mrs. Jackson. In 
1861 he bought a farm in Penfield, Monroe county,- where he spent five years and then 
bought his present farm, consisting of 123 acres with a beautiful residence. He has 
never taken active interest in politics. He married, in 1859, Anna, daughter of Guy 
McGowan, a native of Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Purdy have seven children. Mary J., 
widow of Henry F. Brooks, resides with her son, Henry F., at home; her oldest son, 
George E., lives with his grandfather, Henry Brooks. James and William are farmers 
and live on a farm of 147 acres joining their father's. James married a Miss Matilda 
Johnson in 1888. John E., a farmer, lives at home ; George R., a postal clerk, runs 
from Syracuse to New York ; Lorenzo H., is a student at Canandaigua Academy. Ells- 
worth is at home, a school boy. 

Peck, Reynold, West Bloomfield. Among the founders of the New Haven colony 
in 1638 was William Peck, who with his wife and son Jeremiah, arrived at Boston from 



Family sketches. i3i 

London, England, June 26, 1637. Among his descendants in the fifth generation was 
Reynold Peck, son of Clark Peck, who was born in Lyme, Conn., March 8, 1742, and 
married Deborah Beckwith, March 8, 1764. He died in West Bloorafield, November 
26, 1814. The children of Reynold Peck, the sixth generation, were: Annie, Hannah, 
John Sears, Bettie, Thomas, Watrous, George, Abner, Sarah and Reynold. John Sears 
settled in West Bloorafield in 1792, Watrous in 1799, Reynold in 1809 : and soon after 
all the brothers were settled in West Bloorafield, where all have died, and are buried in 
the old cemetery in this village. Reynold Peck of the sixth generation was born No- 
vember 7, 1790; married Nancy Wheelock, daughter of Royal Wheelock, one of the 
first settlers in the town, in June, 1815, and died September 2, 1S49, and his widow 
is yet living at the age of ninety-seven. Reynold Peck was a representative of Ontario 
county in the State Legislature in 1840 ; and was supervisor of the town for the years 
1834 to '40 and '47 and '48. The children of Reynold and Nancy Peck of the seventh 
generation were: Vinton, born November 21, 1816, married Roxey E. Humphrey, June 
22, 1841, and for his second wife married Elizabeth Sterling, January 8, 1868, and is 
now living in West Bloorafield. Minerva L., born Februarys, 1818, and married Elisha 
F. Leech, December 30, 1839. Arminda A., born May 29, 1821, raarried Robert T. 
Leach, March 4, 1841. Both are now living in West Bloorafield. Sarah A., born May 
14, 1824, married Seth L. Lee, July 12, 1845, and is now living in Canandaigua. Thoraas 
R., born June 21, 1826, married Julia F. Hopkins, May 20, 1757 ; he was supervisor of 
the town in 1855, and died at Waterloo, January 19, 1892. Lydia E., born September 
8, 1829, married Roswell C. Munson, June 8, 1853, and died at Oshawa, Canada, Jan- 
uary 23, 1861. Emily M., born January 4, 1832, married Charles C. Latimer, M.D., July 
21, 1858, and is now living at Princeton, 111. Reynold M., born February 16, 1834, 
married Isabella L. Ainsworth, September 12, 1860 ; was supervisor of the town in 1872, 
1887 and 1888 ; is now living in West Bloorafield. Jennette N. was born April 5, 1830, 
raarried William N. Page, D.D., September 20, 1862, and is now living at Leavenworth, 
Kan. Some of the Early Toivn Records. — The first records of the town of Bloorafield 
which then comprised the present towns of East and West Bloorafield, Victor and a por- 
tion of the town of Lima, go back to 1796. The total expenses of the town for that year 
were $157.18; in 1797 the total expenses were $234.37, of which $140 was paid for 
killing wolves, upon which there was a bounty of $10. This left $64.37 for contingent 
expenses of the town. The names of the wolf slayers in 1797 are David Parsons, 3 
wolves, Sarauel Miller, 2 wolves, Ezra Norton, John B. Holley, Joshua Ketchum, Jon- 
athan Adams, Oliver Chapin, Samuel Sterling, David Gould, Phineas Taylor and Sears 
Peck, each one. There are descendants of most of these men now living in the town 
of Victor, East and West Bloorafield. In 1797 there were eight licenses granted, the 
fee for which was $5, and three of the applicants were unable to pay in cash and a note 
was taken. Moses Gaylord was licensed for an " Inn Holder and Tavern Keeper, with 
the exception of keeping bed and pasture." The number of licenses gradually increased 
until 1811 and 1812, the time of the last war with England — which seemed high tide — 
when twenty-six licenses were granted. The ancestors of some of our most pronounced 
temperance men were then engaged in the traffic. The last record in the old book of 
licenses is dated West Bloorafield, April 5, 1845, when Adolphus Nash, Silas and Cad- 



132 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

wallader Hawes were licensed " to keep tavern without the sale of spirituous liquors 
or wines." The Indians had some extensive camping grounds in West Bloom field. 
Fort Hill, as it is called, on the east bluif of the Honeoye Creek southwest of the village 
of West Bloomfield was a favorite resort. Several acres on the farms of A. H. Hopkins 
and Mrs. R. M. Peck, the soil is filled with coal, ashes, bones, fragments of pottery and 
large quantities of beads, arrow points, etc., are found after each plowing. Their burial 
ground adjoined the camping ground, and many relics, consisting of pottery, axes, beads 
pipes, etc., have been exhumed. Another camp and burial ground were further north 
on the farms of H. Warren and Mrs. H. T. Parmele. In the old archives of the Jesuit 
Fathers this was known as Camp Assumption. Here, also, some very fine relics have 
been found. R. M. Peck has puite a collection, embracing some twenty-five Indian 
pipes, several perfect pieces of pottery in the form of bowls, wooden ladles or spoons, 
a quantity of beads, carved images of bone, arrow and spear heads, necklaces, bracelets^ 
etc. One pipe, a very rare one, has an otter carved on the bowl, and the whole pipe is 
carved from a whitish stone resembling granite somewhat. A miniature figure of a 
man and a woman carved in bone, are well done, showmg that these Indians possessed 
no small degree of artistic skill. No parts of a gun have been found, so it is evident 
that this particular camp and burial ground were occupied previous to their possession 
of fire-arms. Antiquarians are showing renewed interest in the relics that the aborig- 
ines have left to mark their receding footsteps on our continent, and it affords an inter- 
esting study of that mighty race that has become so nearly extinct. As a tribute to the 
renowned valor of the Six Nations who once covered all this region, I have nrepared 
this simple sketch. 

Penoyer, Sterling, Canandaigua, was born in South Bristol, October 11, 1848, a son 
of Ashel, a farmer of that town, who was one of the leading citizens of South Bris- 
tol. He had two sons and a daughter: Frank, a farmer of East Hamlin, Monroe 
county ; Mary, who married D. C. Shay, of Canandaigua ; and Sterling. The latter 
was educated at Naples and Canandaigua academies, and at the death of h's father 
in 186G was left the homestead farm, which he conducted for eight years, then went 
to Toronto, Canada, and engaged in the hotel business for two years. He then went 
to Cheboygan, Mich., to engage in the lumber business, remaining there until 1884, 
when he removed to Bay City, Mich., where he is engaged in the same business. He 
married, December 1, 1870, Brnnette Sanford, and they have four children : Frances, 
Ashel, Ida and Lettie. In 1886 Mrs. Penoyer bought her present farm of eighty-one 
acres, on which the product is grain. 

Payne, George, Geneva, was born in Norfolk, England, in 1829, came to the United 
States in 1854, and married Sarah Fenn, of his native place. They had six children ; 
Elizabeth, Carohne, Sarah, Mary, Thursa B., and George A. The latter is a farmer 
with his father. He married Anna A. Biuntt, and they have one son, James D. 
Thursa B. married Westley Hobson, and has one daughter, Mildred A. ; Mary mar- 
ried George Rennyson, and died leaving two children, Ashley and Byron. Sarah 
has been married twice, first to Jordon Brezee, by whom she had four children: 
Belle, Nancy, George, and Elizabeth. For her second husband she married George 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 133 

Halladay, and has three children : NelHe, Charles, and Hattie. Carohne married Clark 
Fowler, and has one son, Harry P. Elizabeth has been married twice, first to Will- 
iam McCoy, and they had a son, Charles. For her second husband she married James 
Pierce, and has one son, Frederick. Mrs. Payne died in 1881, mourned by a bereaved 
husband and children and a host of friends. 

Park, Myron, Canandaigua, son of Joel and Lydia Park, was born in East Bloom- 
field, January 2-4, 1812. He had a good education in the common schools, and when 
seventeen years of age he lived with his uncle for one year, then learned the carpen- 
ter's trade, at which he worked for eight years. He then bought a farm in Bristol, 
and after spending two years there sold out and bought a farm in East Bloomfield, 
where he spent two years. In 1841 he came to Canandaigua and bought a farm of 
174 acres on lot fourteen, where he spent the balance of his life. Mr. Park always 
took an active interest in all good works, was charitable and liberal, and respected by 
all who knew him. In politics he was a Republican, and in religious faith a Protestant, 
having been a member of the Baptist Church about forty years. He married, Febru- 
ary 8, 1835, Hannah B., daughter of John Harvey Wheeler, of East Bloomfield, and 
they had four children: Myron Alonzo died September 23, 1878, aged thirty-seven 
years ; Henry O., a farmer of Canandaigua ; Mary U. and Ellen M., who conduct the 
old homestead farm. Myron Park died March 26, 1879. 

Pennell, Francis Granger, Richmond, was born May 22, 1828. His grandfather 
John, sr., came with his family in 1807 from Colerain. Mass., to Cortland county, and 
in 1817 came to Richmond and settled east of Honeoye. Five of his eight children 
were born before he came here. His wife was Martha Tenney. He took up IGO 
acres of land, to which his sons added eight hundred acres. His sons were as follows : 
John, jr., Abraham, Horace, Epaphras, Randolph, and Chauncey. John, jr., born 
April 14, 1796, married Sally, daughter of Moses Green, and had five children : Francis 
G., John Wesley, a retired farmer of Grand Rapids, Mich., Harriet Newell, now Mrs. 
Myron H. Blackmer, George W., a lumberman at Atchison, Kan., and Elmira, wife of 
Thomas R. Reed, of Honeoye, a farmer and nurseryman. John, jr., was a justice of 
the peace for many years. Francis G. Pennell was educated at Lima Seminary and 
has been a trader in live stock to a considerable extent. He once bought good 
wethers in Old Mexico, 9,000 in all, 3,000 of them of an Irish woman, the pick from a 
flock of 80,000 sheep which she owned. Arriving in the Indian Territory in the 
spring, he employed Mexicans, Indians and negroes to shear 5,000 of them, a task they 
accomplished in twenty-four days, then shipped the sheep to New York markets. He 
built the first stock yard in Austin, Tex., in 1873. Mr. Pennell married Sarah Lucretia 
Blackmer (daughter of Hervey Blackmer), a graduate of the Ingham University at Le 
Roy. They have had three children : Elizabeth Blackmer, Sarah Greene (Kent) and 
Georgia Hayes, who died at fifteen years of age. Mr. Pennell farms one hundred 
acres, twenty-six of which are in hops. He is a Republican and a supporter of the 
Congregational church, of which Mrs. Pennell is a member. Mr. Pennell claims to 
have had the first mowing machine that ever worked successfully, and the next year 
he sold for the manufacturer .$10,000 worth. 



134 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Pardee Family, The. — John Pardee was one of a family of thirteen children, there 
being twelve sons and one daughter, each son thereby having a sister, who came tothis 
country with their parents among the earliest settlers. After various trials the family 
became scattered, and John moved to Sharon, Conn., where he bought 300 acres of land 
of John Darby, paying therefore £100, on the l5th day of December, 1769, in the 
ninth year of the reign of King George the Third. He died about the year 1788, leav- 
ing six children : Jesse, Silas, Hannah, John, Abigail Pardee Newell, and Sarah Pardee 
Wood. Silas Pardee, born in the year L754, moved to Victor, then called Bloomfield, 
about the year 1802. He was a Revolutionary soldier, with his brother Jesse, and they 
shared the hardships of the terrible winter at Valley Forge. He married Abigail Pet- 
tit, daughter of Jonathan Pettit. He died May 31, 1833, leaving three children: Ab- 
bie, Henry, and Rachael Pardee Rogers. Henry Pardee was born at Sharon, Conn., 
September 23, 1796, came to Victor with his parents, and settled on a farm east of the 
villat'e, on what was known as the Stage Route. When he was sixteen years of age 
he enlisted in the War of 1812 ; was wounded in the arm by a musket ball, and was 
taken prisoner at the burning of Buffalo; returned to his home in Victor, and was 
elected four terms to represent his district in the Assembly. He was a justice of the 
peace for a good many years. He was married three times ; his first wife being Mary 
Ann Morford, who died December 28, 1826, leaving three children : Helen Jane, Ann 
Finley, and Abigail C. His second wife was Susan F. Morford, she being sister to his 
first wife ; she died April 19, 1842, leaving three children : Mary E., Henry Harrison, 
and Amelia Frances. His third wife was Diana Wilmarth Richardson ; she died May 
16. 1847 leaving one child, Alice Diana, a twin brother, Henry Seymour, having died be- 
fore its mother. Henry Pardee died June 15, 1862. Helen Jane Pardee married 
Charles Fisher. Abigail C. married W. W. Arnold. Amelia Frances married William 
Blackmore, of Rochester; she died in the year 1887, leaving two sons, William and 
Charles D. Ann Finley Pardee died March 9, 1893. Alice D. Pardee died July 3, 
1873, at Indianapolis, Ind., where she was being cured of lameness that had afiiicted 
her since her childhood. 

Padelford, Olney T., Canandaigua, was born on his present residence in Canandaigua, 
July 14, 1837. His father, Zachariah, was born in East Taunton, Mass., March 18, 
1800, and died March 1, 1887, a moulder by trade. When twenty-one years of age he 
came to Western New York, working near Batavia and also in Gorham, but returned 
to Massachusetts. In 1824 he settled permanently in Canandaigua, working in the 
furnaces at Wolcott, Ontario, and Manchester during the winters, and farming sum- 
mers. He gradually increased his possessions until at one time he owned in one block 
280 acres. He was a Republican, and when the Auburn division of the New York 
Central Railroad was built, Mr. Padelford established a wood yard here and furnished 
the company with wood, and it was from this the station was named Padelford. He 
married in this town Susan (died August 13, 1860), daughter of Zachariah Tiffany, of 
Canandaigua, and they had four children : Harvey, of Padelford Station ; Mary, who 
died aged four years ; Edmund, who died aged two years ; and Olney T. The latter 
was seventeen years old when he went to Shortsville to learn the machinist's trade ; he 
also followed pattern-making, and has been employed in various places. In Oil City 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 135 

and West Virginia he was engaged in the oil business. He is a Democrat. He and his 
family are member of the Presbyterian Church of Canandaigua, and he is a Mason of 
Canandaigua Lodge No. 294. He married in 1860 Catherine, daughter of John P. and 
Elizabeth (Nagles) Scherrer, and they have had three children : Alburtus Leander, who 
lives on the homestead with his father; Charles Eugene, who conducts a jewelry store 
in Victor ; and Z. Sherman, who was drowned in a pond in Canandaigua in his fifth 
year. In 1867 Mr. Padelford established a tile manufactory in Canandaigua, which he 
conducted three years, and in 1870 returned to the old homestead farm, where he has 
ever since lived. 

Paddleford, Harvey, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, January 6, 1831. The 
earliest ancestor of the family in this country was Jonathan, born about 1828, and gen- 
erally supposed to have been one of the Pilgrim Fathers. He married Mary, daughter 
of John Brandford, of Sudbury, Mass., and settled at Cambridge, Mass. They had five 
children, of whom Jonathan was born in 1656, married Hannah Flint, and died in 1710. 
Their only child, Jonathan, was born in 1679, and died in 1747. By his wife Hannah 
he had ten children. Zachariah, the second son, was born in 1710, married Martha Al- 
len, and died in 1765. They had eight children. The oldest son, Zachariah, was born 
in 1733, married Eachael Reynolds, and died in 1803. They also had eight children. 
Joseph, the third son and grandfather of our subject, was born in 1764 in Taunton, 
Mass. He married Betsey Harvey, born in 1765, and they had six daughters and three 
sons, of whom Zachariah, the second son, was born in East Taunton, Mass., March 18 
1800, and married Susannah, daughter of Zachariah Tiffany, and they had four children. 
Harvey was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools and Canandaigua 
Academy. He was assigned the 111 acres of the old homestead farm, and after his 
father's death thirty acres were added to this, on which Mr. Paddleford has erected a 
residence, barns, store house, etc., and a railroad station. May 22, 1861, he enlisted in 
the Twenty-eighth N. Y. Vols., and saw service with them at Winchester, Cedar Moun- 
tain, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, and many minor eneage- 
ments He was mustered out at the expiration of his term, June 3, 1863, as first lieu- 
tenant, having been in command of the company for a year. He returned to Canan- 
daigua, and was then appointed recruiting agent of the county to fill the quota of the 
various calls until 1865. He not only did a faithful work in this county, but assisted 
other counties. At the close of the war he returned to farm duties, and in 1876 was 
appointed station agent at Paddleford's, and in 1874 was appointed postmaster under 
General Grant. In 1873 he was appointed United States loan commissioner for On- 
tario county. He was president of the County Agricultural Society, and chairman of 
the Republican County Committee a number of years. He married in 1852 Margaret, 
daughter of Col. William Case, a farmer and assistant superintendent of the Rochester 
and Auburn Railroad, and they had four children, two of them living: Alfred Harvey, 
foreman of the New York Central freight house at Suspension Bridge ; and Dudley 
Donnelly, the other son, is his assistant. The oldest son, William H., was killed by a 
sheep when he was but four years old. The other son, Edward, died at four years 
of age. Mrs. Paddleford died in 1876, and he married second in 1879 Florence Double- 
day, of Farmington. 



136 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Peck, Charles, Phelps, one of three children of Lewis and Sarah (Long) Peck, was 
born on the family homestead in Phelps, February 8, 1857. Lewis, his father, was 
also born there, and was a son of Elisha and Lucinda (Warner) Peck. He was a man 
widely and favorably known throughout Ontario and adjoining counties, as a practi- 
cal surveyor, a successful educator, and also in politics. He was the first principal 
of the Union and Classical School of Phelps, and held that position ten years. He 
was two years a member of the State Legislature, and four years supervisor of the 
town of Phelps. He filled the office of United States assessor of internal revenue 
for the twenty-fifth district for nine years, receiving his appointment from Abraham 
Lincoln. He occupied many other positions of importance and trust in both town 
and county. Elisha, grandfather of Charles, was born in Conway, Mass., and when 
twelve years old his father, Darius Peck, came to Phelps with his family, and set- 
tled on the land which now forms a part of the farm of Charles. The latter married, 
November 15, 1885, LiUie, daughter of Emmons and Pamelia (Curtis) Giffbrd of Phelps, 
and they have one son, Lewis, making five generations of the same family and name 
that have occupied this farm. Mr. Peck is a leading farmer, his place comprising 325 
acres, devoted to general farming. He has a flock of 150 sheep, twelve horses and 
twenty-five cattle. He ia also engaged in the manufacture of tile, employing four 
men in that enterprise. 

Patty, D. H., Geneva, was born in Auburn, February 21, 1851, and in 1869 came 
to Geneva and kept books for Graves, Selover & Willard, where he remained ten 
years. In 1879 he commenced business for himself, and now has seventy acres of 
nursery and orchard, employs from twenty-five to fifty men, and besides this keeps from 
100 to 150 men on the road selling trees. He has two branch offices, and does a 
business of about $75,000 per year. In 1883 he married Helen A., daughter of Will- 
iam Scoon, and has one child, Laura, born in 1884. 

Phillips, John M., Bristol, a native of Bristol, born August 3, 1848, is a son of Ben- 
jamin F., and a grandson of Jonathan. Benjamin F. was born in Bristol in 1818, and 
married Louisa Gooding, a native of Bristol, and a daughter of Blnathan Gooding. 
They had three sons and two daughters. Mr. Phillips occupied the old homestead of 
160 acres the most of his life, but spent his last five years at Bristol Hill, where he died 
in April, 1892. Mr. Phillips was a Democrat. John M. was reared on a farm and 
educated in Canandaigua Academy. He is a general farmer, owning 150 acres of land 
which he purchased in 1885. He has erected buildings and put on improvements at a 
cost of $4,000. September 8, 1887, Mr. Phillips married Anna Johnson, a native of 
Jamesburg, Monmouth county, N. J., and daughter of D. Webster and Mary (Hill) 
Johnson, a native of New Jersey, to whom were born one son and five daughters. 
In 1868 Mr. Johnson and wife came to Bristol. He is a farmer and now resides in 
Canandaigua. D. Webster Johnson was one of five children born to Joseph Johnson, 
who came to Bristol in 1868. Mr. Phillips is a Democrat in politics, and he is now 
serving his second term as assessor of East Bloomfield. He is a member of the E. K. 
0. R. Lodge No. 29, of Bristol. Mrs. Phillips is a member of the Presbyterian 
church at Bristol Centre. The father of Mrs. Mary (Hill) Johnson was a native of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 137 

England, who came with liis father to America in an early day. He was killed in the 
war of 1812. The elder Hill was a minister of the M. E. church, who died at the age 
of ninety-six years. 

Powis, the late Richard, Geneva, was born in Greenwich, Kent county, England, 
July, 23, 1779, was educated in the private schools of his day. September 26, 1801, 
he married Sophia, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Brass, who was born in London, 
August 20, 1784, and they had five children: Henry, George, Charles, Louisa, and 
Sophia. They came to the United States about the year 1823, first locating on Man- 
hattan Island, afterwards in the city, and soon after came to Seneca county to reside, 
where he died April 4, 1859. Mrs. Powis and daughter came to reside in Geneva soon 
after the above date. Mrs. Powis died February 26, 1870. Sophia married M. Luther 
Bellows, of Seneca Falls, and they had three children : George P., who died at Ge- 
neva; Dudley M., and Louisa P., who married Rudolphus Kent, of Pennsylvania. 

Preston, William E., Geneva, was born in Troy, September 4, 1847, was educated 
in the public schools and learned his trade as a stove mounter and patterh worker 
there. September 1, 1863, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-sixth 
New York Volunteers, was in all the battles before Petersburg and Richmond from the 
Weldon Railroad to the close of the war. He was taken prisoner at Five Forks, was 
taken to Libby Prison, and after a time paroled. He was honorably discharged at 
the close of the war. September 16, 1866, he married Ellen A. McMahon, of Troy, 
and they have four living children ; George W., William H., James E., and Ella. Mr. 
Preston's father, William, was born in England in 1820, came to the United States in 
1845, locating in Troy, and married Margaret Lawrence of his native home. They 
had nine children. Mrs. Preston's father, James McMahon, was born in Ireland in 
1806, and came to the United States in 1845, locating in Ohio. They had three chil- 
dren : John, Ellen A., and Rose. Mr. McMahon died in 1891, and his wife in 1892. 
Mr. Preston's father died in 1864, and his mother is still living. 

Patterson, Wilson Howell, Richmond, was born in Newark, Wayne county, Oc- 
tober 13, 1850. His father, George, a native of County Fermaunagh, Ireland, was born 
July 28, 1812. He emigrated to this country with his father, Daniel, in 1823. George 
followed shoemaking for several years, then engaged in farming. He came first to 
Livingston county, and then to Richmond in 1867, and settled where his son Wilson 
now resides. He marriedjElizabeth Carrier, of Colerain, Mass., who was born in 1815. 
They had seven children : Sarah Jane, James Henry, Margaret E., Wilson H., George 
H. (deceased), Mary Ellen, George Edward. Mr. Patterson died in 1872, aged sixty 
years, and his wife in 1882, aged sixty-seven. Wilson H. was educated at Newark 
Union Free School and Academy. He married in 1874, Gertrude E. Allen, of Calhoun 
county, Mich., daughter of Almond and Lucy Ann (Powell) Allen. They have five 
children : Frank A., born August 14, 1878; Robert M., born March 8, 1882; Elizabeth 
G., born April 16, 1885; Lyra Carson, born September 27, 1890; and Glenn Wilson, 
born February 6, 1893. Mrs. Patterson's father was born in Albany and her mother 
in Livonia, Livingston county. Mr. Patterson's farm consists of 160 acres, and he 
makes hay a specialty. 



138 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Page, E Ransom, Canandaigua, was born in Bethany, Genesee county, June 2, 1834, 
a son of Abel W. and Marian (Ransom) Page. The great-great-grandfather, Nathaniel, 
was born in New Hampshire in 1710, and had thirteen children, of whom Samuel was 
born in New Hampshire in 1747, and was the father of eleven children. Of these John, 
the grandfather of subject, was. born December 2, 1776, and came to Vermont, where 
he married Phoebe, daughter of Nathan Whipple, and they had two children, Abel W. 
and Juliette. Abel W., father of E. R., was born in Vermont in 1805, and when six 
years of age came with his parents to Genesee county, where he died in 1864. He had 
ten children, of whom seven survive. The early life of E. Ransom was spent on the 
farm in Genesee county, where he remained until he was about twenty-one years of 
age. He was educated in Bethany Academy, and his first business venture was as a 
commercial traveler in the book trade for about four years. In 1860 he went to Illinois 
where he spent ten years in the sheep busmess, after which he returned to this State 
and 1870 came to Canandaigua and engaged in the insurance business. In May, 
1872, he formed a copartnership with Major C. A. Richardson, and they bought out De 
Vol & Couch, insurance men, and conducted a very successful business. In 1873 Mr. 
Page bought out the interest of his partner and conducted the business alone. Jan- 
nary 1, 1878, he sold out his fire insurance business to George Couch, and spent 
four years in Auburn in life insurance. In 1883 Mr. Page returned to Canandaigua 
and opened a general insurance agency, under the firm name of Page & Henry. 
In 188S the firm became Page, Henry & Benham, and in 1889 Mr. Benham disposed 
of his interest to Henry S. Hubbell, and the firm has since been Page, Henry & Hub- 
bell, real estate and insurance agents. Mr. Page married in 1864 Lucy A., daughter of 
Joel S. Paige, M.D., a prominent physician of Owego, N. Y. They had one child, 
Julia, who lives with her parents. 

Parrish, Edwin R., Naples, second son of Jeremiah B. and Clarissa (Clark) Parrish, 
was born in Naples, December 6, 1818. He was one of seven children : Mary, Bishop, 
Emily, Edwin R., William, Caroline and Cordin. Mr. Parrish was educated at the 
select school of Naples, and has always been a farmer. He is largely interested in 
sheep-breeding and the growing of wheat, and has always been a hard worker. He 
takes a great interest in the advancement of his town, and was one of the founders of 
Naples Academy. He married Susan Matilda Parkhurst of Fairfield. She was a most 
amiable woman, noted for her social qualities and earnest church work. They had 
four children : W. Scott, Rozelle, Schuyler J. and Emily. Mr. Parrish's great-grand- 
father, Samuel Parrish, was the first settler in Naples, and came from Norwich, Conn., 
in 1789, some months previous to any of the other pioneers. Schuyler J., the second 
son of Edwin R., was born in Naples, August 17, 1844, was educated at the academy 
in Naples and at Eastman's Business College in Poughkeepsie. Returning to Naples 
he engaged in business with his father at farming and the buying and selling of wool, 
produce and stock. He has had dealings with nearly every one in this section, and 
in addition to the management of the farm of over 1,200 acres he has been largely 
interested in the wool and sheep trade. The town was always assured of the hearty 
co-operation and financial influence of Mr. Parrish. Mr. Parrish was a trustee of the 
Presbyterian society and an active member of the church. He married Martha Con- 



Family sketches. 139 

aughty of Naples. July 13, 1892, he died, leaving a wife and five children, two having 
died in infancy. His father, Edwin R. Parrish, survives him, also one brother, W. 
Scott of Canandaigua, and a sister, Mrs. T. H. Williams of Washington, D. C. 

Paddock, Daniel L., Gorham, was born in Jerusalem, Yates connty, July 31, 1849. 
His father was William G., a son of Philip, a native of Yonkers, who early came to 
Rochester and followed lumbering. About 1834 he settled in the west part of Jerusa- 
lem. He married Lydia Gildersleeve of Scipio, Cayuga county, and had seven sons 
and four daughters. He died in 1859, and his wife in 1869. William G. was born in 
Rochester, January 9, 1818. He attended the city schools until nine years of age, 
when he was bound out to his uncle, Frederick Gildersleeve, until twenty years of age. 
He married Sallie Simms of Pultney, Steuben county, born in September, 1820, by 
whom he had five sons and three daughters, all now living. Since twenty-one years 
of age Mr. Paddock has resided in Jerusalem. In early life he was a lumberman, but 
is now one of the prominent farmers of his county, owning 270 acres. Daniel L. was 
educated in Prattsburg Academy. When twenty-one years of age he went to Michigan 
and followed lumbering two years, then returned to Yates county where he worked at 
carpentry for twelve years. In 1886 he married Annie McMichael of Prattsburg, born 
April 4, 1850. In 1886 Mr. Paddock purchased the George W. Washburn homestead 
of 130 acres. He is a Republican and has been highway commissioner. The parents 
of Mrs. Paddock are Alexander and Marj'^ A. (Risdel) McMichael, he a native of Glas- 
gow, Scotland, and she of Yorkshire, England. They came to America when children 
with their parents. They have four sons and three daughters. Mr. McMichael is one 
of the largest farmers of Prattsburg. 

Paine, William Harold, of Nashville, Tenn.. born at Farmington, N. Y., May 12, 
1836. His youth was spent in hard work upon his father's farm. He took up the 
study of algebra and grammar at the age of thirteen years, and unassisted went 
through these and other studies. At the age of sixteen he entered Macedon Academy, 
then under the direction of the Rev. Samuel Senter, and studied there nearly two 
years. In the spring and summer of 1854 he spent three months at the New York 
Conference Seminary at Charlottesville. He began teaching in the district schools of 
Ontario county in his eighteenth year. On October 2, 1856, he married Evaline Sarah 
Fort, and for a year and a half he and his wife taught the village school at Victor. In 
1858 he moved to Michigan, and in his twenty-third year became principal of the 
Union School at Three Rivers, Mich., his wife assisting part of the time. He re- 
mained here six years. In 1864 he was elected superintendent of the public schools at 
Niles, Mich. In 1806 he was invited to take charge of the Ypsilanti Seminary, at that 
time the most popular public school in the State. In 1869 he accepted the position of 
superintendent of the Adrian public schools, which position he held ten years. From 
1864 to 1870 he edited and published the Michigan Teacher. He received in 1872, from 
the University of Michigan, the degree of A.M., and in June, 1888, the degree of LL.D. 
He was twice elected president of the Michigan State Teachers' Association. In June, 
1879, he was elected to the chair of the Science and Art of Teaching in the University 
of Michigan, which position he held nine years. This was the first chair of pedagogy 
estabhshed in an American university. He was inaugurated October 5, 1887, chancel- 



140 HISTORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

lor of the University of Nashville, and president of the Peabody Normal College. He 
is the author of " The Relation between the University and our High School ; " " Chap- 
ters on School Supervision ; " ''Historical Sketch of the Public Schools of the City of 
Adrian; " "Outlines of Educational Doctrine; " "Contributions to the Science of Edu- 
cation ;" editor of " Page's Theory and Practice of Teaching;" tran.slator of '' Com- 
payre's Histoire de la Pedagogic; " " Elements of P.sychology ; " " Psychology Applied 
to Education;" "Lectures on Teaching ;"" Rousseau's Eraile." Genealogical. — He 
married, October 2, 1856, Sarah Evaline Fort, born August 28, 1835, daughter of Daniel 
L. and Sarah (Van Ness) Fort, he, Daniel, born at Schaghticoke, N. Y., August 6, 
1781, son of Leviris ; she born May 12, 1795, died October 7, 1862, daughter of Peter 
Van Ness, son of Cornelius of Albany ; son of Gideon Riley Payne, born at Farramg- 
ton, N. Y., September 18, 1813, died at Ann Arbor, Mich., March 8, 1888, married 
December 4, 1834, Mary Brown Smith, born November 23, 1815, daughter of William 
Smith, born September 19, 1787, son of Stephen, son of Jonathan, son of Gershom, .^on 
John Smith, who came from England in 1652 to Dartmouth, Mass.; Wm. Smith mar- 
ried Lydia Brown, born at Adams, Mass., December 9, 1788, died May 21, 1890, at 
Adrian, Mich., aged nearly 102 years, daughter of David, born June 16, 1741, son of 
Stephen, born February 3, 1714, at Cumberland, R. I., son of Joseph and Sarah (Pray) 
Brown ; Gideon Riley Payne had six children (viz.: Wm. H., above, Selinda, born 
July 5, 1838, Chauncey S., born January 14, 1840, Lydia M., born January 12, 1842, 
Cynthia Orlena, born August 20, 1845, and Frank Riley, born November 30, 1850) ; 
son of Gideon Payne of Farmington, N. Y., born at Adams, Mass., January 10, 1705, 
died at Farmington, 1848, a wealthy farmer (married February 18, 1793, Phebe Hill, 
born January 12, 1771, daughter of Caleb and Mary), had nine children, viz.: Electa, 
born January 12, 1795, died January 17, 1795, Zimroda, born March 14, 179(i, (married 
Nathan Stoddard), Mary, born September 23, 1798, died November 29, 1880, (married 
Sylvester R. Hathaway), Selinda, born October 6, 1800, (married Nathan Power), Cal- 
vin, born July 30, 1802, died November 27, 1859, Reuben, born July 4, 1805, died 
March 23, 1854, William, born March 24, 1807, George, born September 28, 1809, 
Gideon Riley above, born September 18, 1813; Gideon Payne was son of William 
Payne of Pittsfield and Adams, Mass., born in Rhode Island, farmer, (married Sarah 
Hawkins, who died in 1822, aged eighty-four), had nine children, viz : Gideon, born 
January 10, 1765, Patty (married a Mason), Lydia (married a Howe), Mollie (married 
first Elijah Smith, he died in 1793 from the falling of a tree, his death was the first in 
Farmington, .she married second Elihu Parker, he committed suicide by jumping in a 
well), John, died February 18, 1821, William, Joseph, died August 18, 1862, aged 
eighty-eight, Zimroda, born 1770, died in February, 1838, (married Abiathar Power, 
born 1770, died 1848), Lucinda (married Jacob Smith) ; son of Gideon of Rhode Island, 
born at Swanzey, Mass., in 1703, died in Rhode Island in 1756, freeman at Smithfield, 
R. I., in 1739, (married Rebecca Corser) ; son of John Payne, born at Rehoboth, Mass., 
April 3, 1658, died at Providence, R. I., September 28, 1718, was of Swanzey, Mass., 
in 16S3, surveyor of highways 1686, had large property at Swanzey, Bristol, Provi- 
dence, etc., (married first, February 3, 1680, Elizabeth Belcher, married second, Martha) ; 
son of Stephen Payne, born in England about 1620, died at Rehoboth, 1679, (married 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 141 

Ann Chickering) ; son of Stephen Payne, who came with others from Great Elling- 
ham, Eng., in the ship Diligent, 1G38, and settled at Hingham, Mass., moved to Reho- 
both 1643, had large estates, representative to General Court, died August, 1679. 
William H. Payne and Evaline Sarah Fort have five children, viz.: Mary Payne, born 
December 2G, 1860 ; William Riley Payne, born September 24, 1864, married Septem- 
ber 17, 1885, to Estella Frances Vail; Eva Payne, born October 30, 1865, married Feb- 
ruary 8, 1893, to Abram Tillman Jones of Nashville, Tenn.; Emma Payne, born July 8, 
1867; Clara Louise Payne, born October 30, 1876. 

Phillips, Lebbeus, Gorham, was born in Gorham July 2, 1819, a son of Isaac, whose 
father, Abraham, was a native of New Hampshire, born October 16, 1757, and died in 
Saratoga in 1799. He participated in the Revolutionary War. Isaac was born in New 
Hampshire November 3, 1782. He married Anna Gamble, a native of Saratoga county, 
and daughter of James Gamble, born February 9, 1783, and they have five sons and five 
daughters. In 1807 they came to Gorham. He was supervisor and also justice of the 
peace for twelve years, and was born a Quaker, though he gave liberally to all denom- 
inations. He died February 8, 1871, and his wife died May 5, 1853. Lebbeus was 
educated in the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. With the exception of two years spent 
in a mill, he has followed farming, and in 1867 purchased the old homestead. Decem- 
ber 24, 1845, he married Ann D., daughter of William Mead of Gorham, and they have 
five sons : William 0., Charles F., Jame.s E., George L., and Alvin M. Mr. Phillips is 
a Democrat and has been assessor six years, commissioner of highways three years, and 
supervisor one terra. He is now notary public, which position he has held twenty years. 
He is a member of Stanley Lodge I, 0. 0. F. No. 434. 

Purdy, Alex. M., Manchester, was born m Wayne county May 31, 1835. He re- 
ceived a good education in the schools of the vicinity and at the Friends' Boarding 
School. Mr. Purdy has been engaged in horticultural pursuits and the nursery businefs 
for the greater portion of his life. He is also editor of the Fruit Recorder and Evap- 
orator, a publication devoted to these special branches of horticulture. Mr. Purdy 
possesses a fine farm of 112 acres in close proximity to Palmyra, upon which he has an 
evaporating plant, and in which he uses large quantities of apples. Alex. M. Purdy 
married first Mary Reynolds, by whom he had five children, and some time after her 
decease he married Phoebe J. Dorland, by whom he had four children, seven living and 
two deceased. 

Parmelee G. Herbert, Phelps, was born in Addison, Steuben county, July 27, 1854, 
one of three children of Rev. Anson Hall and Mary E. (Whiting) Parmelee. Rev. An- 
son Hall Parmelee was born in Bristol, Vt., September 14, 1810, was a graduate of 
MiddTebury~T^TIege in 1839, entered Andover Theological Seminary the same year, was 
licensed to preach in September, 1842. After three years' service as general agent of 
the American Tract Society for the establishment of colportage in North and South 
Carolina and Georgia, he entered upon pastoral duties in the State of New York where 
he labored about thirty years in the towns of Addison, Livonia and Seneca Castle. The 
Vermont Parraelees were originally from Connecticut. G. Herbert Parmelee married, 
November 23, 1881, Lillian May Pond of Phelps, daughter of George and Ann (Hurd) 



142 HISTORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Pond ; they have four children : George P., John B., Grace L., and Louis Whiting 
Parmelee. At the decease of George Pond in 1889, the L. P. Thompson Plow Com- 
pany's property in Phelps came into his possession, which has been noted as producing 
the first iron beam and first chilled plow manufactured in the State. Mr. Parmelee 
has developed the plant until it now produces thirteen different styles of plows which 
are considered first class. 

Packard, William G., Bristol, was born January 23, 1816, in Bristol. His father was 
Goodino- son of Gooding of Dighton, Mass., who came to East Bloomfield in 1804. 
His son Goodmg was born in Dighton in 1787, and was seventeen years old when he 
came to Bloomfield with his parents. He married Adaline, daughter of Job Gooding 
of Dighton, Mass., by whom he had nine children, four of whom are living. Goo'iing 
came to Bristol when a young man and settled on the farm now owned by George 
Packard, fie died in 1864. William G. was reared on a farm and educated in East 
Bloomfield Academy. At twenty years of age he engaged in teaching and taught six- 
teen terms, spent one year in Illinois, and taught at Lockport, 111. In 1848 he married 
Cynthia, daughter of Ephrain Gooding of Bristol. Mr. Packard and wife have two 
children: William S., of Paoli, Wis., who married Mary, daughter of John Elsworth 
formerly of Ontario county, and they have three sons and a daughter. Gooding was 
educated in Genesee Normal School. He married Mary, daughter of Erastus Allen, 
and had one daughter, Mary. William G. had 260 acres of land and is a general farmer 
and hop grower. He is a Republican and was supervisor two years, also was at one 
time school inspector. 

Power, George P., Farming ton, was born in Farmington June 20, 1848, was educated 
in the common schools and Canandaigua Academy, and follows farming. December 
28, 1869, he married Mary A., daughter of Henry and Lydia Rose, and they had two 
children, Frank C. and Lulu M. Mrs. Power died July 23, 1884, and he married second, 
March 17, 1886, Carrie D., only daughter of Henry J. and Frances D. Redfield. An- 
drew T., father of George P., was born in Farmington June 10, 1819. November 17, 
1840, he married Eunice Eddy of his native town, and they had six children : R. Bruce, 
who died at the age- of twenty -eight years ; Emmer A., Tiuman, George P., Metta E., 
and William C. Mr. Power's grandfather, William P., was born on the old homestead 
March 4, 1795, and married Dorcas Arnold of this town, by whom he had eight chil- 
dren. His great-grandfather on his mother's side, Abiather Arnold, was born in Adams, 
Mass., in 1770 and came to Farmington when a young man. 

Preston, William, Gorham, was born in Yorkshire, England, May 21, 1843. He is a 
son of Richard and Sarah (Robinson) Preston, of Yorkshire, England, where they died 
They had six children. William was reared by his grandfather, Thomas Robinson, a 
capenter and farmer of England. Wm. Preston & Co. owned a factory at Lyons, 
Wayne county, where Mr. Johnson is at present engaged in the manufacture of tile. 
In 1874 William sold his interest in the firm and and came to Gorham, where he pur- 
chased the David Wilkie Tile Factory, which he now owns, and also 100 acres of land 
upon which he erected a fine dwelling. He averages 600,000 tile annually. In 1873 
he married Mary Worthington, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Townsend) Worth- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 143 

ington of England, who have three sons and three daughters. They came to Lyons in 
1857 and here the father died. Mr. Preston and wife have six children: Edward T., 
Fannie E. (deceased), Charlie H., George W., Frederick W., and one who died young. 
Mr. Preston is a Democrat. He is a member of the I. 0. 0. P. Stanley Lodge No. 
434. 

Powell, Thomas J., Naples, oldest son of Shotwell and Sarah G. Powell, was born 
July 23, 1837, in the town of Clinton, Dutchess county. He, with his parents, moved 
to South Bristol, Ontario county, in 1844. His education was obtained mostly at the 
district school and at home. He taught several terms, four in his own district, and did 
surveying occasionally for a few years, but quit soon after he settled on the farm. He 
enlisted to help put down the Rebellion, but was discharged after six months' service ; 
was soon after drafted, but rejected on account of disability. March 26, 1864, he and 
Emily Ewer, oldest daughter of Isaac G. and Lydia Ann Ewer of Mendon Center, Mon- 
roe county, were married. They estabhshed their home on a farm in the adjoning town 
of Naples soon after their marriage, where they have since lived. They have had two 
children : Albert I., who is now married and lives with them ; and Isaac S., who died 
September 24, 1892, soon after he had graduated, loved and respected by a large circle 
of friends. Mr. Powell has prospered as a farmer and has obtained several patents on 
hay cars, one of which especially has had a wide sale. He is much interested in various 
reforms, particularly Prohibition, and has been for many years an active Prohibitionist, 
being the candidate of the party in 1877 for member of assembly for Ontario county, 
since which he has been elected a delegate to the State Convention and nominated for 
town and county offices several times by the party. He has been a vegeterian for some 
twenty-five years, not using even tea or coffee, and with Mrs. Powell it has been almost 
the same. In their over twenty-nine years of married life they have enjoyed excellent 
health and no physician to doctor them or their children, except when the one died. 
His wife has been a faithful and able helper to him, cordially co-operating in temper- 
ance and other reform work. They are birthright members of the Society of Friends. 

Pomeroy, Andrew E., East Bloomfield, is a native of Bristol, born August 18, 1854. 
His father, Luther, was a son of Luther, a native of Amherst, Mass., born in 1788, who 
uuirried Sybil Tower, and had seven daughters and a son. In 1815 he came to Bristol 
and settled on a farm where he remained until advanced in years, when he removed to 
Bath, 0., and died December 20, 1883. Mrs. Pomeroy died in Bristol. Luther Pom- 
eroy, jr., was born in Bristol July 21, 1822, and married Bethania, daughter of Caleb 
Bliss, a native of Massachusetts, who married Zilpha Gerry and had a son and four 
daughters. Mrs. Pomeroy died August 19, 1882. Mr. Pomeroy and wife had a son 
and three daughters. He spent his life in Bristol as a farmer, and during his last twenty- 
three years was an extensive wool dealer. He was a Republican and was assessor sev- 
eral years. He married second Mary A. Cobb, April 18, 1888 ; he died January 10, 
1892. Andrew B. was educated in the public schools, and February 20, 1879, married 
Jennie Case, a native of Bristol, and one of six children of Oliver and Judith A. (Gof- 
ford) Case, the former a native of Bristol, and the latter of Columbia. In 1879 Mr. 
Pomeroy came to East Bloomfield, and bought 100 acres of land known as the Edward 
Bronson farm where he carries on general farming. He is a Republican but not an as- 



144 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

pirant to office. He is a member of A. 0. U. W. of East Bloomfield, and he and wife 
are members of the M. E. Church. The sisters of subject are: Mary, wife of Jason 
Evans of Bristol ; Namah L., wife S. W. Crouch, a contractor and builder of Rochester ; 
and Frances C, who resides with her sister, Mrs. Crouch, in Rochester. 

Pratt, Reuben T., Gorham, was born in Gorham September 29, 1829. His father 
was Elisha, son of Elisha, who resided in Rochester, Mass., in 1708, and had the follow- 
ing children : Nathan, Jonathan, James, Elisha, Lucy, Sally, Dorcas and Polly. The 
history of Nathan and Jonathan is unknown. James had four sons and three daughters. 
Lucy married Banks Bennett and had six children. Sallie married Moses Larned and 
had eleven children. Dorcas married Nathan Loomis. Polly married John Webb and 
had six children. Elisha, father of Reuben T., was born in 177S, and in 1801 came to 
Gorham and purchased a farm. In 1806 Mr. Pratt married Elizabeth Saunders, a na- 
tive of Rhode Island, born April 24, 1788. They had four sons and six daughters, of 
whom Reuben was the youngest. Mr. Pratt for some time taught school. He was also 
justice of the peace for twenty years and was a great hunter. He died in 184G and his 
wife in 1871. Reuben was educated in the common schools. In 1856 he married So- 
phia Wormley, a native of Hopewell, born November 6, 1835. She was a daughter of 
Jacob and Samantha (Thatcher) Wormley, who had eight children. Mr. Pratt and wife 
have one son, Hubert A., born April 26, 1859, who married Mary Ellison, a native of 
Seneca county, born at Farmersville, June 4, 1854. She was a daughter of Melvin and 
Isabella (Johnson) Ellison of Woodville. Hubert and wife have a daughter, Helen G., 
born August 12, 1892. Mrs. Hubert Pratt was educated in the Union School and Farm- 
ersville Seminary. Reuben is a Republican in politics and a member of Reed's Corners 
Grange. He owns 110 acres of land, and his wife is a mgmber of the M. B. Church at 
Rushville. 

Payne, the late George, Farmington, was born in Farmington, east of the homestead, 
September 28, 1809. He was educated in the district schools and was a farmer. July 
2, 1834, he married Nancy Jane, daughter of William and Martha Brown of his native 
town, and had seven children : Gideon, who died March 2, 1880 ; Andrew G., who 
married Cynthia Christie, of May field, Fulton county, and is a farmer ; Martha L., who 
married David Padgham ; Phebe L., who married John Corrigan, and resides in Can- 
ada; Hannah L., who married Walter D. Norton, of Victor ; one died in infancy ; and 
Florence L., who resides with her mother at the homestead. Mr. Payne died July 22, 
1847. His father, Gideon, was born January 10, 1705, in Berkshire, Mass. February 
18, 1793, he married Phebe Hill of his native place, and at once came to Farmington, 
one of the first settlers in the town. His ancestry has been traced back to 1590, and 
some of the family to 1060. The name originated in Normandy, and the first ances- 
tor, Hugh de Payen, was a son of the page who went to England with William the 
Conqueror. Elizabeth Payne, the mother of Oliver Cromwell, was a daughter of one 
of the ancestors. Hugh de Payen was one of the leaders of the first crusade. He es- 
tablished the Order of Templars in England in A. D. 1118. This order was the most 
powerful and wealthy in Europe for three centuries. Mrs. Payne's father, William 
Brown, was born February 28, 1778, in Cumberland, R. I., and came to this place at an 
early day. He married Martha Hill, of Swansea, R. I., in Farmington, October 27, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 145 

1805, and had four children : Chloe, Hannah M., Nancy Jane, and Levi A. Chloe died 
when she was six years old. William Brown was killed in a friendly wrestling match 
with a neighbor, April 28, 1814, and his wife died March 11, 1825. William Brown's 
father, Ichabod, was born in Cumberland, R. L He married Hannah Ballou of that 
place, and they were among the early settlers here. He was an officer in the Revolu- 
tionary War. 

Parker, J. W., Manchester, was born in the village of Pike, Wyoming county, Jan- 
uary 23, 1835. He received an academic education, after which he taught school for 
several years. In 1860 he came to Port Gibson, where he taught school for one year, 
which he gave up to enter into the mercantile trade, which he has since most success- 
fully conducted ; also conducted the Crystal Springs Creamery. Mr. Parker was ap- 
pointed postmaster under Grant, which office he has since held, with the exception of 
the Cleveland administration. He has been justice of the peace twenty-two years, and 
justice of session four terms. He married Emma, daughter of Hon. H. Schutt; they 
have one child, a daughter, Ada B. Parker, Ph. B., member of the faculty of the State 
Normal School, Mansfield, Pa. 

Perhamus, Charles C, Hopewell, was born in Hopewell, June 6, 1853, was educated 
at the common schools, and afterwards learned the carpenter's trade. He is a proficient 
engineer and at present is engaged in that business. He is a Democrat. In 1879 he 
married Mary E. Welcher, daughter of Charles and Maline (Stevenson) Welcher, who 
early came to Hopewell. Charles C. Perhamus was a son of William C, a son of John, 
who was a native of Ulster county, and died in 1832. William C. was born October 
13, 1809, in Ulster county. He married Harriet Couch, a native of Connecticut, by 
whom he had two sons and four daughters. Mr. Perhamus is a Democrat, and has 
held the offices of constable for twenty years and collector seven years. One of his 
sons, William S., who resides with his father, was born in Hopewell, August 16, 1835. 
He followed the shoemaker's and the carpenter's trades, and October 1, 1881, accepted 
a position as station agent at Ennerdale, where he has since been employed. He has 
also been postmaster at Beulah six years. In 1890 he engaged in the poultry business 
at Lewis Station, and now makes a specialty of breeding Leghorn and Plymouth 
Rock fowls. He is a member of Stanley Grange and Ark Lodge No. 33 of Geneva 
F. & A. M. 

Powell, Shotwell, South Bristol, son of James and Martha (Townsend) Powell, was 
born in Clinton, Dutchess county, October 3, 1808. He spent some time with his uncle 
Hugh Townsend. in Plainfield, N. J., and at the age of fifteen returned to Clinton and 
lived with his mother. He was educated at the district school and at Westown 
School, Pennsylvania, working on a farm during the summer and attending school in 
winter. In the summer of 1832 he was in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., at the Infirmary dur- 
ing the cholera. The physician Avas a Thompsonian, and Mr. Powell experimented in 
the theory of that practice, and became satisfied of its practicability and utility, and has 
relied upon it since when requiring medicine, but has generally adopted Napoleon's 
plan. i. e., when ill to abstain from food three days or longer, and has followed that suc- 
cessfully for more than fifty years. In 1832 he went to Michigan (then a territory and 



146 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

wilderness), and purchased eighty acre lots at $100 each. In 1833 he returned to 
Dutchess county, and purchased a part of the old homestead and commenced farming; 
where he remained until 1844. He then sold the homestead and exchanged his Michi- 
gan land for his finefann in South Bristol. Mr. Powell was elected to the Legislature in 
1858-9, was active in the performance of his duties, and introduced the bill to prevent 
slave hunting, also for the repeal of capital punishment. He opposed the corruptions 
of the Legislature in the city railroads, ferry bills, and other schemes of plunder. Mr. 
Powell has never sought for office. Under the administration of Jefferson, Madison, 
and Monroe he was a Republican, and under Jackson's administration was a Democrat 
until 1840, when the Democratic party became the slave power, then he joined the 
Whigs till they adopted the same policy, and subsequently became a Republican, and 
when they adopted the sixteenth resolution in platform he withdrew from them and 
joined the Prohibition party. In 1835 he married Sarah G. Clapp, and they have three 
children : Thomas J., a farmer in Naples; Israel M., born in 1839, now the owner of 
the homestead ; Lydia Ann, born in 1841, wife of William E. Lincoln of South Bristol. 
Mr. Powell has a valuable farm in Virginia, where he visits often, and has generally 
spent the winters. He is hale and hearty in his eighty-fifth year, and reads without 
glasses, having never used them. 

Preston, Gerrit S., Bast Bloomfield, is a native of Victor, born June 24, 1848, a son 
of Orrin, a native of Orleans county, born June 27, 1810, who went to Victor and 
there married first Louisa Felt, and second Elizabeth, daughter of Jeremiah Cronk, an 
early settler of Victor, who had five daughters and three sons. Orrin and wife had four 
sons and two daughters. He was a carpenter and v/ent to Indiana, and after several 
years went to Victor, where he worked at his trade for some time. In 1848 he came 
to East Bloomfield and bought ninety acres. At his death he owned 280 acres. He 
was assessor several years. About a year before his death (in 1875) he returned to 
Victor, where his wife died in July,' 1882. Gerrit S. came to East Bloomfield when a 
child, was reared on a farm and received an academic education. In 1876 he married 
Sarah O. Dewey, a native of Manchester, and a daughter of Howard and Mary (Arnold) 
Dewey, the former a native of Suffield, Conn., and an early settler of Manchester, and 
the latter a native of Farmington and a daughter of Pardon Arnold, of Southfield, R. 
I. Mr. and Mrs. Preston have four children : Mary E., Howard D., Alice I., and Grace 
C. Mr. Preston has for several years been a breeder of American Merino sheep. He 
is a Republican and was school commissioner of the Second District of Ontario county 
for six years. He is a member of East Bloomfield Grange, of which he has been mas- 
ter one year. 

Powell, Adelbert W., Gorham, was born in Gorhara, February 10, 1857, a son of 
William, also a son of William, who was a native of Pennsylvania and married Mary 
Fisher, by whom he had six children. He died in Gorham. William, jr., was a native 
of Pennsylvania, born in November, 1818, who came to Gorham when a boy. In 1854 
he married Mary Wilson, a native of Gorham, born January 28, 1828, a daughter of 
James and Hannah (Ray) Wilson, the former a son of James and Jane (Olan) Wilson, 
natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers of Gorham. William Powell, jr., had three 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 147 

children : Fadella, who died in infancy ; Adalbert W., and George W. The latter was 
born November 3, 1839, was educated in Canandaigua Academy and Cornell Univer- 
sity, graduating from the latter in 1885. He is a civil engineer and resides at Bell- 
ville. III., where he works for the Phoenix Powder Manufacturing Company. He mar- 
red Mary Link, a native of Gorham, and they have two children : Oland W. and Le- 
land %. Adelbert W. Powell was educated in the common schools and Canandaigua 
Academy. February 9, 1881, he married Mary, daughter of Stewart Elwell. Mr. 
Powell and wife have four children : Newton D., Edith J., Ethel M., and Lillian M. 
Mr. Powell is a Democrat, and has twice been elected commissioner of highways, and 
he at present holds that office. He and family are members of the Congregational 
church at Reed's Corners. 

Pritchard, M.D., George C, Phelps, one of six children of Benjamin and Jane Ann 
(Stoughtenburg) Pritchard, was born in Phelps, February 1, 1839. Benjamin, the 
father, was born in Poughkeepsie, and his father, James, was born in London, England, 
and came to this country and settled in Poughkeepsie before the Revolutionary War, 
he being a silversmith by trade. George C. was educated at Phelps Union Classical 
School and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, studied at the Hahnemann Homoeopathic 
Medical College at Philadelphia in 1869, and has been engaged in the practice of his 
profession in Phelps since that time. He married in 1865 Emogene, daughter of Col. 
William Post of Phelps, and they have two children : Stuart D. C. and Linda Suther- 
land. George C. Pritchard enlisted in 1862 in the One Hundred and Forty-eighth New 
York Regiment. He was promoted to captain and assistant quartermaster, serving 
three and one-half years. He .served upon the staff of General Draper, of General 
Giles A. Smith, and of Godfrey Wetzel, until mustered out of the service. He has for 
many years been an elder of the First Presbyterian church, and has served as superin- 
tendent of the Sunday-school for twenty-six consecutive years. 

Parrish, Winfield Scott, Canandaigua, was born in Naples, January 24, 1842. The 
grandfather, Jeremiah B., was a descendant of the Parrishes of Revolutionary fame, 
and was himself a captain of volunteers in the War of 1812, and was in the battle of 
Lundy's Lane. He settled in Naples, following farming and practicing law. fie was 
at one time associate justice of this county, and was for many years supervisor of 
Naples. He married Clara C. Clark, an aunt of Gov. Myron H. Clark, and they had 
seven children : Bishop, Edwin R., William W., Cordon C, Emily, Mary and Caroline. 
Edwin R., father of our subject, was born in Naples in November, 1818. He married 
in 1840 Matilda S. Parkhurst, of Fairfield, Herkimer county, and they had four children, 
two of whom are living : Rozelle F., who died when but thirteen years of age ; Schuyler 
J., who conducted the homestead farm at Naples, died July 13, 1802, aged forty-eight 
years ; Emma L. married Thomas H. Williams, a physician of Washington, D. C. ; and 
W. Scott. The latter was educated at Naples and b'airfield Academies and Pough- 
keepsie Business College. When twenty-nine years of age he went to Illinois and 
spent two and one-half years, then settled on a farm of 270 acres in Canandaigua, which 
he has ever since conducted. Mr. Parrish is a Democrat, and he and his family are 
members of the Pre.sbyterian church. He married, June 5, 1872, Emma Basford, of 



148 SlSTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Kankakee, III, and they have had three children : Mary E., William Howard and Jason 
Basford. 

Pierpont, David A., Richmond, was born in Middlebury, Vt., in 1815. His father, 
David, was born in Litchfield county, Conn., and first settled at Middlebury, Vt. His 
wife was Sally Palmes, and in 1816, when David was an infant, the family came to 
Richmond and settled at Allen's Hill. David was a cabinetmaker, and also kept a hotel 
at the Hill. He ran a line of four-horse stage coaches between Canandaigua and Perry 
for some years. Of his five children four grew to maturity : David A. ; Frances Ann, 
deceased, who married Prof. Marcius Wilson, of Yineland, N. J. ; Caroline Amelia, 
deceased, who married George P. Townsend ; and Ogden E., deceased, who left a 
widow and two children, and who was for many years engaged in Rochester as clerk. 
David A. Pierpont was educated at the common schools, at Canandaigua Academy, and 
at Temple Hill School, Geneseo. In 1843 he married Sarah Elizabeth Phillips, born in 
1823, daughter of Joshua Phillips 2d, and they have two children : Caroline Elizabeth, 
wife of Dr. L. E. Green, of Honeoye, and David Ogden, born in 1848. Mr. Pierpont 
followed the trade of his father for a time, then became a clerk at Allen's Hill, and 
afterwards for Nathaniel Gorham at Canandaigua. A year later he engaged in general 
trade at Allen's Hill in company with James Henry. A year later Robert L. Rose pur- 
chased Henry's interest, and two years later, m 1839, Mr. Pierpont sold his interest, 
and in company with Daniel Phelps purchased and slaughtered sheep for two or three 
years. His father-in-law bought the grist mill in Honeoye, since owned by John 
Quick, and there David A. worked at milling for eight years. In 1852 he came to his 
present farm and lived with his father-in-law, and has followed farming ever since. 
The main part of his present farm-house was built in 1800 by Judge Chipmau, the farm 
having been taken up by him in 1795. Mr. Pierpont was supervisor in 1847-48-52-55- 
89-90-91. Mrs. Pierpont's father, Capt. Joshua Phillips, was born in Dighton, Mass., 
in 1782. His father, of the same name, was born in 1751, and was a Revolutionary 
soldier. He died in 1799. Joshua settled here in 1803, served in the War of 1812, and 
was commissioned captain. Has wife was Olive, daughter of William Paul. Mr. Pier- 
pont and his son, David Ogden, have been prominent breeders of Merino sheep, and 
have received diplomas from the Exposition at Sydney, Australia, and from the Paris 
Exposition. 

Ringer, Mrs. Elizabeth, Geneva, is a native of Phelps. Her late husband's father, 
William Ringer, was born in the town of Seneca on the farm he now owns, December 
28, 1818, and has been a lumber dealer and farmer. October 6, 1846, he married Jane 
Hogan, formerly of Albany county, and they had these children : George, died in infan- 
cy; William H., who married Martha A. Parker; Charles E.. who married Elizabeth 
Fothergill and had two children ; Stella M., George E., and James M., who married 
Annie Willis of Dresden, Yates county. Chas. E. Ringer died June 3, 1890. William 
Ringer's father, Solomon, was born in Maryland, October 25, 1789, and came to Geneva 
in 1805. He married Elizabeth Elyea, born November 24, 1787, and they had five 
children : John, Anna, William, George W., and Lyman. Solomon died June 21, 1872, 
and his wife February 3, 1864. The grandfather, John Ringer, was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary War. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 149 

Rankine, James, Geneva, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, November 5, 1827, and 
vi^asthe son of John and Elizabeth Rankine. The family came to the United States in 
1835, and settled in Canandaigua. John Rankine was a lawyer by profession but in 
this county devoted his attention to farming. His sons, John and William Rankine 
however, both practiced at the Ontario county bar. James Rankine, our subject, pre- 
pared for a collegiate course at the Canandaigua Academy, and was graduated from 
Union College with the class of '46. He then began studies with a determination to 
enter the Episcopal ministry, and after one year became connected with the faculty of 
Trinity College, at Hartford, Conn., where he remained six years, beginning as tutor 
and finishing his term there as assistant professor of mathematics; also being librarian 
of the institution. While here, in 1850, he was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop 
Brownell, and likewise received the master's degree from the college. In 1854 Mr. 
Rankine resigned from Trinty and became rector of St. Paul's church at Owego, where 
he remained six years, after which, in 1861, he was called to Geneva to take charge of 
the Theological Training School, which Bishop Delancey was then about to establish, 
and which is now known as the Delancey Divinity School, and over which Mr. Rankine 
has ever since had charge. Soon after coming to Geneva our subject was made trustee 
of Hobart College, and in 1863 that institution conferred upon him the deo-ree of Doctor 
of Divinity. Upon the death of the bishop in 1865, Mr. Rankine succeeded m the 
charge of the mission called St. Peter's, the outgrowth and result of which is St. Peter's 
Memorial church. This church and its parish have been under the pastoral care of our 
subject l:rom the time of their founding, with the exception of a single year. In 1869 
the bi.shop and trustees of Hobart College called Dr. Rankine to the presidencey of the 
institution, a position he held for over two years, and after the period of difficulty had 
passed, he was allowed to withdraw therefrom and resume his parish and divinity school 
work. In 1853 James Rankine was married to Fanny, daughter of Charles B. Week 
esq., of Canandaigua. Of this marriage nine children have been born, only five sons 
are now living. 

Reed, John, Canandaigua, was born in Yorkshire, England, May 12, 1839, and came 
to this country in 1857. Having an uncle, John Clark, living in Canandaigua, he lo- 
cated here, and worked for his uncle by the month for a number of years, then became 
partner with him. He spent two years on a farm in Gorham, then returned to this 
place where he made his home. At the death of Mr. Clark, December 28, 1890 the 
property, consisting of over 200 acres, was left to Mr. Reed, who had become a mem- 
ber of the family by marrying Mary Eliza, the daughter. Mr. Reed took little interest 
in public affairs, but devoted his attention to the success of his farm. Mrs. Reed died 
September 23, 1882, leaving no children. Mr. Reed married second, August 2, 1887 
Mary Elizabeth Hall, a native of Yorkshire, Eng., and they have had two children : 
Mary E., born December 24, 1888, and John A., born July 5, 1890. Mr. Reed died 
September 30, 1891, death uesulting from a fall while picking apples in his orchard. 
Mr. Reed was well known to the people of this section. He was an honest, iiprio-ht 
citizen, quiet in his manner, and a thorough business man. 

Remer, Simeon, Clifton Springs, was born in Newark, N. J., September 1, 1838. He 
received an academic education, after which he was engaged in the grocery business in 



150 HISTORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Newark for five or six years. In the spring of 1857 Mr. Remer went to California and 
entered into wholesale mercantile transactions. In 1863 he returned to New York city 
where he was employed for about one year in the grocery business, after which he was 
connected with the Adams Express Company for about eight years. In 1872 he moved 
to Clifton Springs where he engaged in the produce and commission business with E. 
D. Copp for several years, which position he gave up to become connected with the 
Clifton Springs Manufacturing Company, in which he is a stockholder. In March, 1803, 
a copartnership was formed by E. D. Copp and S. Remer in the grocery business. Mr. 
Remer was married in San Francisco, Cal, October 10, 1861, to Miss Mary Farrell 
of Brooklyn. They have six children, one son and five daughters. Dr. John Remer of 
New York city is the son. Mr. Remer's ancestors participated in the Revolutionary 
War and in the War of 1812. Both he and his wife are active members of the Meth- 
odist church. 

Rupert, M.D., Theodore D., Geneva, was born in Seneca, April 23, 1855, a son of 
William P. and Catharine (Bell) Rupert. He attended the public schools and Geneva 
Academy, read medicine with Dr. D. S. Allen, and graduated from the College of Phy- 
sicians and Sur"-eons in 1880. He practiced ten years in Mendon, Monroe county, and 
in 1890 located in Geneva. In 1880 he married Clara Bond of Geneva, and they have 
four children. 

Reilly, William H., Geneva, son of James and Bridget (Hughes) Reilly, was born in 
Hopewell October 11, 1854. At the age of nineteen he went to learn the miller's trade 
at Seneca Castle. In 1878 he came to Geneva, since which time he has been in the 
Geneva flouring mills, and in 1887 was made head miller. In 1883 he married Johanna 
Murphv of Geneva, and they have had five children : Alice B., Joseph (deceased), John 
(deceased), William and George. 

Ransom Willard J., Canandaigua. was born in Manheim, October 20, 1839, a son of 
Samuel A. a farmer of that town. He was educated in the common schools, and on 
reaching his majority came to Farmington to superintend a farm and conduct a milk sta- 
tion. On August 29 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixtieth N. Y. Volunteers, 
under Colonel Dwight. He was at Port Hudson, Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Winchester, 
Cedar Creek and many minor engagements, making twenty-three in all. He was 
wounded at the siege of Port Hudson but not to disable him from further service, and 
was mustered out November 17, 1865. He returned to Herkimer county where he fol- 
lowed lumbering for a year, then went to Buffalo and operated a saw-mill one season, 
and was conductor on a street car for a year and a half. He worked for the N. Y. C. 
R. R. Co. for nearly three years, laying off on account of injuries and accident. He was 
foreman for J. Ives &Co. in their saw-mill for over seven years, when he started a plan- 
ing and shingle mill at Salisbury Centre, conducting it two years, and then sold out and 
came to Canandaigua, where he conducted the Lake Breeze Hotel for two years, and in 
January, 1886, he .started a restaurant, which he conducted until September, 1892, when 
he moved into the block recently erected by J. J. Dwyer, which he opened as a hotel, 
and as a popular host is winning the patronage of the traveling public. The accommo- 
dations here are the best that can l)e found between Syracuse and Rochester on the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 151 

Auburn Railroad. Mr. Ransom married, December 21, 1875, Annie, daughter of Thomas 
Wainman, of Jordanville, Herkimer county. He is a member of the G. A. R. and of 
the K. of P. 

Reed, Wm. Allen, Canandaigua, was born at Seneca Castle in Seneca, May 17, 1834, 
a son of Ward, who was a son of Taft Reed. He, with two brothers, Nathan and John, 
were the first of the family to settle in this country, locating near Geneva. Taft was 
twice married and has seven children by each wife. Ward, a child of the first wife, was 
born January 25, 1799, and lived in Seneca. He was a prominent man in church work 
at Seneca Castle, and was many years a steward and trustee of the Methodist Church. 
He was twice married, to daughters of Thomas Tallman, a miller and farmer of Seneca. 
His first wife, Amanda Tallman, lived but a short time, and his second Avife, Matilda, he 
married in February, 1828. She bore him two children : Amanda T., who married Mun- 
roe Phillips, a farmer and hay dealer of Davenport, la., and William Allen. Ward Reed 
died in Seneca July 4, 1874. Our subject was educated in the common school and Lima 
Seminary, and on reaching his majority bought a farm of eighty-one acres in Seneca 
which he conducted three years, and then sold and bought one near Seneca Castle. He 
lived there until 18G6 when he bought a farm in Hopewell. He came to Canandaigua 
in 1881, locating two miles north of the village, and selling out two years later and re- 
tiring from active business, he removed 1o the village of Canandaigua where he now 
resides. He is an official member of the Methodist Church. He married, in 1855, Es- 
ther A., daughter of John W. Paddock, now of Peoria, III, by Avhom he had four chil- 
dren, but one surviving, Harriet C, wife of A. S. Cooley. Mrs. Reed died May 14, 
1877, and he married for his second wife, May 5, 1885, F. Munnette, daughter of War- 
ren B. Witter, and widow of E. Payson Birdseye. Mr. Reed is a member of Albert M. 
Murray Post G. A. R., having been a member of the One Hundred and Forty- eighth 
Regiment N. Y. Volunteers. 

Richardson, Charles A., Canandaigua, was born in Freetown, Cortland county, August 
14, 1829, a son of Curtis Richardson, a farmer, and a grandson of William Richardson, 
a soldier in the War of the Revolution from the State of Rhode Island. At the age of 
twenty he entered the academy at Homer, N. Y., and completed the course of studies at 
that school, and after teaching for a short time, he commenced the study of law in the 
office of S. V. R. Mallory, esq., at Canandaigua and was admitted to the bar in 1856. 
He then went to Nebraska, but returned in 18G0 and entered upon the practice of his 
profession at this town. In 18C2 he assisted in recruiting the One Hundred Twenty- 
sixth Regiment N. Y. Infantry, a three years regiment, and was commissioned therein 
successively first lieutenant, captain and major, the latter commission having been issued 
the 14th of June, 1864, he was not mustered in under it. He was discharged September 
3, 1864, on account of wounds received June 16, 1864, in action in front of Petersburg, 
Va. He was with his regiment in the battles of Harper's Ferry, Gettysburg, Auburn 
Ford, Bristow Station, Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, having been wounded 
also at Gettysburg. After his discharge from the army he resumed the practice of law, 
in which he has since continued. Major Richardson held the office of county treasurer, 
during the most critical period in the financial history of the conuty for six years, from 
the first day of January, 1865, during which nearly a million and a half dollars indebt- 



152 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

edness was paid, and he was surrogate of the county for six years from the first day of 
January, 1874. In 188G he was appointed one of the commissioners of the State of 
New York to determine the positions and movements of the New York troops engaged 
on the battlefield of Gettysburg and to erect monuments thereon to the regiments and 
batteries of this State so engaged. He initiated this patriotic movement in 1885, and 
procured the endorsement thereof by the veterans of his regiment, by a resolution 
adopted at their reunion held on the 26th of August of that year at Canandaigua, and 
also by the veterans of the One Hundred and Eleventh N. Y. at Sodus Bay on the fol- 
lowincr day, and thereupon he drafted the bill which was introduced at the next session 
of the Legislature by Senator Raines, and Avhich became a law, whereby Major-General 
Daniel E. Sickles, Major-General Henry W. Slocum, Major-General Joseph B. Carr, 
Major Richardson and Adjutant-General Josiah Porter were appointed commissioners 
to carry into effect that act. Major Richardson, by direction of the commissioners, also 
drafted the act of 1887, specifying the monuments to be erected by the commissioners 
and prescribing their duties relating thereto. The work of the commissioners on the 
battlefield was completed and the monuments dedicated with appropriate ceremonies in 
July, 1893. Too much praise cannot be given Major Richardson for his active interest 
in this matter. Major Richardson has also been connected officially with many local 
enterprises. 

Robson, James, Gorham, a native of Gorham, was born August 6, 1821, is a son of 
James who was a native of England, and settled on a farm in Gorham about 1820. He 
also owned a farm of 100 acres near Blood's Corners, where he died. James Robson, sr., 
was born in Northumberland, England, in 1792, and married Ann Heslip. They had 
three sons and two daughters. In 1820 Mr. Robson and family came to Gorham where 
he became one of the largest landowners in the town, owning at his death 800 acres, 
as well as a mill in Avoca, Steuben county. Here he was killed in 1854. His wife 
died in July, 1851. James was the only one of the family born in America. He mar- 
ried Emily Harris, May 3, 1848, a daughter of Francis Harris, a native of Dutchess 
county and one of the early settlers of Gorham, where he owned about 800 acres. Mr. 
Robson had these children : William H., Annie J., Frank J., John E., Belle, Hiram, Emma 
M. Hattie L., Chas. W. and Phebe J. He owns 350 acres on which he has made many 
improvements. He is a Republican and has been commissioner of highways six years, 
and supervisor five years. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church at 
Gorham. 

Rose, the late Ezra CuUen, "Victor, was born in Rush, educated in the common schools 
and Lima Seminary, and was a farmer. July 3, 1872, he married Julia Isabel Rainsford, 
of Victor, and they have five children : Nathan C, Isabel, Clifford. Rainsford and Dean. 
Mr. Ezra Cullen Rose died January 10, 1892. Mr. Rose's father, Nathan C, was born 
in Rush, Monroe county, November 13, 1812. May 19, 1840, he married Hannah Fos- 
dick, formerly of Granville, Washington county. The ceremony took place in Bethany, 
Genesee county. He was educated in the common schools and Lima Academy. They 
had six children : George I., Henry F., Ezra C, James N., Charles and Louise. Mr. 
Nathan C. Rose died October 23, 1891, and his wife March 1, 1883. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 153 

Ross, Peter Cole, Canadice, was born where he now lives, July 20, 1842. His 
brother, Peter C, sr., a native of New Jersey, born in 1806, came when a boy with his 
parents. Jasper and Martha Ross, to this town. At an early day Peter C, sr., married 
in 1833 Julia A. Dickerson, and had three sons and a daughter : Nelson D., George W., 
Sarah Ann, and Peter C, also one, Lewis P., who died young. He was a farmer where 
his son Peter C. now lives. He died in 1843. His son George W. hired out to the 
government as a teamster during the war, was taken prisoner at the battle of the Wil- 
derness, and was last heard of in Lynchburg prison. Peter C. enlisted in the One 
Hundred and Eighty-eighth N. Y. Infantry in 1864, and was in several engagements, 
among which were Five Forks and Hatcher's Run. He was wounded at Five Forks 
and is now a pensioner. He was discharged at the close of the war. Peter's mother 
married second Heber Harris, by whom she had two children : Persis E. and Emily 
Harris. Mrs. Harris now makes her home with Peter C. The latter married in 1866 
Catharine M. Struble. He married second, in 1875, Sophia McNair. He farms sixty 
acres, and has been constable four years. In politics he is a Democrat. 

Reed, Joseph, Manchester, was born in Switzerland. October 28, 1828. He came to 
this country thirty-eight years ago, and after working six years by the month, he pur- 
chased in 1865 a farm of 125 acres, which he has smce conducted most success- 
fully. He married Margaret Lennon and they have one child, William H. Mr. Reed 
has served as commissioner of highways, etc. He is a staunch Democrat. William H., 
his son, assists him in the management of his farm and other business. He is a young 
gentlemen of superior attainment and education. He married Cornelia Hollenbeck, 
and they have one child, a boy. Both Joseph and his son William H. enjoy the confi- 
dence and esteem of this community. 

Reed, Lewis J., Bristol, was born in Bristol, February 9, 1846. His father is Sey- 
mour (son of George), who was born in Hartland, Conn., March 8, 1814, and came with 
his parents to Bristol when young. He has been twice married, first to Roxena, daugh- 
ter of George Gooding, of Dighton, Mass., and an early settler of Canandaigua. She 
left one son, and died August 4, 1843. Mr. Reed then married Betsey Johnson, and 
had a son and a daughter. Her father was Lewis Johnson, of New Jersey, who died 
in Canandaigua. Mr. Reed has been one of the leading farmers of Bristol, owning 200 
acres of land. In early life he was a Whig and afterwards a Republican. He was as- 
sessor for six years, and highway commissioner several years. His second wife died 
in 1871, since which time he has resided with his son. Lewis J. was reared on a farm 
and educated in Canandaigua Academy. In 1872 he married Mary S. Raines, of Can- 
andaigua, born in 1851. Her father was Rev. Joseph Raines, of Hull. England, who 
came to Canandaigua when a young man. He married Hannah Glover, by whom he 
had four daughters and six sons. He was a local minister and preached in Canan- 
daigua and Bristol. He died in 1888 while living in East Saginaw, Mich. Lewis J. 
Reed and wife have had the following children : Lewis J. (deceased), Seymour, Clifford 
R., Mary E., and Grant S. Mr. Reed is a general farmer and owns 175 acres. In poli- 
tics he is a Republican, and was supervisor in 1882. He is a member of Canandaigua 
Lodge No. 294 F. & A. M., and Excelsior Chapter No. 164. 
t 



154 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Reid, William, Geneva, was born in Sterlingshire, Scotland, January 1, 1855. He 
was educated in Scotland, where he also learned his trade, coming to the United States 
April 1, 1880, and locating at Troy, where he worked at the molding trade. He came 
to Geneva in June, 1885, entered the employ of Phillips, Clark & Co. for one year as 
molder. He then became foreman of that department, which position he now holds. 
August 4, 1886, he married Marian, daughter of Colin and Agnes Harvie, of Geneva, 
and they have two children: Agnes W. and Helen Mc. Mrs. Reid's father, Colin 
Harvie, was born in Falkirk, Sterlingshire, Scotland, in 1843, and married Agnes Cud- 
die, of Glasgow, Scotland. They came to Canada in 1859, and afterwards to Geneva. 
They had thirteen children, of whom four were born in the United States. Mr. and 
Mrs. Harvie live in Geneva. 

Riker, Henry L., Hopewell, was born in Clinton, January 31, 1814. His father was 
Henry, a son of Henry, who was a native of Germany and came to this country, first 
to Long Island and then to Dutchess county. Henry Riker, jr., was born in Clinton in 
1774, and married Susan Lyons, a native of Clinton, and daughter of Jonathan and 
Elizabeth Lyons. By his first wife he had two sons. She died in 1814, and he mar- 
ried second Lydia Hodge, of Massachusetts, by whom he had four children. He was 
town collector for many years and died in 1831. Heury L. Riker had a common school 
education, and has always been a farmer. He married in 1835 Ann C. Thorne, a native 
of Dutchess county, and they have had four sons and four daughters : Sarah E., George 
W., Martha A. (deceased), William N., Melville G., Annie L.. Cora A. (who resides at 
home), and Frank T. (deceased"). In 1837 they moved to Cayuga county, remaining 
until 1868. Mr. Riker came to Hopewell and purchased the farm where he now re- 
sides. He is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Friends Society. 
The parents of Mrs. Riker were James and Sarah Thorne, of Dutchess county, and Som- 
erset, Mass., respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Thorne had five children. He named the vil- 
lage of Clinton Hollow and organized the first post-office in 1816, of which he was 
the first postmaster. He was superintendent of the Clinton schools, and for many 
years overseer of the poor. Mrs. Thorne died in 1865, and Mr. Thorne August 6, 
1872. 

Robertson, Charles F., Canandaigua, was born in Geneva, March 30, 1850, a son of 
John B., a native of Yates county, born in Benton in 1824. The latter early learned 
the carpenter trade, and followed contracting and building all his life. He was engaged 
in building in Canandaigua from 1860 until his death in 1885. He married when a 
young man Sophia J. Flowers, of Benton Centre, and they were the parents of four 
children : Martha S., wife of James A. Ellis, of Canandaigua ; Mary C, wife of George 
H. Stannard, of Buffalo; Jane -E., of Canandaigua; and Charles F. The early life of 
our subject was spent in the town of his birth. In 1858 his parents came to Canan- 
daigua, where Charles was educated in the common schools and the academy, and after 
leaving school took up the trade of his father, which he followed. In 1880 he began 
to take contracts for building in this town and erected some of the finest residences, 
conspicuous among them being the residences of Editor Huntington, James S. Cooley, 
and many others. Mr. Robertson has always taken an active interest in politics, has 
been village trustee, and in 1891 was the president of the village. He is a Republican, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 155 

and was among the first to agitate the subject of having a Union Free School established, 
and being a member of the board, he followed it until it was made a success. He mar- 
ried in 1377 Alice M. Mather, of Canandaigua. He is a Mason and has represented his 
lodge in the Grand Lodge as master for two years, and was M. E. H. P. of Excelsior 
Chapter No. 164 one year. 

Reed, James, Bristol, was born in Bristol, April 8, 1823, a son of George, whose 
father was George, a native of Hartland, Conn., who died in Bristol, where he came in 
in 1819. His wife was Nancy Bushnell, by whom he had five sons and five daughters. 
He died March 25, 1835, and his wife October 1, 1844. His son George was born in 
1793 in Hartland, and came to Bristol in 1815. He married Loretta, daughter of James 
Case, by whom he had six cliildren : Nancy, Betsey, George, James, William and 
Nelson. His wife died in 1828, and he married Luna Reed, of Hartland. Conn., by 
whom he had three children ; Reuel, Purmelia and Loretta. He died August 3, 1837, 
and his second wife in 18G8. James was reared on a farm, educated in the common 
schools, and has been twice married; first to Sallie Thomas, of Bristol, who was born 
September 17, 1828, by whom he had one daughter, Elizabeth, who married Horace 
Case, of Bristol, and died June 24, 1876. Mrs. James Reed died in 1850, and the same 
year he married Lucinda, daughter of Stephen Beach, whose father was Bernard, of 
Hartland, Conn., who came to Bristol about 1800. Mr. Reed and second wife have 
four children : George W., a farmer of South Bristol; Belle, wife of Warner J. Simou, 
of Canandaigua; Martha, wife of Herman Van Vechten ; and Reuel J. He married 
Emma Hunn, daughter of Thomas Hunn, and they have three children : Ethel M., Fannie 
E., Bertha A. Mr. Reed owns 140 acres. He is a Republican and has been excise 
commissioner for many years. He and wife are members of the M. E. church, and 
Mr. Reed has been trustee and steward for many years. Abner Reed, a brother of 
George Reed, jr., was a local minister of Bristol, and preached three hundred and fifteen 
funeral sermons. 

Rice, Frank, Canandaigua, was born in the town of Seneca, Ontario county, January 
15, 1845. His maternal ancestor came to the town of Seneca from England, and his 
paternal grandfather from Massachusetts, and were among the earliest settlers in that 
part of the county. Mr. Rice's father, at the time of his death in 1891, owned one of 
the farms purchased by them. During his early years Mr. Rice worked on the farm 
summers and attended school winters. When eleven years old he entered the private 
school of Dr. Taylor at Geneva, where he remained one year. Returning home he re- 
mained until he was fifteen, when he spent one year in the Geneva Classical and Union 
School. He was in the Canandaigua Academy three years under Dr. Noah T. Clarke, 
and in the fall of 1864 entered Hamilton College, from which he was graduated in 1868. 
In the following year he began the study of law in the office of Comstock & Bennett 
at Canandaigua, and there laid the foundation for the legal attainments that afterwards 
enabled him to rise to a commanding position in his profession. He began practice in 
1870, and in 1875 was elected district attorney and re-elected to the same office in 1878. 
In 1882 he was nominated by his party for the Assembly and elected by 1,266 majority, 
reversing a Republican majority of the previous year of 1,223. The Legislature was 



156 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Democratic that year, and Mr. Rice attained a prominent position among the leaders of 
his party. He was chosen chairman of the committee on privileges and elections, and 
also served as a member of the judiciary, insurance, and other committees. His greatest 
victory vi^as achieved in 1883 vphen he was renominated for the Assembly, and the 
opposition nominated a strong candidate and made a special effort to defeat him. In 
the face of this fact Mr. Rice was re-elected by a majority of 241, while the county 
went Repubhcan by 692. In that year he was nominated in the Democratic caucus 
for speaker, but as the Legislature was Republican, he was not, of course, elected ; he, 
however, became the leader of his party on the floor of the House. In 1884 he was 
elected county judge of Ontario county, being thus honored with his fifth victory in a 
Republican county. He was serving his fifth year as county judge when he was nom- 
inated by his party in Syracuse in 1889 for secretary of state, and elected by more than 
20,000 majority over John I. Gilbert, Republican. Mr. Rice was a delegate to the 
Democratic National Convention in 1880 which nominated General Hancock for the 
presidency, and served as secretary of the New York delegation. He has also been a 
delegate to nearly every State convention since that time, and was a member of the 
Democratic State Committee in 1888. He was a delegate to the State Convention of 
of February, 1892, and a delegate to the National Convention held in Chicago which 
nominated Grover Cleveland for president in 1892. He has been a candidate for office 
seven times and was never defeated. The fairness and ability which characterized his 
work in the office of secretary of state secured for him a re-election in 1891 by a 
majority of 38,173 over Eugene F. O'Connor. 

Robinson, John S., Canandaigna, was born in Penfield, Monroe county, April 15, 
1827. When but a child his parents moved into Manchester, where he was educated 
in the common schools and a select school taught by J. P. Faurot, one of the oldest 
lawyers of this town. After leaving school he engaged with John Lamport in his 
foundry at Canandaigua, and in 1854 he engaged in the business for himself and went 
into the manufacture of railroad work for the Broad Gauge road running from Elmira 
to Niagara Falls. Mr. Robinson was undoubtedly the first one to make a chilled plow 
in the United States. While he was foreman for John Lamport in 1852 he was mak- 
ing plows, and thought that he could make a plow with a chilled surface on the wear- 
ing side of the mould' board, and he did cast a mould board on a chill that year. The 
idea lay dormant from this time until 1873, when, after many experiments, he made it 
a success and was granted a patent March 24, 1874, for the process of chilling and car- 
bonizing plow mould boards and other castings. In 187C he went to Syracuse and the 
Robinson Chilled Plow Company was organized for the manufacture of chilled plows. 
This company is now known as the Syracuse Chilled Plow Company. In 1877 he re- 
turned to Canandaigua and with his son, E. C. Robinson, is now conducting the Robin- 
son Chilled Plow Works in the old manufactory, the only company now manufactur- 
ing plows that is not a stock organization. Mr. Robinson married in 1850 Jane Utter 
of Canandaigua, and they have three children ; Edson C, Mary S., wife of Rev. J. E. 
Werner of Haddonfield, N, J.; and Margaret, wife of Samuel Wood of Haddonfield, N. 
J. Mr. Robinson has always taken an active interest in political affairs in his town, 
and has twice been elected village trustee. Edson C. Robinson was born in Canan- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 157 

daigua, December 22, 1854, educated in Canandaigua Academy, and after serving two 
years as bookkeeper in his father's office, he joined his father in 1878 as partner in the 
Robinson Chilled Plow Company. He married, September 26, 1877, Kate Shaw of 
Rochester, and they have five children : Edson B., Ella Shaw, John M., Ray Utter and 
Leon Wood. Mrs. E. C. Robinson died December 9, 1892, age thirty-eight years. 

Randall, William, Farmington, was born in Warwickshire, Eng., in 1826, and came 
to the United States in 1851, locating in Farmington, where he has been a successful 
farmer. In October, 1852,' he married Dinah Ann Allen, who was born m Oxfordshire 
Eng., in 1830, and came here the same year. They have ten children : Edward, born 
in 1853; Frank, born in 1857; Cora, born in 1859; Durfee, born in 1861; Eliza, born 
in 1S63; Albert, born August 25, 1865; Herbert, born October 10, 1867; Wilkinson 
born in 1871; John, born in 1873; and Walter, born in 1855. Edward married 
Charlotte Jeffrey, and has three children: Florence, Herman and Mabel; Walter 
married Chloe Morris, and has three children : Grace, Gertie and Harriet ■ Frank 
married Mary Donahoe; Cora married Frederick Knowles, and has two children, Mary 
B. and William E.; Durfee married Marion Soule; Eliza married Henry Howland • 
Herbert married Ida Pardee; three are not married, Albert, Wilkinson and John. 
The father and sons are all farmers. The two youngest are farmers with their father 
at home. Mr. Randall has resided on the farm he owns twenty-one years. 

Riker, W. H., Hopevrell, was born in Cato, Cayuga county, August 15, 1839, a son 
of Henry L. Riker. December 18, 1861, he married Fannie E. Vorce, a native of Con- 
quest, Cayuga county, born June 3, 1842. She is a daughter of Harris and Minerva 
(Johnson) Vorce, natives of Dutchess county, who reared three children. His first wife 
was Fannie Spaulding. His father, Daniel Vorce, was a Quaker, and the family is of 
Holland extraction. Harris Vorce died August 2, 1873, aged seventy-one, and his 
wife February 26, 1888, in her seventy-first year. Mr. Riker and wife have one daugh- 
ter, Clara B., wife of W. H. Megaffee of Reed's Corners. They have one daughter, 
Leontine. Mr. Riker spent two years in gold mining and prospecting in Montana 
Idaho, and Utah, and in Salt Lake City during one of their conventions. He returned to 
Cayuga county, and spent two years, also one year in Ontario, and then removed to 
Iowa, where he engaged in farming and stock dealing. In 1874 he came to Hopewell 
and worked his father's farm five years. He then purchased 100 acres in Gorham and 
has since bought fifty acres in Hopewell. Mr. Riker is a Republican and has been dele- 
gate to State Conventions at Rochester and Albany. He now resides in his pleasant 
home in Chapinville. 

Redfield, Nathan, Farmington, was born June 1, 1834, in Livingston county, and 
came to Farmington with his parents when he was five years old. He was educated 
in the common schools and followed farming. December 9, 1857, he married Ruth, 
daughter of Burling and Hannah Hoag of this town, formerly of Greene county. They 
have no children, and own a good farm in the southern part of Farmington. Mr. 
Redfield's father, Ezra, was born in Hopewell, February 12, 1812. He moved to 
Steuben county, and married Lucy A. Bolster, who was born September 12, 1806. 
They had four sons: Nathan, William, Henry J. and George. Mrs. Redfield's father, 



158 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Burlinf^ Hoag, was born in Baltimore, Greene county, April 8, 1802, and married 
Hannah Bedell of his native place. They had four children : Benjamin C, Hannah 
B., Ruth 0. and Anna E. Mrs. Hoag was born December 1, 1801, and they came 
here from Albany. The railway extended no further in 1838. Mrs. Hoag resides with 
her dauf^hter, Mrs. Redfield, in her ninety-first year. Mrs. Redfield's father. Burling 
Hoag died in 1878. Mr. Redfield's father. Ezra Redfield, is still living in the town. 
His mother died October 14, 1851. Mr. Hoag's grandfather, Eli Nelson, was impressed 
in the British navy for seven years. Mr. Redfield's brother, George, was a soldier in 
the late war, and was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of service. Mr 
Redfield had been one of the assessors of this town eight years. 

Robson William, Gorham, was born in Northumberland, Eng., October 13, 1813, a 
son of James Robson, jr. He was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. 
January 24, 1842, he married Phoebe L. Sawtelle, a native of Gorham, born January 
23 1817 a daughter of Levi and Sarah Sawtelle, a native of Groton, Mass., and she of 
Hillsdale N. Y. They were for many years residents of Cayuga county, and reared 
one son and nine daughters. In 1815 Mr. Sawtelle came to Gorham and settled the 
farm now owned by subject, where he died in 1852, and his wife in 1858. They were 
members of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Sawtelle was for many years rul- 
ing elder. Mr. Robson at present owns 280 acres of land, a brick block in Gorham 
village, and also property in Canandaigua. He has made many improvements on this 
farm • among them are good tenant houses. Mr. Robson is a Republican but has 
always declined ofiice. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, of which 
Mr. Robson has been ruling elder for fifty years. 

Rhind, Duncan, Canandaigua, was born in Inverness, Scotland, January 14, 1851. 
His father was James Rhind, gardener for the McKintosh family, whose son, David, 
succeeded him in the same capacity. James Rhind had eight children, of whom Dun- 
can is the oldest son. He died in 1889. Duncan Rhind was reared a gardener and first 
worked for James Gordon, aftewards for Mr. Ellis, M. P., at Invergarry. He after- 
wards went to Closburn Hall in Dumfrieshire, and then to Drumlanrig Garden, the 
seat of the Duke of Buceleuch, where he was second foreman. In time he went to 
Edinburgh, where he was engaged in garden planning. Here he perfected his educa- 
tion as a horticulturist and landscape gardener. In April, 1875, Mr. Rhind came to 
America and was first employed as foreman for Mr. Kellie at Ellerslie, on the Hudson 
River the present seat of Vice-President Morton. Here he became noted as a plants- 
man, and after several years came to Canandaigua, and for six years was employed by 
F. F. Thompson. He became famous for growing large bunches of grapes. He was 
next employed as superintendent of Wanamaker's gardens in Philadelphia, where he 
made many improvements, and was also a short time with Alexander Brown of Torrys- 
dale. In 1885 he was awarded a medal by the Horticultural Society for growing the 
largest bunches of foreign grapes in Pennsylvania, and in 1886 took all the first pre- 
miums given by that society and was awarded a medal. In 1887 Mr. Rhind came to 
Canandaigua and purchased the Cassius Sutherland farm, where he has since resided. 
He devotes his attention to the breeding of graded Jerseys and the raising of fruits. He 
married Mary Louis, a native of Rochester, by whom he has one son, Louis D., a stu- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 159 

dent of Miss Gooding's private school in Canandaigua. Mr. Rhind has been a member 
of most of the important secret societies of this country. 

Eeed, George, of Hartland, Conn., came to tliis county in IS20, following with the rest 
of his family two sons who had come out earlier. He settled in Bristol. His wife was 
Nancy Bushnell of Connecticut, and they had five sons and five daughters. His son 
Uriel was born in Connecticut and came here with his father. He married Nancy 
Frost of Bristol about 1825, and there children were : Corintha J., Marietta, Nancy 
Annis, Ann Elizabeth (all deceased), Uriel J., George W., a farmer in Richmond. Uriel 
Jerome Reed was born August 21, 1832, in Bristol, and at ten years of age came with 
his parents to East Bloomfield and was educated at the common schools and at the 
Lima Seminary. He came to this town and settled on the State road east of the vil- 
lage in 1869, where he has a fine farm and a comfortable home. He married in 1856 
Martha A. Totman of Bristol, and they have three children : Homer J., born in 1860 a 
lawyer of Canandaigua ; Ettie A., wife of Dr. Louis R. Head of Madison, Wis. ; and 
Belle, at home with her parents. Mr. Reed has held the office of town assessor and in 
poHtics is a Republican. Mrs. Reed's father, Ira Totman, came from Luzerne, N. Y. 
to Bristol, and married in that town Nancy Gregg, whose grandfather came from Scot- 
land to Massachusetts. 

Reed, Family The. Philip Reed and his descendants have constituted a large portion 
of the inhabitants of Richmond. The oldest ancestor which can be traced is Jacob, who 
went from Saybrook, Conn., to Pawlet, Vt. J^hillf*)- 5ns son, came to Richmond with 
Lemuel Chipman (afterwards judge and congressman) and Dr. Cyrus Chipman, in June, 
1794, on a prospecting tour, and in February, 1795, he arrived with his wife and chil- 
dren, John Fitch, Silas and Wheeler, together with a slave girl, and Isaac Adams, his 
assistant. With Philip came the families of the Chipmans. Sleighing was good, and the 
trip was made in eighteen days. Philip was the owner of $3,000 and considered a rich 
man in those days. He bought in the western part of the town about 1,000 acres, to 
which he added later on, and gave each of his sons a farm. Squire Reed was a prom- 
inent man of the town. He built a grist-mill and a saw-mill. He was justice of the 
peace for many years and the first poormaster of the place. His wife was Margaret 
daughter of Colonel Fitch, one of the " Bennington Boys." After coming to Richmond 
they had three children : William Fitch, Philip 2d, and Alta Fitch. Mr. Reed built the 
first brick house in town, from brick and lime manufactured on the place. The com- 
pensation for the construction and painting was to be $400.00, of which $50 was to be 
paid in cash and the balance in " good cattle, wheat and pork," and a provision in the 
contract was that Reed should " board the contractor, Lewis Morey, and all the men 
he should employ, and to give each man during the time he should be employed two 
gills of whisky per day." The original contract is now in possession of Mrs. F. D. 
Short, who occupies the old house, which was built during the year 1803. Philip died 
in 1828 and his wife in 1833. Colonel John Fitch Reed, oldest child of Philip, was 
born in Pawlet, Vt., in 1782. He married Antha, daughter of Isaac Steele of New 
Hartford, Conn. Of their eight children, Wheeler 2d, Philip 3d, and John A. are living 
Wheeler 2d was born in 1811, educated at Canandaigua Academy and married in 1838 
Phila G. Wimple (who died in 1890) and settled on the farm he now occupies, a portion 



160 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

of his grandfather's purchase. He has eight children. Mr. Reed has been assessor 
many years and built the farmhouse now occupied by his son, Norman K., in 
1842. His son Almeron, a member of the First N. Y. Mounted Rifles, served in the 
war nearly three years. Mrs. Reed's father, Jacob Wimple, came from the Mohawk 
Valley and her grandfather, Dea. Nathaniel Harmon, came here from Vermont. He 
was a relative of the Chipmans. Norman Kellogg Reed, son of Wheeler 2d, born Sep- 
tember 19, 1848, was educated at Canandaigua Academy, and has always lived on the 
home farm. He is now owner with his father of that portion of the farm east of the 
road and his sister Emily W. owns that portion west of the road, where she and 
her father live. Norman K. married, in 1873, Caroline, daughter of Anson and Lucy 
Ann (Bowen) Arnold, and they have two children: Eugene Lawrence, born September 
11, 1878; and Irving, born September 27, 1880. Philip 3d, son of John F., was born 
November 1, 1813, and married, in 1837, Louisa Wemple, by whom he had one son, 
Henry Harrison. He married again in 1847, Emily Bostwick. Mr. Reed has been 
poormaster twenty-three years and commissioner of highways nine years. He resided 
on his father's farm until the age of thirty-four years, then purchased his present farm. 
He and his son have about 450 acres. Henry Harrison Reed, son of Philip 3d, was 
educated at Canandaigua Academy. He was born December 12, 1840, and married in 
1862 Elizabeth, daughter of Hiram Gooding. They have six children: Fred G., born 
in 184C. a commercial traveler ; Louise, born in 1867, an art teacher in De Mille College 
in Canada; Hallie; Philip 4th, born in 1874, a student at Lima; Murray E., born m 
1877- Florence W., born in 1878, and Roy, born in 1879. Deacon John Alexander 
Reed, son of John Fitch, was born October 12, 1826 ; attended East Bloomfield Acad- 
emy. He married in 1854, Mary Eveline Ashley, daughter of Noah Ashley 2d, and 
they have had eight children: Mary Eveline, born in 1855; Edwin, born in 1858, who 
at the age of twenty-one years traveled in the west and died in Dakota in 1880 ; Mar- 
tha born in 1800, now the wife of a Mr. Waterbury of Lansing, Mich. ; Anna L., born 
in 1863, now Mrs. Gilbert of Bristol; Frank A., born in 1865, married Violet Quick, 
and lives in Wichita, Kan. ; Augusta E., born in 1867; John F., born in 1869, now at 
Syracuse University ; F. William, born in 1871, and Robert F. andN. Raymond (twins), 
born in 1876. Mr. Reed owns 240 acres, of which 180 acres was the home farm of his 
father. His fine residence was erected in 1884, but the old house still stands. It was 
built in 1820. Samuel Palmes Reed was born February 17, 1827, and Charles Edward 
Reed was born August 17, 1839. Their father, William Fitch Reed, son of Philip 1st, 
was born in this town in 1800. He was educated at East Bloomfield Academy, and 
married Amelia C, daughter of Andrew Palmes, who came in 1820 from Litchfield 
county, Conn., but was a native of New London, and a Revolutionary soldier. He 
died in this town in 1846 aged ninety-one years. William F. had seven children: 
Caroline A., Samuel P., Theodosia, Martha, Edward, Charles E., Frances W., of whom 
only Samuel and Charles are now living. William F. was a farmer, and was supervisor 
during 1839-49 and 1857-58. He was commissioned by Gov. De Witt Clinton second 
lieutenant of cavalry in the Twelfth Regiment. He had of his father, Philip, 220 acres, 
and built a fine house in 1827, now occupied by the sons. He died in 1862 and his 
Avife in 1877. His son Samuel P. was educated at Lima Academy and Canandaigua Acad- 



^ FAMILY SKETCHES. 161 

emy, and taught school several years. He has never married, and has lived on the farm 
with his brother, Charles E. The latter was educated at Lima Seminary. He enlisted in 
the One Hundred and Forty-eighth N. Y. Vols., in 18G2 as a private. He was on de- 
tached duty as a sharpshooter part of the time, and was appointed first lieutenant. He 
was in several engagements about Richmond, and commanded his company (G) at the 
close of the war. In 1867 he married Amelia B. Wells of Michigan. Her grandfather 
was an early settler of this town. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have had four children : James 
Wells, born in 1870; George Pitts, born in 1873; Caroline A., born in 1875; Lizzie 
AL, born in 1884. Mr. Reed was supervisor in 1873-74-75-76, and is now (1892) fill- 
ing that position. He is a Republican. Philip 2d, youngest child of Philip 1st, was 
born in the brick house erected by his father in 1806, and died their -October 18, 1857. 
He married Betsey, daughter of Levi Blackmer in 1827, and their children were ; Gid- 
eon Pitts, born in 1828, died in 1853 ; Almon Clark, born in 1831, died in 1854; Henry 
Gilbert, born in 1836, died in 1877 ; Albert Stevens, born in 1839, is now in California; 
Thomas Richmond, born in 1841; Alice Eliza (died in 1861) and Adelaide Elizabeth 
(twins), born in 1845. The latter is now Mrs. Fayette D. Short, and resides in the old 
brick house. 

Ray, Oscar Fitzallen, Canadice, was born in Springwater, Livingston county, March 
6, 1841. His grandfather, John, a native of New Hampshire, came from Virginia with 
his wife and six children in a one-horse wagon to Richmond. One of his sons was 
John, jr., the father of Oscar. After teaching school several winters, and working on 
the farm summers, he married Hannah C. Bishop, of Richmond, and they had eight 
children, four of whom survive : Martha, wife of Homer Johnson of this town ; Bar- 
zillai, a farmer in Michigan ; Richmond, in Springwater; and Oscar F. The latter was 
educated in home district school and Lima Seminary, taught school winters and worked 
on his father's farm summers. In 1866 he married Sarah Thompson, of Springwater, 
and settled on the Dr. Austin farm, located in the southern part of Canadice. They 
have two daughters: Mary Arabelle, born in 1874, and Marion, born in 1880. Mr. Ray 
farms 375 acres, and is especially interested in stock raising — horses and Merino sheep, 
keeping a flock of about 200 sheep. He has been assessor seven years, was supervisor 
in 1877-78-79, and is an active Republican. In response to a request from the Na- 
tional Committee that suggestions be sent to them for some new and improved method 
of selecting delegates for national conventions, among those sent in was the following 
plan by Mr. Ray: "Let there be a convention called in each congressional district, said 
convention to be composed of a certain number of delegates from each assembly dis- 
trict within such congressional district ; the congressional district convention to elect 
two delegates and two alternates for the national convention and nominate an elec- 
tor. Also three delegates and three alternates for a state convention that shall have 
the power to elect delegates at large and their alternates." A report was adopted 
without discussion embracing all of Mr. Ray's recomrflendationp, thereby largely doing 
away with ring rule. All the family are Methodists. Mrs. Ray's grandfather, Isaac 
Bishop, soon after coming to Richmond, this county, was aiding at the raising of a barn, 
when a bent fell and pinned two men down. The other was killed. Mr. Bishop 
was held by the neck, but a pin prevented the whole force of the blow from him, yet 



162 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

his injury was such that, though he recovered physically, he was never able to 
speak fully his thought, though he would understand when others spoke the word he 
lacked. 

Rose, Edward, Geneva, was born in Geneva, December 24, 1841, educated in the 
public schools, and is a natural mechanic, but his eye-sight failing, caused him to aban- 
don that vocation. February 16, 1892, he married Anna E. Abbot, of East Canaan, 
Conn. Mr. Rose's father, Sherman H., was born in Canaan, Conn., Novembers, 1797, 
and October 11, 1820, he married Mary S. Lewis, of his native place, born April 16, 
1798, and they had six children, who grew to maturity: Miles L., born September 24. 
1822; Norman W., born February 13, 1827 ; Charles S., born October 13, 1832 ; Cor- 
nelia W., born October 18, 1835 ; William A., born April 28, 1839; and Edward. Mrs. 
Rose's father, Henry Abbot, was born January 25, 1817, and married Elizabeth Loomis, 
who was born near Barrington, Mass., in 1818. They had nine children. Mrs. Rose's 
oldest brother served in Company H, Second Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. Mr. Rose's 
brother served in the Twenty-sixth Iowa Volunteers. 

Reynolds, R. T., dentist, 27 Seneca street; residence 155 South Main street, Ge- 
neva, N. Y. 

Suydam, Hiram Lloyd, Geneva, was born in Geneva, April 26, 1822. He was edu- 
cated in the common schools, and at the age of eight years worked in the Geneva 
Woolen Factory, afterward at Big Stream, where he remained three years. In 1833 he 
learned the tailor's trade, but only followed it two years. He then learned the harness 
trade, which he followed five years. In 1841 his mother bought the property on Ex- 
change street, known now as the International Hotel, and conducted a bakery, he at- 
tending to the business and his mother to matters in the house. In 1848 a confec- 
tionery business was added, also a partner, A. T. Randolf, with teams on the road with 
crackers, candies and cigars. This was discontinued after three years. In 1853 he be- 
gan to conduct a restaurant called '' The Gem," which was quite noted. Mr. Suydam 
retired from business in 1872. May 15, 1861, the Thirty-third Infantry was organized, 
and Mr. Suydam became its regimental quartermaster, but resigned after four months' 
service. After retiring from business he devoted his time to painting and studying the 
Scriptures. He has married three times, first April 12, 1842, Eliza Easter, who was 
born in England, and they had a son, Aldred, who died at the age of seven months 
Mrs. Suydam died January 24, 1846, and he married second, February 24, 1847, Eliza- 
beth Hayward, of Geneva, also born in England, and they had five children: William 
H., Grant L., Frederick W., Louisa I., and Anna T., who married Dr. Allen, of Gorham. 
Mrs. Suydam died October 4, 1884. For his third wife, on November 12, 1885, he 
married Addie Burns, of Geneva, who was born at Ovid, Seneca county. Mr. Suydam 
has lost all of his family, except one daughter and his present wife. The crowning 
work of his life is upon the " Chart of the Ages," showing forth the fact that we shall 
be all saved through the two Adams. 

Shekell, Richard H., Hopewell, was born in Manchester, May 25, 1809, a son of Ben- 
jamin, who was a native of Maryland. The latter married in Frederick county, Md., a 
Miss Simmons and they reared seven children. About 1803 he and family (excepting 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 163 

two daughters who married in Maryland) came to Clifton Springs. lie gave a lot for 
the First M. E. Church of that place, and land for the first cemetery. lie died at Clif- 
ton Springs in 1822. His first wife died in Maryland. His second wife, Mary Burgess, 
died in Hopewell, leaving a daughter, Mary. Benjamin was born in Maryland in 1773. 
In 1179 he came to Clifton Springs, where he followed his trade of carpentry. His 
first work was on old Oaks Stand and Geneva Hotel. The same year he returned to 
Maryland, passing on his way the churches where the funeral of George Washington 
were being conducted. In 1800 he came back to Clifton Springs again and spent the 
remainder of his life. By his wife, Ann Jones, he had nine children, six of whom grew 
to maturity. He died in 1849, and his wife about 1859. Richard H. Shekell, his only 
son, was educated in the common schools and also the select schools of Phelps, under 
Professor Kniffin. He married EHzabeth Cost of Manchester, by whom he had two 
daughters. Mrs. Shekell died in 1844, and in 1845 subject married Lucretia Cost, sister 
of his first wife, by whom he had eight children. Mr. Shekell's surviving children are: 
Mrs. M. A. Archer, of Clifton Springs ; Mrs. Cornelia L. Osgood, of Rochester ; Mrs. 
Hattie E. Warner, of Canandaigua, and Henry C, who was born in 1848, is a farmer, 
and has been twice married, first to Marcelia Stillwell and second to Cynthia Aldridge, 
by whom he had one son, Richard. Mr. Shekell is an active member of the M. E. 
Church. 

Shepperd, George B., Phelps, one of six children (four now living) of Benjamin and 
Eurania M. (Westfall) Shepperd, was born in Phelps January 29, 1863. John Shep- 
perd, the grandfather, was born in New Jersey, and emigrated to Phelps about 1799, 
and settled on the farm where George B. was born He was a soldier of the War of 
1812. George B. is one of the representative young men of the town, having served 
the town as supervisor for the year 1891. 

Sadler, William Heary, Canandaigua, was born in Gloucestershire, England, July 19, 
1830, and came to this country in 1863, locating first at Whitestown, L. I., where he 
was engaged in the Jo^n D. Lock Tin Manufactory. He learned the trade of making 
hollow ware in Birmingham, England, where he spent nme years. July 19, 1864, he 
moved from Long Island to Aurora, Cayuga county, where he was employed in the 
manufacture of reapers and mowers. Mr. Sadler was selected first steward of the Wells 
College, and Mrs. Sadler was housekeeper. He resigned this position in 1870, and for 
seven years supplied the College, Military Academy, hotels, etc., with milk. He sold 
his interest in the milk farm, and bought a meat market there which he conducted for 
five years. During this time he built two residences, and in 1881 he sold these places 
and bought the old Exchange Hotel in Auburn, changing the name to Sadler's Hotel. 
He also conducted a coal yard in Auburn, handling from 1,200 to 1,500 tons per year. 
He spent nearly ten years in the hotel business and in April, 1891, traded his property 
in Auburn for the farm of 213 acres, where he is now located, exchanging with Horace 
M. Drake. Since coming here Mr. Sadler has made many improvements, new buildings, 
setting new orchard, etc. Mr. Sadler had always been a Republican up to Cleveland's 
time, when he became a Democrat, and has been many times selected as delegate to 
conventions, etc. He married in England, in 1852, Maria Anna Green, and they have 



1G4 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

had five children : Harry T. is on the farm with his parents ; Frederick W. spent ten 
years as inspector of watches at Elgin, and is now a land agent in Elgin, 111.; Walter 
Lincoln is in the watch factory, as is also the youngest son, Albert Edward. The only 
daughter, Carrie C, wife of Dan Brown, of Elgin, died November 18, 1886, aged 
thirty-one years. Frederick William's wife was a great-niece of General U. S. Grant. 
Tiieir beautiful place is called the " Hillsdale farm." 

Steele, Henry M., East Bloomfield, a native of East Bloomfield, wa? born February 
7, 1835. His father, Nathaniel, was a son of Joel Steele, a native of Connecticut, who 
came to East Bloomfield about 1789, and bought a large tract of land. He built a saw- 
mill and carried on an extensive lumber trade here and in Northern Michigan. He also 
controlled a bank in Montreal. Nathaniel was born in East Bloomfield in 1800, and 
married Clara Gunn, born March 30, 1808, a daughter of Linus Gunn, a native of Berk- 
shire, Mass., born in 1780, who came to East Bloomfield and there married Esther Bron- 
son, born January 7, 1783, by whom he had three sons and one daughter. He died June 
2, 1848, and his wife March 28, 1876, at the age of ninety-three years. Nathaniel Steele 
had three sons : Henry M., Linus G. and Charles E., of whom subject is the only one 
living. Mr. Steele was a contractor at the building of the Erie canal, and later became 
a farmer. He died in 1865, and his wife in 1888. Henry M. was reared on the farm 
he now owns and educated in East Bloomfield Academy, Rochester University, and grad- 
uated from Gregory's Business College of Detroit in 1855. He was a foreman in a 
steam saw-mill at St. Clair, Mich., for three years, and then returned to New York and 
has since followed general farming, owning 125 acres. December 22, 1874, he married 
Frances E. Howard, a native of Rochester, a daughter of John and Emily (Hubbell) 
Howard, of Hull, England, and Canajoharie, respectively, who had three daughters and 
a son. The latter died in Arizona. Mr. Howard was a boot and shoe dealer and came 
from England when a young man. He died in 1871 and his wife resides in Canandai- 
gua. The children of subject and wife are : Cora H., Clara G., Emily H. and Agnes H. 
Mr. Steele is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Congregational Church 
of East Bloomfield. Linus G., brother of subject, married Sarah Crittenden of Canan- 
daigua, and had four children. He was a Knight Templar, a Mason and a member and 
one of the organizers of Batavia Lodge. He died in October, 1888. Charles E. Steele 
married Agne?, daughter of Henry W. Hamlin. For nine years he was postal clerk 
from Rochester to Niagara Falls, and from Rochester to Syracuse ; he founded the 
banking house of Hamlin & Steele of East Bloomfield, and there remained until his 
death, March 27, 1885. 

Sutherland, Spencer J., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua on the farm now 
owned by H. O. Parks, April 7, 1857, a son of Thompson and Polly L. (Sutherland) 
Sutherland. Subject was educated in Canandaigua Academy under Prof. Clarke, and 
assisted on his father's farm until 1880, when he bought a farm of 150 acres, part of the 
Sutherland homestead farm, which is used as a stock and grain farm. Mr. Sutherland 
is also in partnership with his father in wool dealing. He married in 1879, Mary, 
daughter of Spencer Bancroft, a farmer of Hopewell. They have two children: Helen 
F. and Floyd Thompson. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 165 

Sheldon, H. E., Geneva, was born in Attica in 1858, and in 1883 came to Geneva and 
established the Star Bottling Works, and is a manufacturer of soda and other light 
drinks, having the largest business of the kind in Geneva. In 1888 he married Cath- 
arine A. Ford. Mr. Sheldon is a son of Horace and Hannah Sheldon, of Attica, Wyom- 
ing county. 

Salter, Hugh Sinclair, Canadice, was born in Alexandria, N. J., November 1, 1827. 
He came here first in 1847, and then worked by the month on a farm in Sprinjjwater. 
He married there Harriet Adelia Chaprr an, who was born in Independence, Allegany 
county, in 1832, the daughter of Amos Chapman, a Christian minister, and the founder 
of that church in Springwater. He died in 1841, aged fifty -four years. The father of 
Hugh was Matthias, a son of James Salter, a Revolutionary soldier, who lived and died 
in New Jersey. Hugh and his wife have had three sons, and all are now living: Aus- 
tin S., born July 22, 1851, lives in Wayland ; John R., born June 25, 1853, is a farmer 
in this town; and Frank M., born in June, 1857, is also a farmer here. Mr. Salter's 
farm of 100 acres is located in the southern part of the town. He is a Republican, and 
has been assessor six years. Mr. Salter is a member of the Christian church. 

Spangle, Willett M.. Canandaigua, was born in Seneca, November 18, 1850, a son of 
Zachariah, a jeweler of Canandaigua. Until fifteen years of age he made his home with 
his parents in Seneca Castle, who kept a hotel there at the time of his birth, and on 
their removal here he entered Canandaigua Academy. After leaving school he acted 
as clerk with E. Wenenbeck, with whom he remained twelve years. In 1882 he 
formed a co-partnership with F. W. Kinde in the clothing and merchant tailoring busi- 
ness, which existed until 1891, when Mr. Spangle sold his interest to Mr. Kinde and 
bought the furnishing goods store of C. H. Maggs, adding to it the ready-made 'cloth- 
ing and merchant tailoring business. Mr. Spangle is one of the leading merchants of 
the town, and carries a large stock of ready-made clothing, men's furnishing goods, 
trunks, bags, etc. His store is located at 208 Main street, and occupies two floors. He 
married in 1875 Anna A. Godfrey of Geneva. In 1889 Mr. Spangle was elected mem- 
ber of the village council, and in 1890 became president of the village. He is a mem- 
ber of Canandaigua Lodge, No. 236, I. 0. 0. F., in which he has been Noble Grand a 
a number of times. 

Schlick, Major Peter, Canandaigua, was born in Rhine, Bavaria, Germany, February 
24, 1832, and came to this country in 1851. He located the next year in this town, 
and has ever since been a resident, with the exception of about three years spent in 
Seneca Falls. He is a bookbinder by trade, and conducts a bindery on Coy street, in 
the Messenger building, where he does all styles of binding. In August, 1852, Mr. 
Schlick enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-eighth N. Y. Yols. as first sergeant, and 
was with this regiment at Suffolk, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Yorktown, etc. In February, 
1804, Mr. Schlick was commissioned first lieutenant of the Thirty-eighth U. S. C. T., 
and in April of the same year he was promoted to the captaincy of Company D, same 
regiment, by General Butler. With this regiment he was at City Point, at Petersburg, 
Second Battle of Fair Oaks, and all the late engagements before Richmond; and then 
he received the appointment of major of the Twenty- second U. S. C. T. for gallantry 



166 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

in the engagement at New Market Heights, October 21, 1864. He was mustered out 
under general orders November 24, 1865, in Texas, and returned home. Mr. Schlick 
married in October, 1853, and has eight children: Henry R., Peter E., Elizabeth, Sarah 
M., Minnie V., Frederick J., Agnes and William L. Mr. Schlick and family are mem- 
bers of the Catholic church of Canandaigua, and he is also a member of Murray Post 
No. 162, G. A. R. 

Sackett, Frederick A., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, January 30, 1818. 
Augustine, father of Frederick A., was born on the farm cleared by his great-grand- 
father m Warren, Conn., April 24, 1789, and was the son of Homer, one of twelve 
ch'ldren. He taaght district school at the age of nineteen, though he did not follow it 
up. In April, 1812, he settled in East Bloomfield, wliere he remained nineteen months, 
then bought a farm in company wiih his brother Theron in Canandaigua. The next 
year he returned to Connectic it and married Arze, daughter of Piatt Starr, born in 
Warren, June 11, 1793. They returned to Canandaigua, and in 1825 erected the 
Sackett homestead, now occupied by fl. N. Day. Mr. Sackett rose from the ranks of 
the State militia to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of a regiment of State troops. He 
served as assessor and school commissioner. He had eight cliildren : Sarah L., who 
died January 7, 1846, aged thirtv-one years; Henry A., who died April 2\ 1884, aged 
sixty -four years; George B., died November 1, 1890 (born in 1824) ; Mary E., widow 
of J. S. Cooley, of Canandaigua; Martha J., widow of Rev. George Barr, of Virginia; 
Julia M., of Ca landaigua; Rev. Darius C, born December 7, 1839, died February 10, 
1871 ; and Frederick A. Col. Augustine Sackett died December 6, 1883, and Mrs. 
Sackett died November 20, 1871. The whole life of our subject, with the exception of 
two years spent in Ohio, has been passed in this town. He was educated at the acad- 
emy, and lived with his parents until December, 1840, wr.en he went to Ohio, and two 
years later returned. June 19, 1848, he married Mary, daughter of Charles Cassort, of 
Canandaigua, and a year later bought 142 acres in East Bloomfield. This he sold after 
two years, and lived on the Cassort farm a number of years. In 1858 he bought 142 
acres in Canandaigua of William Reed, who built the residence in 1844. This is one of 
the landmarks of the old-style Gothic architecture, and is built of stone. Mr. Sackett 
has also made many improvements on the place, which is devoted mainly to grain, hay 
and stock. Mr. and Mrs. Sackett have one son, Charles C, the present supervisor of 
Canandaigua. Charles Cassort, father of Mrs. Sackett, was born in Cayuga county. 
May 3, 1792. His father, James, was a native of New Jersey, of French extraction. 
His mother, Elizabeth Suydam, was a native of New Jersey, and of Holland descent. 

Smith, Edward, Geneva, was born near Canterbury, County Kent, England, March 
18, 1822. He attended for a short time their National school, and came to the United 
States with his brother Thomas when fifteen years old. At the age of twenty- one he 
went back to England and returned with his mother, two brothers and two sisters to 
America. The brothers, after some time, embarked in the nursery business with much 
succe-s. After twenty-one years Edward withdrew from the original concern and 
went into business with his sons, Charles E. and Nelson C, conducting a nursery and 
fruit business, having several large orchards and vineyards at Geneva, also in the town 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 167 

of Ovid, Seneca county, and the town of Hector, Schuyler county, lying along the east 
shores of Seneca Lake. In 1854 he married Adelaide, oldest daughter of George and 
Mary Catchpole, of Geneva, and they had five sons and five daughters Frankhn R., 
Edvirard L., Mary E., Charles E., Nelson C, Martha A., Annie A., William A., and 
Gertrude and Gracie (twins). Four died : Edward L., Gertrude, Gracie and Martha A. 
Franklin married lola J. Rider, and has three children : Edna M., Leon R. and Harold 
F. Nelson C. married Mary C. Dove, of Geneva. Mrs. Smith died August 19, 1889. 

Southworth, Dr. Sajnruel, Geneva, was a native of Vermont, but came a young medi- 
cal practitioner to New York, living for a time at Angelica and Dansville, and locating 
permanently at Geneva about the year 1825. He was twice married, his first wife be- 
ing Margaret Van Campen, by whom he had two children ; and his second wife being 
Clarissa, widow of Joel Rice. The children of the second marriage were: Samuel, jr , 
and Martha Southworth. Samuel, jr., the subject of this sketch, was born October 11, 
1828. He early became clerk in a store, but at the age of sixteen went to sea on a 
sperm whaling voyage, and on his return worked for six years in the Geneva post- 
office. In 1855 he became clerk in the Bank of Geneva, and thereafter advanced to 
the position of teller, and later to cashier, holding the latter until 1868, when he re- 
signed and engaged in private banking, and the management of an extensive insurance 
business of which he then became proprietor, and both of which he has ever since 
conducted successfully. In 1851 Mr. Southworth married Ansley Louisa Evans, by 
whom he has had two children. In politics Mr. Southworth is a firm Democrat, and 
has held the office of supervisor and president of the village. 

Smith, Thomas, Geneva, was born in Kent county, Eng., in 1820, and in 1837 came 
to America and located in Geneva, where he bought twenty-five acres of land and 
carried on market gardening. In 1846 he with his brothers established their nurser- 
ies, commencing in a small way, and now has the largest nurseries in the county. He 
has GOO acres of land, and over 250 is devoted to the nursery business. His brothers, 
William and Edward, were associated with him. In 1803 Edward retired. Mr. 
Smith is also a member of several other firms : The T. Smith & Co. Bending Works, 
is president of the Geneva Optical Companiy, president of the Geneva Accident In- 
surance Company, also president of the Baltimore Retort and Fire Brick Company 
of Baltimore. 

Simmons, Charles R., Bristol, was born in Bristol, November 13, 1854, a son of E. 
W. Simmons, M.D , of Canandaigua. Charles R. was reared in Canandaigua, and 
educated at the Canandaigua Academy. When twenty years of age he went to Iowa, 
and for six years followed farming. He then returned to Bristol ; he now owns a fartn 
of seventy-five acres. February 8, 1877, he married Hattie M. Smith of Bristol, aa 
adopted daughter of Philetus Smith, whose father, Daniel Smith, was one of the first 
settlers of the town. They have had five children, four of whom died in infancy. 
Warren S. is the only one living. Mr. Simmons is a Republican. 

Simmons, Henry C, Canandaigua, was born in Richmond, Ontario county, August 1_ 
1840. The grandfather, Richmond, was born in Massachusetts. He had four sons : 
Sardis, George, Richmond, Elnathan W., and five daughters. Sardis, the father of our 



168 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

subject, was bora in Bristol, June 22, 1805. When thirty-five years of age he moved 
on a farm in Richmond, where he died m March, 1899. Fie married Jane L. Jones of 
Bristol, and they had four children, three of whom are living: Robert B., a 
farmer of Richmond ; Charles W., a merchant of Allen's Hill in Richmond ; and 
Henry C. The early life of our subject was spent in Richmond. He was 
educated in Nunda Valley, East Bloomfield, and Canandaigua Academies, and 
October 4, 1861, enlisted in the Eighty-fifth N. Y. Vols., serving one year, and was 
discharged October 27, 1862, for disability. During this year he ^vas in the battles of 
Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, Chapin's Farm, and at the Seven Days fight, 
December 31, 1863, Mr. Simmons re-enlisted in the Fiftieth N. Y. Engineers and 
served with them until the close of the war, being discharged June 19, 1865, at Elmira. 
He returned to Ontario county and engaged in farming at West Bloomfield, where he 
lived until 1873. He lived in Bristol one year, and in March, 1874, bought a farm of 
136 acres in Canandaigua, where he has since lived. He married November 15, 1865, 
Adliza, daughter of Albert Treat of Bristol, and they ha-^e one son, Ralph M., a farmer 
of Canandaigua. Mrs. Simmons died September 28, 1878, and he married secbndi 
March 1, 1881, Mary M., daughter of Isaac Abby of Richmond, and widow of Richard 
Leach of West Bloomfield. 

Sutherland, Thompson, Canandaigua, was born in Columbia county, November 16, 
1831. The origin of this family dates back to five brothers who came from Scotland 
early in the eighteenth century. The grandfather of subject, David, was born in 
Dutchess county previous to the war of the Revolution. His wife was Deborah Husted, 
and they had five sons and four daughters. William was the third son. He was born 
December 12, 1800. His early life was spent in Columbia county, where he followed 
farming until 1833, when he came to Ontario county, shipping his goods and family 
by the canal, and driving his team on the tow-path. He bought a farm in Canandaigua, 
adding thereto until at one time he owned about GOO acres. Early in the forties he 
engaged in speculation in beef and pork in Chicago, and returned from that city in 
February, 1844, on horseback. He was engaged in speculation of different kinds, 
mostly wool and stock, in which he was very successful, and accumulated a vast prop- 
erty, starting under opposition from his native country. He was a Republican, and 
died January 26, 1889. He married, in 1828, Sarah Thompson of Stamford, Delaware 
county, and they had five children, all of whom were born on the old homestead except 
Thompson. Mrs. Sutherland died in 1871, and he married second, in 1873, Mrs. Jo- 
sephine P. Mesick of Michigan, who died January 18, 1883. Thompson was educated 
in the common schools and Canandaigua Academy, and has been engaged in farming 
and speculation in wool and stock. He has always made his home on the old farm 
until April, 1892, when he removed to the village. He married in 1855 Polly L., 
daughter of Josiah Sutherland, and they have two children living : Spencer J., of the 
old homestead, and Walter Thompson, who lives at home. The second child, John 
W., died December 2, 1880, aged twenty-one years. 

Spangle, Zachariah, Canandaigua, was born in Hopewell, December 30, 1820, a son 
of John, and grandson of Zachariah. The family is of German descent. Three 



. FAMILY SKETCHES. 169 

brothers, John, Jacob and Zachariab Spangle, Hved near Selin's Grove, Pa., and 
Zachariah moved into Seneca county about 1805, where he remained but one year 
when he came to Hopewell, one of the earliest settlers there. He had four sons and 
two daughters, the sons being George, Jacob, John and Simon. John, the father of 
subject, was born in 1798, and from the time his parents moved into Hopewell he 
always made that town his home. He married in 1818 Catherine, daughter of John 
Price, who was even an earlier settler than Mr. "Spangle, and they had six children, 
four of whom survive : Zachariah, Philip, and Simon of Hopewell, and Mary E. Fisher 
of Canandaigua. The early life of our subject was spent in the towns of Hopewell and 
Seneca, where he followed farming. In 1862 he engaged as a commercial traveler, 
and followed this until 1884. In 1866 he moved into Canandaigua, and when he left 
the road in 1884, he, with his sou Edward, established the jewelry and repairing store 
they are now conducting. Mr. Spangle married in 1843 Lavina Hipolite, by whom he 
had three children : Wilson J., Marion Willett, and Isabelle, wife of Daniel Roswell. 
Mrs. Spangle died in 1855, and he married second Amanda Duygan, and they had two 
children : Edward, and Clara C, wife of Stanley Worth. Mrs. Spangle died in 1865, 
and he married his present wife, Myra Dibble. 

Sadler, John F., Farmington, was born in the town of Phelps, September 28. 1845. 
He was educated in the common schools and the Union School of Phelps. For several 
years he followed the trade of carriagemaking and blacksmithing. March 10, 1873, he 
married Diantha C, daughter of John and Caroline Macumber of Farmington, who was 
born in Mendon, Monroe county. They have had two children : Minnie L., who is 
now a school teacher, residing at home, and Edna, who died in infancy. Mr. Sadler has 
been justice of the peace eleven years, and a resident of the town seventeen years. 
His father, Winslow, was born in the town of Ashfield, Mass., in 1815, and came to 
Phelps with his parents when a child at the age of three years. His father died, and 
his mother returned to their old home. He married Louisa C. Allen, formerly of Massa- 
chusetts, and they had three children : Aretus A., John F., and Myra S. Mr. Sadler's 
father died December 31, 1890, and his mother September 13, 1871. His grandfather, 
Aretus, was born in Massachusetts in 1790. In 1813 he married Naomi Rogers, form- 
erly of Massachusetts. Her grandfather. Captain John Rogers, was burnt at the stake 
by the Indians. They had one son, Winslow. Mr. Sadler has a whale-bone plaited 
rope that has been willed down in successive generations, that came, or was brought 
over, on the Mayfloiuer through the Roger family. Mrs. Sadler's father, John Macum- 
ber, was born in Farmington, February 20, 1821. He married in April, 1845, Caroline 
Payne, and had two children : Diantha C, and Albert P., now of Manchester. Mrs. 
Sadler's mother was the daughter of Elisha Payne. 

Schutt, Willis J., Manchester, was born March 31, 1864, in Manchester. He is a 
descendant of a Revolutionary family, whose members have been prominent in the 
local and political offices of this State for generations. Willis J. received a good educa- 
tion in the schools of this town, since which he has been engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits. He has a fine farm of 103 acres located near Port Gibson, upon which he lives. 
He is a staunch Republican in politics and has filled some local town offices such as 



170 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

inspector of elections, pathmaster, etc. He married Lula B. Miller, and they have one 
daughter. 

Smith, Mack S., Canandaigua, was born in Farmington, August 14, 1854, a son of 
Lindiey W., a prominent farmer of that town, who was elected several terms to the 
office of justice of sessions. Lindiey W. Smith was a civil engineer and surveyor, 
which he followed in connection with his farm duties until 1862. In 1863 he relin- 
quished farming and was appointed to a position in the Pension Department at Wash- 
ington, which he filled for five years. He died at Chapinville, March 8, 1878. His 
wife was Caroline E. Spalding, who died March 19, 1887. They had four children, of 
whom Mack S. is the sole survivor. The boyhood of Mack S. Smith was spent on the 
homestead farm. When he was twelve years of age his parents moved to the village 
of Canandaigua, where he was educated in the Canandaigua Academy, and at the age 
of nineteen he was engaged as clerk in the First National Bank of Canandaigua, with 
which he remained for six and one-half years, then bought out the book store of Ira 
D. Durgy, which he conducted about eight months, but was obliged to give that busi- 
ness up on account of tailing health. In October, 1882, he engaged with McKechnie & 
Company, bankers, as teller. He has ever since been located in this bank. In 1884 he 
was appointed assistant cashier, and after the death of Mr. Denbow, which occurred 
February 6, 1890, he was appointed cashier, and has ever since filled that position. Mr. 
Smith married, January 1, 1885, Nettie Roberts of Phelps. 

Simmons, Byron S., East Bloomfield, a native of Bristol, was born December 23, 
1835, a son of Richmond Simmons, who was also a son of Richmond, a native of Massa- 
chusetts. ' The latter came to Bristol and settled on three hundred acres of land, on 
which he built a log house. He was a prominent man and a leading farmer. He mar- 
ried Eleanor Sears, and had four sons and six daughters. He died in Bristol in 1845, 
and his wife in 1866. Richmond, jr., was born in Bristol, June 11, 1806. In 1828 he 
married Hannah R. Wheeler, a native of East Bloomfield, born November 17, 1809, 
and a daughter of Benjamin D. Wheeler. Their four children were : Caroline M., wife 
of Freeman Crandle, a farmer of Livingston county, Mich. ; Benjamin W., a soldier in 
the late war who received a wound while on picket duty, from which he died ; Byron 
S., and Sabra A., deceased wife of Harrison Marble, of West Bloomfield. Mr. Sim- 
mons was a farmer, and a Democrat in politics. He died February 11, 1802. Mrs. 
Simmons then married Calvin Wheeler of Michigan, in which place they lived five 
years. Since the death of Mr. Wheeler in 1882, Mrs. Wheeler has resided with her 
son, Byron S. The latter was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. 
November 22, 1864, he married Emma A. Gooding of Bristol, a daughter of Seymour 
H. Gooding, a son of William C. Gooding, a native of Dighton, Mas=., and an early set- 
tler of Canandaigua. Seymour H. married Emily Phillips, and had three daughters and 
one son. Mr. Gooding died in 1870, and his wife in 1869. Subject and wife have had 
two daughters : Florence G., wife of Rev. F. E. Hoyt of North Dakota, who has one 
child, Alice. Mrs. Hoyt was many years a school teacher, and graduated from the 
State Normal School at Geneseo in 1889. Alice E., her sister, graduated from the 
same school in 1892, and is at present a teacher in Allegany county. Mr. Simmons is 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 171 

a farmer, and in 18G8 came to East Bloomfield and purchased seventy-five acres, where 
he has since resided. He makes a specialty of fruit raising, and is perhaps the largest 
plum grower in the county. He is a Democrat, and has been assessor twelve years. 
He is a member of Canandaigua Lodge F. A. M. 

Simonds, Albert, Victor, was born in Enfield, Grafton county, N. H., October 13, 
1808, and came with his parents to Troy, N. Y., when he was about four years old. 
He was educated m the district schools, and for a time resided with a Mr. Hawkins, a 
brother-in-law of his, afterwards he became a clerk in a general store of Poland. Sep- 
tember 7, 1832, he came by stage to Victor, and was a clerk in Nathan Jenks's store 
for five years. In 1837 he be^an business on his own account, and bought the goods 
of his former employer, and had several partners as the years passed by, his name al- 
ways appearing at the head of the company until 1884. Mr. Simonds lives a retired 
life, enjoying a competency, after an active, honest business career. He has married 
twice, first in January, 1835, to Electa Hubbell of this town, formerly of the town of 
Canandaigua. They had four children: Albert B., died at the age of four years ; Har- 
riet E., who married Orin S. Bacon ; Burton, who married Nellie D. Root of this town, 
and died July 11, 1882 ; and Henry, who married Janet Wright of Victor and is a mer- 
chant in Canandaigua. Mrs. Simonds died November 19, 1844, and he married second, 
on August 20, 1846, Caroline, daughter of Calvm and Cornelia M. (Roberts) Mansfield 
of the town of Mendon, and they have three children : Mary J., who married Gilbert 
Turner; George, who married Jessie M. Clark; and C. Lewis, who married Bertha M. 
French ; both sons succeeded to their father's business. Mr. S'monds joined the 
Congregational church in 1837 and was elected church clerk. In 1858 the church be- 
came Presbyterian, at which time he was elected a ruling elder, deacon and clerk of the 
session and has remained in office up to the present time. Mrs. Simonds is also a mem- 
ber. The following is a tribute to Mr. Simonds from a neighbor : He is a character of 
singular purity and uprightness, and a man of strict integrity and honor. 

Simpson, M. K., Geneva, was born in Orange county Septembers, 1829. He learned 
the carriage maker's trade and in March, 1857, came to Geneva where he has since 
resided. He had a carriage shop for nine years, and August 7, 1862, enlisted in Com- 
pany E, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth N. Y. Vols., and was mustered out June 6, 
1865. He was mostly on detached duty, and was in the battles of Bolivar and Mary- 
land Heights, and was taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry. He is a member of Swift 
Post No. 94. December 20, 1854, he married Frances McNeal and had two children t 
Selina A., wife of J. Wagner ; and Augusta H., wife of W. R. Groom. Mr. Simpson 
is a member of the North Presbyterian church and of I. 0. O. F. No. 299 and Grand 
Lodge of New York State. In politics he is a Republican. 

Sweeney, Thomas H., Geneva, son of Edward and" Julia (Desmond) Sweeney, was 
born in Sandy Creek, N. Y., March 28, 1850. His father, Edward, was a large railroad 
contractor and built twenty-one miles of the K. & W. R. R., three miles of the Potsdam 
& W. R. R., seven miles of the Utica & B. R. R. R., and was supervisor of the town 
of High Market, Lewis county, for two years. He wasjustice of the peace twenty-five 



172 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COtJNTY. 

years. He is now a resident of West Martinsburg. His wife died in 1883. Thomas 
H. was educated in the common schools and was trustee of his school district when four- 
teen years of age. In 1865 he went to Schenectady and was assistant station keeper 
for one year. In 1868 he was first assistant station keeper at Utica. In February, 
1870, he was a general store-keeper and watchman at Willard Asylum. In 1877 he 
opened a clothing store at Geneva and was in that business until 1885. He has held 
the office of excise commissioner from 1880 to 1885, when he was elected poli^^e justice 
of Geneva to fill vacancy for one year, and was then re-elected for full term of four 
years, which he held until April, 1891. In that year he was secretary of the Board of 
Health and registrar of vital statistics. He is a Democrat and always takes an active 
part in political affairs. He was a delegate to the Democratic State Convention in 
1888, and was president of the Democratic Club four years, during which time he suc- 
ceeded in uniting the party so that every office except one in the town and village was 
filled by a Democrat. In 1875 he was united in marriage with Miss H. F. Donnelly, 
daughter of William Donnelly, who was one of the early settlers of Lewis county. 
They have had nine children, eight of whom survive. Mr. Sweeney is now engaged in 
real estate, and fire, life and accident insurance. The family are members of the Francis 
De Sales Roman Catholic church, and the children attend the parochial school. 

Simmons, Charles W., Richmond, was born on the old homestead of his father, Sardis, 
May 21, 1847. He was educated at the Canandaigua Academy uoder Prof. Clark, 
and subsequently engaged in farming. In 1879 he married OtiscaL., daughter of Ben- 
jamin Carpenter of East Bloomfield, but born in South Bristol December 30, 1852. Of 
their four children, Arthur C, was born August 12, 1880 ; Nellie B. was born Septem- 
ber 29, 1887 ; Jane Ola was born July 23, 1889 ; and Carl Richmond, was born Febru- 
ary 21, 1891. In March, 1881, Mr. Simmons bought of M. P. Worthy the store at 
Allen's Hill, in which he has since been engaged in general merchandise. He has been 
postmaster of Allen's Hill twelve years, and in politics is a Republican. 

Schroder, Henry C, Geneva, was born in Hanover, Germany, August 22, 1846. He 
was educated in the schools of his native country and came to the United States in 
1869, locating in Geneva. He worked at the butcher business and began on his own 
account in 1872. He was married twice, first, September 25, 1872, Anna M. Myer of 
Waterloo, Seneca county, and they had three children : William H., a farmer ; Sabina 
D., who resides at home, and John G., who helps his father in the business. Mrs. 
Schroder died March 19, 1881, and he married second, November 3, 1881, Margaret 
Baker of Newark, Wayne county, and they have had three children: Arthur F., Nellie 
M., who died in infancy, and Lena M. Mr. Schroder has been a farmer for several 
years. He returned to his native country on a visit in 1874, returning in the spring of 
1875, and is now doing a prosperous business at butchering, having a first class market 
on Castle street. 

Salmon, Franklm A. W., East Bloomfield, is a native of East Bloomfield, born April 
26, 18.'>1, and a son of Stephen, a son of Gershom, whose parents were Reuben and 
Dorathy (Foote) Salmon, who had six sons and two daughters. The family is of Eng- 
lish descent. Gershom was born in Connecticut September 26, 1753. August 8, 1780, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 173 

he married Cynthia Kellogg, by whom he had six sons and four daughters. Gershom 
was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was a teacher by profession and early 
came to East Bloomfi.eld, where he died May 12, 1843. Stephen was born June 22, 
1794, in Connecticut, and in early life worked in a woolen factory. He then came to 
East Bloomfield where for many years he was eneaged in the manufacture of woolen 
goods. He was the first agent appointed at East Bloomfield for the Oanandaigna and 
Niagara Falls Railroad Company, which position he held for seventeen years. In 1854 
he built the house where subject of sketch now resides, and here spent his last days in 
retirement. He was in the War of 1812 and was a Free Mason. He was twice mar- 
ried, first in December, 1822, to Ann Hawley, by whom he had two children. On Jan- 
uary 4, 1827, Mrs. Salmon died. On February 17, 1828, he married Elivia Willey, a 
native of Williamstown, Mass. He died November 27, 1888, aged ninety-four years 
five months, five days; to Mr. Salmon and second wife were born two sons: subject of 
sketch and Stephen J. ; the latter was born August 23, 1834, and was married to Mary 
E. Robinson, by whom he had one child, Daisy, who died in infancy. Stephen J. was 
a private secretary to R. W. Brown, superintendent of the Buffalo and Erie R. R. Co. 
aad died November 29, 1866. Elivia (Willey) Salmon, mother of subject of sketch, was 
born June 30, 1800, and died April 25, 1863. She was a daughter of Jr>hn and Susanah 
(Rogers) Willey, natives of Connecticut, who had four sons and five daughters. The 
father of John Willey was John, senior, a captain in the Revolutionary War. Sub- 
ject of sketch, Franklin A. W., was reared in East Bloomfield and educated in the 
academy ; he learned the trade of an iron foundryman and followed it two years- then 
engaged as first clerk in the office of the superintendent of the Canandaigua and Ni- 
agara Falls Railroad Company, remaining two years. He then spent seven months in a 
railway freight office at Prairie Du Chien, Wis., and then returned to New York State 
where for over thirty years Mr. Salmon very acceptably filled the position of railroad 
and express agent at East Bloomfield. As an accountant he is remarkably exact and 
as a penman unexcelled. He was married March 20, 1860, to Adeline Willey, a native 
of Churchville, Monroe county, and a daughter of John and Julia (Stratton) Willey, na- 
tives of Massachusetts, who had four sons and two daughters. John Willey served in 
the War of 1812, and came to East Bloomfield in 1844, and there died May 21 1869. 
Mrs. Willey died October 6, 1867. 

Snyder, the late John J., Victor, was born in Hallsville, Montgomery county, Sep- 
tember 24, 1850. He was educated in the common schools and Fort Plain Academy, 
and in early life was a farmer. September 1, 1874, he married Libbie, daughter of 
George W. and Catherine (Wagner) Johnson, formerly of Cooperstown, Otsego county. 
They came to Victor March 15, 1877. Mr. Snyder was in the coal and lumber business 
with T. M. Norton, and died April 9, 1889, as the result of an accidental injury received 
in their lumber yard. Mrs. Snyder's father, George W. Johnson, was born in Coopers- 
town, Otsego county, and was a miller by occupation. In 1849 he married Catherine 
Wagner of Fort Plain, Montgomery county. They had two children : Minerva R., (now 
Mrs. Theodore M. Norton) ; and Libbie. The ancestry of the family is English and 
German. Mrs. Snyder is a member of the Universalist church. 



174 HISTORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Salisbury, Joseph F., Phelps, was born in Yates county. His parents, Benjamin F. 
and Elizabeth (Vandermark) Salisbury, both natives of Phelps, returned to their native 
town when Joseph F. was one year old. John Salisbury, the grandfather, was born in 
Conway, Mass., and came to Phelps with Jonathan Oaks in 1791. He returned to 
Conway, then came back and settled in 1796. Stephen Salisbury, a brother of John, 
settled on a farm adjoining his brother's on the north in 1801, so that the Sali.sburys in 
the town are descendants of the two brothers. Elizabeth was a daughter of Jo.seph 
Vandermark, who came here from Pennsylvania in 1792 (the family having at an early 
day been located near Albany) and settled on the farm where Ehzabeth was born, and 
where she lived until her death in 1892. Lodawick, a brother of Joseph Vandermark, 
settled on a farm adjoining his brother's on the east in 1794. The Vandermarks in this 
county and Seneca county are descendants of the two brothers. Joseph F. Salisbury 
married February 25, 1863, Mary Jane Stoutenburg of Hopewell, daughter of Isaac and 
Anna (Reese) Stoutenburg. He has lived for twenty- two years upon his farm of 112 
acres, which is devoted to general farming. 

Stevenson, Albert H., Farmington, is the youngest son of William and Charity A_ 
Stevenson. His father, William Stevenson, was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, 
October 14, 1833, and came with his parents to the United States when he was ten 
years old, where they first located in Monroe county. He came to the town of Farm- 
ington in 1852. January 1, 1855, he married Charity A. Webb of this town, and had 
two sons: Edward W., who married Anna I. Tuttle, a member of one of the oldest fam- 
ilies in the town. They had one son, William A. Albert H. was born August 6, 1859, 
was educated in the public schools and Canandaigua Academy. March 5, 1884, he mar- 
ried Lottie E. Davis, of Farmington. On March 4, 1884, he was elected town clerk and 
has held the office ever since. William Stevenson was a soldier of the late war. Jan- 
uary 5, 1864, he enlisted in Company M, Sixteenth Heavy Artillery, N. Y. S. Volunteers, 
and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. Mrs. Wm. Stevenson's father, 
William Webb, was born April 8, 1807, and was educated in the public schools. June 
17, 1830, he married Susanna A. Cotton of this town, and they had three children ; 
Charity A., George A. and Isaac H.; both sons are dead. Her grandfather, William M. 
Webb, was born in Rhode Island and married Elizabeth Sheffield August 20, 1800, and 
came to Albany county at an early day, and in 1819 they came to Farmington. 

Strong, the late Harrison, Victor, was born at Wangom Mills, south of Fishers nearly 
three-quarters of a mile. He was educated in the public schools and was a farmer. He 
married three times, first on January 23, 1840, Sarah Cansman, she died January 23, 
1841 ; second on January 20, 1842, he married Martha Buckman, and they had six chil- 
dren : William H., Sarah J., Sherman S., Edward R,, Mary A. and Frances A. He 
married third on July 2, 1867, Victoria Havill of Rochester, and they had four children : 
Harrison S., Lyman D., Minerva S., who married Samuel Lewis of the town of Men- 
don, and they have one son, S. Lloyd ; and Frederick M. The three sons reside with 
their mother. Mr. Strong died March 14, 1882. Mr. Strong's father, Ralph, was born 
in Massachusetts and came to Monroe county at an early day, about the year 1800. He 
married three times : First Sophia Day, and second Lucy Shaw, formerly of Massachu- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 175 

setts. They had four children : Sophia, Harrison, Polly and Milton; the third wife was 
a Mrs. Hubbard. Mrs. Strong's father, Dr. Thomas Havill, was an Englishman of the 
Norman wing, was born near London, England, in the year of 1805. He was well ed- 
ucated and spent seven years in France. He was a firm poet and writer, was a skillful 
physician and surgeon. He married three times, and settled in the city of Rochester 
about the year of 1830. He married, first Sophia Taylor, and they had two children : 
Thomas C. and Sophia R.; second Jemima Hill, and they had six children : Victoria A., 
AHce J., Jemima P., Susan, Caroline and Frederick P.; and third Louisa Padget, and 
had ten children. He died in the year of 1874. 

Smith, Lewis B., Hopewell, was born in Hopewell in February, 1865, a son of D. H. 
Smith, who was born at Palmyra June 25, 1835. He is a son of Cyrus, whose father, 
John, came from Maine in 1812 and settled in Hopewell. His wife was Sarah Smith, 
by whom he had five sons and three daughters. Cyrus was born in Maine in 1796 and 
came to Hopewell with his parents. He married Julia, daughter of Daniel Gates, and 
they reared a large family. He was a Republican and was a justice of the peace in 
Hopewell. He died in 1868 and his wife in 1881. D. Gr. Smith was educated in the 
Palmyra Union School and worked at the trade of carpenter for some time ; also in a 
hub factory for sixteen years at Flint Creek. He is a Republican, and has been assessor 
three years. He has also been postmaster at Hopewell fifteen years. March 2, 1859, 
he married Charlotte A. Lewis, born in 1834, daughter of Nathaniel B. Lewis. Mr. 
Smith and wife have two children : Lewis B. and Katie G., who was born July 30, 
1873, and was educated in the Union school at Canandaigun. Subject was reared on 
a farm and educated in the common school and Canandaigua Academy. He has been 
a farmer, but the last four years has had a position on the N. C. R. R. 

Steele, Hiram, East Bloomfield, September 13, 1806, a son of Daniel, who was a son 
of Luke, who was born in Connecticut in June 1739, and died in 1789, being of the 
fourth generation of that name in this country. He married Esther Cassen, and had 
three children ; Harvey, Daniel and Loraine. Daniel was born in 1775 in Connecticut, 
and about 1797 came to Ontario county. He married in 1799 Lucy Buell, by whom he 
had four children : Charlotte, born October 25, 1800; Marana, born October 13, 1804; 
Hiram, born September 13, 1806; and Theron, born in March, 1810. In 1805 he set- 
tled on 102 acres which he improved. He died March 14, 1813. His widow married 

Baker, and had one child, Daniel. She died in January, 1850, aged seventy-two. 

After the death of his father Hiram lived with his uncle, Harvey Steele, until twelve 
years old, and then with Joel K. Salmon until twenty-one, having earned his own liv- 
ing since his father's death. He worked by the month until March, 1832, when he 
bought with his brother 135 acres in Bloomfield. Three years later he sold this and 
bought 150 acres in Lima, and seven years later sold his interest to his brother, and 
farmed on shares for a few years. In 1847 he bought fifty acres, and later 140 acres, 
then sold fifty, and located on 140 acres immediately south of the depot. He now owns 
twenty acres immediately south of the village. From 1863 to 1866 he was a mail agent 
on the Central Railroad and has served as constable and collector. He has also been 
warden of St. Peter's Episcopal Church for sixteen years, still holding the office. He 



176 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

is a Republican. His first wife was Nancy McH. Turner, daughter of Henry and Mary 
(McHarg) Turner of Albany, by whom he had four children : Mary E., deceased wife 
of Colonel C. E. L. Holmes, a manufacturerer at Waterbury, Conn.; Charles A. Steele, 
of Geneva; Edward D., of Waterbury, Conn.: and Charlotte A., wife of James S. El- 
ton, a manufacturer of brass at Wateroury, Conn. Subject's wife died May 17, 1878, 
in her sixty-eighth year. He married second Harriet, widow of Morris Newton, and 
daughter of Daniel and Abigail (Shepard) Hayden of Waterbury, Co^m. Mr. Hayden 
was one of the first manufacturers of brass in Massachusetts, and he patented and cov- 
ered by machine the first button made in that way in the world. Mr. and Mrs. Steele 
are members of the Episcopal Church. 

Smith, Llewellyn L.. Canandaigua, was born in Aurelius, Cayuga county, in 1838. In 
1867 he and his brother Lucas came to Ontario county where they located in Middle- 
ville, and conducted a mei'chant and custom mill there seven years, when he returned 
to Auburn and remained there five years, and then went to Waterloo, where he ran a 
flouring mill for a year and a half. From Waterloo in 1881 he came to Canandaigua, 
where, in company with his brother Lucas, they bought the Canandaigua steam mills, 
formerly owned by Abel Richmond and Lucas Smith. They have since conducted a 
very successful business under the firm name of Smith Brothers & Company, the com- 
pany being J. W. Priest of Canandaigua. The}'^ are the leading merchant and custom 
millers of this county, and the mill has a capacity of about 150 barrels per day. The 
greater part of the production is sold in Boston by H. O. Fairbanks. Mr.. Smith mar- 
ried in 1857, Juliette, daughter of Jacob Price of Canada. Mrs. Smith died October 
27, 1892. They were the parents of one son, Llewellyn, a miller in his father's mill. 

Stillman, John Cochrane, Canadice, was born in Springwater, March 26, 1856. Ed- 
win Sumner Stillman was born in the same town September 26, 1857. Their father, 
Edwin Amos Stillman, was born in Middletown. Conn., in 1813, and died in Canandice 
in 1892. He was descended from George Stillman. who came from Steeple, Aspen, 
England, to Massachusetts in 1680. Edwin A. was educated at Brown University and 
Newton Theological Institute, originally intending to enter the ministry. He early 
became interested in Abolitionism, and worked in the cause with J. G. Whittier and 
other noted men, and in the fall of 1833 was a delegate (at Philadelphia) to the gen- 
eral convention of Abolitionists. Seeing the attitude of the churches running adverse 
to the cause, he could not conscientiously enter the ministry. He became a civil en- 
gineer and surveyor, and in the construction of the New York and Erie canal he held 
important position.s. In 1845 he was engaged in locating the railroad from Canandaigua 
to Niagara Falls, and in its construction as resident engineer. He settled in Spring- 
water in 1854, and was engaged in lumbering, and later came to Canadice. where he 
took an active part in politics as a Republican. He was postmaster under President 
Lincoln, justice of the peace for many years, was Republican candidate for Assembly in 
1861, when he was defeated by Judge Mason, the opposition candidate. He was later 
a candidate for the same office under the Greenback party, also for state engineer and 
surveyor. He established the lumber and cooperage business now conducted by his 
sons, John and Edwin, the firm being E. A. Stillman & Sons for about thirteen years, 



_ FAMILY SKETCHES. 177 

until his death. In 1842 he married Jennie Cochrane, daughter of Rev. James Coch- 
rane, a Presbyterian clergyman of Rochester. Seven children survive him : Mabel, who 
is at home with her brothers John'and Edwin ; Eilicott R. and James are in Milwaukee ; 
Alice B. is the wife of C. N. Legg of Cold water, Mich., and Florence is the wife of F. 
F. Betts of Wellsboro, Ind. Mr. Stillman latterly became a Prohibitionist, and died 
June 14, 1892. John C. married in 1890, Inez Hayward of Richmond, and they have 
two children, Madge and Blanch. Edwin S. married in 1891, Laura Slingerland of this 
town, and has one child, Onolee. The brothers have 26.5 acres of land, of which 235 
are in timber. They operate a steam saw mill and planing mill, cooperage and feed 
mill. They manufacture barrels, principally for apples. They also do custom work 
in the various departments. This is the only establishment of the kmd in town. 

Sayre, Wellington K., Phelps, was born in Rensselaerville, Albany county, August 
9, 1837, one of four children of Cooper Sayre of the same place. His mother, Julia 
Ann Kirtland, was born in Durham, Greene county, her ancestors being Connecticut 
people. His grandfather, Enoch Sayre, was born at Southampton, L. I. In 1839 the 
family moved to Phelps, the father dying in 1881. He was a man possessed of ability 
both as a lecturer and a writer. Wellington K. married, January 7, 1880, Weltha 
Eleanora, daughter of Joel W. and Emma (Billings) Bacon of Waterloo. 

Smith, Abram S., Phelps, was born in Waterloo. Seneca county, September 13, 1831, 
one of seven children of Leonard W. and Mary Ann (Simmons) Smith. His grand- 
father, William Smith, was one of the early settlers of No. 9, town of Seneca. Abram 
S. married, November 24, 1858, Catharine S., daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Wiggins) 
Homan of Phelps, and they have three children : Ada (Mrs. H. R. Warner) ; Louie M. 
(Mrs. Frank L. Holbrook), and Leah B. Mr. Smith has lived for twenty-three years 
in the village, engaged in the coal and produce business nearly all that time. He was 
elected supervisor of the town in 1883 and served for five successive terms. 

Simmons, William M., Bristol, was born September 13, 1853, a son of John M., 
whose father was Constant, a native of Bristol, and one of its early settler's. Constant 
was born in Bristol and was twice married. First to Ann M. Hyde, by whom he had 
two children. His last wife was Polly Lee, by whom he had four children. They re- 
moved to Michigan, where both died. John M. was born in BristoJ, March 15, 1831. 
He married Phoebe, daughter of Gooding Packard, and had two sons and a daughter. 
For many years he was an insurance agent. He died July 23, 1873, and his wife No- 
vember 19, 1889. William M. was educated in the common schools of Bristol and 
taught school a short time, after-wards cler-king for W. Reed of Bristol Centre. Decem- 
ber 24, 1874, Mr. Simmons married Stella A., daughter of Chauncey Symonds, of Michi- 
gan, and Eveline Bartlett of Bristol. Mr'. Simmons and wife have the following chil- 
dren : One daughter died in infancy ; Belle F. and Edith M. Mr. Simmons is a farmer 
and in politics a Republican, and was constable and collector for three years. He was 
elected town clerk in 1892, and re-elected in 1893. 

Seamans, Isaac A., lawyer of Naples, was born rn Middlesex, Yates county, May 
12, 1836, a son of William and Berthena (Adams) Seamans, the father a native of 
Vermont, who came to Yates county with his father, Oliver, about 1790. The grand- 



178 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

father Adams came to the above place as early as 1785, one of the first settlers. Will- 
iam Seamans removed to Michigan in 1837, when that State was mostly a wilderness, 
and remained there, a farmer all his life. Isaac A. when ten years old came to live 
with an uncle in Yates county, where he was educated in the common schools, Rush- 
ville Academy, and Hillsdale College, Michigan. He commenced the study of law and 
was admitted to the bar in 1861. Two months later he was mustered into service in 
Company K, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth N. Y. Vols., as second heutenant, served 
until May, 1864, and returned home as captain. He participated in many battles, and 
received two wounds, one on his head and the other in his hip. He has been a pen- 
sioner since the war, and is a staunch Republican. He settled in Naples in the practice 
of his profession in 1865, where he has enjoyed a good patronage. He married, June 
17, 1875, Tryphena E. Hartwell, by whom he has one son, Cyrillo E. The family are 
all members of the M. E. Church. 

Simmons, Gooding B., Bristol, was born October 5, 1535, in Bristol. His father was 
Benjamin, son of Benjamin, a native of Massachusetts, and an early settler of Bristol, 
who married Ph"ebe Gooding. Benjamin Simmons, jr., was born in Bristol, July 17, 
1813. He married Celia B. Wheeler, of East Bloomfield, born November 30, 1813, a 
daughter of Benjamin D. Wheeler. Mr. Simmons and wife had two children: G. B., 
and Juliett, wife of George W. Tilton, of Bristol. He was assessor two terms, and died 
March 16, 1868. His wife resides with Mrs. George Tilton, her daughter. Our sub- 
ject was educated in the common schools. January 4, 1863, he married Elizabeth C. 
Owen, a native of Perry, born August 27, 1844. She is a daughter of Francis D. 
Owen, born in Oneida county, April 4, 1806, Avho settled in Livingston county, and on 
October 16, 1804, married Patty Cornell, a native of Bristol. Mr. Owen and wife had 
six sons and three daughters. He died March 17, 1855, and his wife July 26, 1862. 
Gooding B. Simmons and wife have four children : Charlie B., Julietta C, Francis M., 
Mabel E. Charles B. is engaged in Canandaigua Hotel ; Julietta, widow of William H. 
Beach, of Bristol; Francis M., at home; and Mabel E., at Canandaigua school. Mr. 
Simmons is a farmer and has been especially interested in horses. He is a Republican, 
and he and family attend the Universalist Church of Bristol. 

Sanborn, Rev. John Wentworth, Naples, was born m Epping, N. H., November 3, 
1848, and while he was young the family removed to Manchester, N. H., Avhere they 
remained for thirteen years, and where John W. attended the public schools. They 
then returned to Epping, and while living there he attended the New Hampshire Con- 
ference Semmary at Tilton, N. H. His parents next removed to South New. Market, 
N. H., and he then took a full classical course at Phillips Academy to fit himself fo 
college, also taking a course at Wesley an University at Middletown, Conn. He was 
. one year principal of Kingston Academy, New Hampshire, and school commissioner, 
then went to Western New York and entered the Genesee Conference in the fall of 
1874. His first pastorate was Spencerport, then at Scottsville, then Gowanda and In- 
dian Mission, next Perry, and next Batavia ; then Albion, Lockport, and Naples. Mr. 
Sanborn is manager of the New York Indian Exhibit at the World's Fair. While pas- 
tor in Albion he was invited by the British Science Association to lecture on the In- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 179 

dians before that body and did so at Manchester, England. In 1883 Dartmouth Col- 
lege conferred upi. n him the degree of Master of Arts, without solicitation on his part. 
It was done in recognition of services rendered by him to the cause of education in the 
authorship of three Latin and Greek Test books, which are used in forty schools and 
colleges. Mr. Sanborn was first married July 18, 1873, and had two children, Marion 
and John W., jr. He married his present wife, Adelaide Hiscox, November 23, 1880, 
and had three children : Arthur Prescott, Olive Adelaide, and Ralph Carlton. The lat- 
ter was born November 6, 1892. 

Stearns, E. A., Gorham, was born in Gorham, July 27, 1859. a son of Addison, he a 
son of Jonathan, a native of Upton, Mass., whose wife was Sarah Tufts, by whom he 
had twelve children. In 1803 Mr. Jonathan Stearns settled on a farm in Gorham, near 
Reed's Corners, and there died in 1863. Mrs. J. Stearns died in 1860. Addison was born 
in Gorham in 1818. His wife was Ehza J. Fisher, born November 11, 1826, and was 
one of seven children of Samuel and Jane (Wilson) Fisher, natives of Pennsylvania and 
early settlers of Gorham. Mr. Addison Stearns and wife had two children : Charles F., 
who died aged two and one-naif years, and E. A. Mr. Addison Stearns died in 1887. 
Subject was educated in the common schools and in Canandaigua Academy. He mar- 
ried Manette Pearce, a native of Middlesex, Yates county, by whom he had three chil- 
dren : M. Josie (deceased), Irving P., and Laura. Mr. E. A. Stearns is a Republican 
and a farmer, as was his father and grandfather. 

Sears, Henry W., Bristol, was born in Bristol, February 8, 1861, and is a son of De- 
witt C. Sears, a son of John Sears, whose father, Alden Sears, was a native of Massa- 
chusetts. Dewitt C. Sears was born in Bristol, July 1, 1823. He was twice married, 
first to Caroline Smith, by whom he had two children. In 1858 Mrs. Sears died, and 
Mr. Stiars married Laura M. WiLson of Richmond, daughter of Henry Wilson, by whom 
he had one son, Henry W., and two daughters, only one of whom is living. The last 
three years of his life he lived retired in Canandaigua. He was a Republican, was jus- 
tice of peace several years, and town clerk one term. For eighteen years he was 
deacon of the First Congregational church of Bristol. He died March 1, 1893. Henry 
W. Sears was reared on the old homestead, where he now resides. February 8, 1887, 
he married Lizzie J. Taylor of Bristol, daughter of Chauncey O. Taylor, who bore him 
one child, Howard Dana, born May 26, 1889. Mr. Sears is a Republican and a mem- 
ber of the Farmers' Alliance of Bristol, and he and wife are members of the Congrega- 
tional church. 

Schutt, A. P., Manchester, was born in the town of Manchester, April 22, 1828. He 
is a son of John Schatt, and a brother of Mayor Schutt of Manchester. Early in life 
Mr. Schutt went to California, where he remained for many years. He is now living 
on his farm in Manchester, containing one hundred acres of fine land. He never mar- 
ried and his sister takes care of his household affairs. Mr. Schutt is a stalwart Repub- 
lican and a gentleman of strong convictions, and an earnest party worker. His ances- 
tors participated in both the wars of the Revolution and that of 1812. 

Standish, George Thomas, South Bristol, is the second son of Jonathan B., who was 
born in Vermont in 1810, and came with his parents when two years of age to South 



180 ,. - HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Bristol. In 1829 he married Polly Hoage, and they had eight children, five sons and 
three daughters. He lived in South Bristol till 1865, then removed to Michigan, and 
in 1889 moved to West River, Yates county, where he died in 1890, his wife having 
died two months previous. Five children survived them. George Thomas was born 
in South Bristol, June 24, 1833, and was educated at the common school's, with the 
exception of two terms at the Lima Academy. Mr. Standish followed boating on Can- 
andaigua Lake for twenty-four years, and for twenty years was contractor for ties for 
the N. Y. C. R. R. Co. He is now engaged in overseeing his farm in South Bristol. 
In 1868 he married C. Adelaide Carpenter, daughter of Robert 0. Carpenter of Naples, 
and they have three children: Dora A, Edna A., and George Q., all attending school, 
the former at the Normal School at Brockport, and Edna A. at the Union School at 
Canandaigua. Mr. Standish has been supervisor of South Bristol three terms, and has 
filled several minor offices in the town. 

Snyder, William H., Gorham, was born in Gorham, July 31, 1820, a son of John, 
who was a son of George, a native of Germany, who early settled in New Jersey and 
was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He died in Gorham. John Snyder was born 
near New Brunswick, N. J., Angust 4, 1777, and married Catharine Cortleyou, a native 
of New Jersey, born September 28, 1784, and they had two sons and eight daughters. 
In 1807 Mr. Snyder came to Gorham and became an extensive land owner. His wife 
died in 1827, and he married second Mary Van Norsdall, by whom he had two sons and 
a daughter. July 5, 1857, he married third Rachael F. Parsons, and he died in 1863. 
William H. Snyder was educated in the district school and followed farming until 
1886, since which time he has lived retired from active life in Gorham. He owns over 
four hundred acres of land, and for the past thirty-two years has been a Democrat. In 
1845 he married Phoebe, daughter of William and Mary Hankinson, natives of New 
Jersey, who came to Gorham in 1830, and had two sons and three daughters. The 
children of William H. and wife are as follows: Willard J., Myron H., and Oliver F., 
all farmers of Gorham. 

Smith, Joseph, Geneva, was born in Shaftsbury, Bennington county, Vt., May 1, 
1835. He was educated in the common schools across the liae in this State, and is a 
farmer. He came to Western New York in 1859, and on November 6, 1863, he mar- 
ried Jenette A. Eldred of White Creek, Washington county. Mr. Smith's father, Jere- 
miah, was also born in White Creek, March 6, 1799, and died July 9, 1867. He married 
Anna Burnett of Shaftsbury, Vt., born November 22, 1799, died January 24, 1879. 
They had eight children as follows : Hiram, Harvey, Benjamin, Joseph, Martin, OHve, 
Sophia and Julia. Mr. Smith's grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1776. Mrs. 
Smith's father, Hiram Eldred, was born in Petersburg, Rensselaer county, August 20, 
1807. He married Harriet Goodnough, and they had ten children : Jenette, Jane, 
Lucia, Harriet, Andrew, George, Alva, Juliet, Albert and Alice. 

Sutherland, Lot D., D.D.S., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, January 2, 1866, 
a son of Lewis J. of this town. His life, with the exception of his college years, has 
been spent in Canandaigua. He was educated at the Canandaigua Academy and then 
entered the Philadelphia Dental College, from which he graduated in 1887 ; the same 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 181 

year he opened his present office in the Dailey block, which he has since conducted. 
Mr. Sutherland is a member of the Congregational church. He is a grandson of John 
Dailey who died in 1886. 

Swarthout, Anthony, Geneva, was born in Barrington, Yates county, February 1, 
1833. He was educated in the public schools and has always followed farming. March 
25, 1860, he married Eleanor Van Ness of Steuben county, and they have eight living 
children : John V., who married Fannie Hull and has one son, Harold S.; Herbert D. 
who married Lulu Hull, and they have two sons. Homer A. and "Wallace H.; Abbie E.; 
Willis R, who married Edith Jaynes ; Susan M.; Miner B.; Russell, and Eva R. Five 
reside at home. Robbie E. died when nearly two years old. Mr. Swarthout's father 
George F., was born in the town of Ovid, October 28, 1790. He married Rowena 
Russell of Barrington, December 3, 1818, and settled in Barrington in 1819. In 1843 
he settled in Milo, three miles south of Penn Yan, where he died July 13, 1853. They 
had twelve children, ten of whom grew to maturity. Mrs. Swarthout's father, John 
Van Ness, was born in New Jersey, and married Eleanor Hankinson, of his native 
place, and came to Hammondsport, Steuben county. They had two sons and six 
daughters. Mrs. Swarthout's uncle, Elijah Rosenkrans, was a soldier in the war of 
1812. General McPherson of the late war was a cousin of Mr. Swarthout. 

Secor. James R., Gorham, a native of Potter, Yates county, was born March 6 1821. 
His father, Isaac, was a son of Isaac, who was a native of Westchester county and who 
died in Potter. His wife was Ehthere Smith, by whom he had five sons and three 
daughters. Isaac was born in Westchester county and married Sarah Reed, by whom he 
had two children : James R., and a daughter, who married James H. Newcom of Benton. 
Isaac, jr., was justice of peace twelve years, and was assessor and constable. He died 
in 1850 aged fifty-seven, and his wife in 1885 aged eighty-seven. James R. Secor was 
educated at the common schools. September 24, 1849, he married Jane Hoeltzel a 
native of France, who came to America with her parents. George and Christiana Hoelt- 
zel, about 1828 and settled in Potter. The children of James R. and wife are : Isaac 
G., Sarah J., Mary M., Gertrude and F/lorence. In 1866 he came to Gorham and pur- 
chased and improved 137 acres of land, which he has increased to 150. Mr. Secor is a 
Democrat, and has been highway commissioner and assessor, 

Stacey, Edwin, Manchester, was born in East Palmyra, December 28, 1822. In 1856 
he bought the farm at Halliday's Corners, from Judson Hoes, and has since conducted 
it most successfully. Mr. Stacey has been twice married. His first wife was Caroline 
Luce, and some time after her death he married Martha Jane Hillman. He has one 
child, being issue of his second wife. Mr. Stacey has served repeatedly as inspector of 
elections, school trustee, etc., and is much beloved and respected by all. His ancestors 
originally were from the New England States. The participated in the Revolutionary 
war, and also that of 1812. 

Simmons, Elnathan W., Canandaigua, was born in Bristol, June 2, 1811, a son of 
Richmond, a farmer of that town, who came to this county from Massachusetts in 
1794. Richmond Simmons was the son of a Baptist minister of Massachusetts, and 
maiTied Elinor, daughter of Alden Sears, of English descent. The great-grandfather 



182 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

of our subject, Elnathan Walker, was a colonel in the Revolutionary war. The early 
life of subject wa.s spent in Bristol, where he attended the common schools until fifteen 
years of age, when he entered Canandaigua Academy and studied under Prof. Spencer 
and Prof. House about four years. After leaving school he attended the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons at Fairfield, from which he graduated in 1834, and immedi- 
ately began practice in this town, where the hamlet' of Cheshire is now located. He 
remained there until 1836, when, on the death of his sister and brother-in-law, he went 
to Rushville and remained until 1840, and then, his father's health declining, he went 
back to his old home in Bristol. While living there he was elected supervisor, and also 
justice of the peace. In 1852 he was elected to the Assembly at Albany. In 1857 he 
came to Canandaigua, where he remained until his death, which occurred, after a brief 
illness, May 13, 1893. In 1858 he was elected county clerk on the Republican ticket, 
and at the breaking out of the war he went out as surgeon of the One Hundred and 
Forty-eighth N. Y. Vols. Dr. Simmons married in 1850 Maria Pennell of South 
Bristol, and had three children : Charles R., a farmer of Bristol ; Edward W., a drug- 
gist of Canandaigua ; and Lois E., who lives at home. 

Smyth, Edward, South Bristol, is the oldest son of Thomas Smyth, who came from 
County Down, Ireland, in 1848, and settled in Richmond, Ontario county, where he 
remained about six years, then removed t'^ South Bristol and engaged in farming and 
hop growing. He married in 1847 Mary Foy of County Down, and they had ten chil- 
dren. He died May 28, 1878, survived by his wife and children. Edward Smyth was 
born in Richmond, January 11, 1849, and removed to South Bristol with his parents 
when about six years of age. He was reared on the farm and educated at the district 
school and Canandaigua Academy. He married, July 3, 1873, Mary Jane, daughter of 
Robert Murray of Canandaigua, and they have four children : Lewis R., born Feb- 
ruary 10, 1875; Thomas J., born March 1, 1878; Gertrude T., born October 15, 1883 ; 
and Mabel E., born September 10, 1890. His wife died May 9, 1891. Mr. Smith has 
been assessor of South Bristol nine years and supervisor in 1890-91 and '92, and holds 
the oiUce at present, 1893. He was also a delegate to the State Convention in 1892 to 
nominate a candidate for president. He is one of the leading farmers of the town, and 
is engaged in general farming and hop growing. 

Smith, Isaac B., Canandaigua, was born in Farmington in 1831, a son of David 
Smith, a farmer of that town. The grandfather, Joseph Smith, was one of the first 
settlers of this county, and reared a family of children on the farm he settled. David 
Smith had five children, of whom I. B. was the youngest. Three of these are still liv- 
ing: D. Waterman Smith, who lives on the old homestead, and Mrs. Wm. G. Lap- 
ham, widow of the late W. G. Lapham, well-known as the assistant superintendent of 
the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R. Isaac B. was educated at Macedon an Canandaigua Acad- 
emies, also at a school in Dutchess county, where he spent a year and a half. On 
reaching his majority he went as clerk in the Penn Yan postotfice. and afterwards was 
on the Elmira and Niagara Palls Railroad. December 1, 1858, he severed his connec- 
tion with this road and entered the store of Marvin Beeman for one month, and Jan- 
uary I, 1859, he bought out the store, which he has ever since conducted, occupying 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 183 

the same store he bought in 1859, and carrying a similar line of goods. Mr. Smith has 
always conducted a very successful business, to which he gives close attention and 
strict integrity. His store is located at the corner of Main and Beeman streets. He 
carries a full line of crockery, glass and chinaware, wall paper, window shades, etc. 
Mr. Smith married in 1862 Eebecca S. Avery of Fredonia, and they have three sons 
and one daughter: J. Stanley, of the N. Y. C. ticket office; Frank Avery, a law 
student witli Wyncoop & Rice ; G-eorge Gray, a clerk in the store, and Josephine L., 
who is at home. The oldest child, Alice Gray Smith, died August 23. ISHS, in her 
sixth year. Mr. Smith is a member of the Board of Education and is a Democrat. 

Simmons, Robert Bruce, Richmond, was born February 10, 1838, where he now 
lives. His father, Sardis, son of Richmond of Massachusetts, was born in Bristol in 
1804, and married Jane L., daughter of Seth Jones of Bristol. In 1835 he purchased 
the farm now occupied by Robert B., and in 1852 he built the present residence on the 
site of one built about 1817. Of their four children, one died in infancy, the others 
being : Robert B., Henry Clay and Charles W. Robert B. was educated at Canan- 
daigua Academy and Fairfield Seminary. Mr. Simmons taught district school about 
fourteen years, between 1857 and 1880, and was superintendent of schools in the 
western district of Ontario county six years. In 1863 he married Esther G., daughter 
of Deacon Benjamin F. Phillips of Bristol. Mr. Simmons is a Republican and a Uni- 
versalist. 

Smith, J. Stanley, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua about twenty-six years 
ago. He was educated in the aca'demy under Prof. Claike, and after leaving school was 
for about four years in his father's store. He spent two years as purser, one year with 
the Canandaigua Lake Steamboat Company, and one year with the People's Line. 
January 1, 1891, he engaged with the N. Y. C. R. R. Company as cashier in the freight 
department till October 1, and then became assistant ticket agent, which position he 
still fills. He was appointed in January, 1892, to the position of secretary to the Can- 
andaigua Board of Education, and about the same time he was appointed by the village 
council to the position of village clerk. He is a member of Canandaigua Lodge No. 
245 K. of P., and Canandaigua Lodge No. 294 F. & A. M. 

Sayre, Dr. Ellis Brooks, Richmond, was born in Rushville, July 27, 1848. His father, 
John Sayre, was born in Romulus, Seneca county, in 1814, where he spent his youth- 
ful days at school and in the service of his father, Coe B. Sayre. In early life he en- 
gaged in business in Penn Yan, became a lawyer, and settled in Rushville, where he 
married in 1840, Sarah Peabody, who died in 1859. He was a justice of the peace for 
twenty-five years and justice of sessions one term. Of his seven children three sons 
were in the army. The last ten years of his life he spent at the home of his son. Dr. 
Sayre. The latter was educated at the academy and Union school at Rushville, and at 
Albany Medical College, when it was under the presidency of Dr. Armsby. He prac- 
ticed in his native village one year, and then came to Allen's Hill where he has since 
remained and won a large practice. Dr. Sayre married, June 29, 1882, Anna C, daugh- 
ter of David P. Bancroft of West Bloomfield, and their only child, Grace Peabody, was 
born August 12, 1883. Responding to the call of his country Dr. Sayre, while yet very 



184 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

young, entered the army as private in the Twenty-sixth New York Independent 
Battery. 

Throop Family, The, Manchester.— Early in the year 1802 Benjamin Throop exchanged 
his farm in Lebanon, Windham county, Conn., for a tract containing 512 acres in the 
northeast portion of what is now Manchester. This tract was a portion of the 
original Phelps & Gorham purchase, and had been previously sold by the men so 
prominently identified with the early history of Ontario county to parties in Connecti- 
cut, with whom the exchange was made by Mr. Throop. During the autumn of the 
same year Mr. Throop, having completed the necessary arrangements and bidden good- 
bye to his New England home, set out for his destination in what was then an almost 
unbroken wilderness. The method of transportation was that most common at that 
time, and consisted of an ox team with a single horse as a '' leader " attached to a heavy 
wagon, and with two or three such teams Mr. Throop, at the age of forty-eight, with 
his wife, three sons and four daughters, and with such household goods as could be most 
conveniently transported, set out upon his long, wearisome journey. Many incidents 
of the journey were of much interest that cannot here be mentioned. Reaching their 
destination about the middle of November and finding it then too late to build even a 
comfortable log cabin, the first winter in the ' Genesee country " was spent by the fam- 
ily in a portion of the house of Thomas Rogers, also a settler from New England, who 
had preceded Mr. Throop three or four years, and had therefore become quite comfort- 
ably located. This hospitality, so common at that early day, was thoroughly appre- 
ciated by Mr. Throop, and a warm friendship existed between the families during the 
lifetime of the older members. In the succeeding spring a log house was erected on 
the spot now occupied by the lesidence of J. Allen Throop, and in 1816 the structure 
now constituting the "upright" of said residence was built. When Mr. Throop first 
came to this place it was about the center of a six-mile woods, the first house in the 
direction of Palmyra being that of Thomas Rogers already mentioned, while the nearest 
neighbor in the opposite direction was also three miles distant. In that early day Ge- 
neva, sixteen miles distant, contained the government land office, and one, at least, of 
the few banking institutions of the State. As a consequence much travel to and from 
Geneva took place and as a further consequence even the original log houses became 
the stopping place of settlers from the more northern towns, while en route to Geneva, 
and also for numerous travelers who, having reached this point at or near nightfall, hes- 
itated to again plunge into the depths of the forest, and sought entertainment for both 
man and beast at the Throop residence. As Mr. Throop could not turn a deaf ear to 
these applications, and as the calls became more and more frequent, a "public house " 
was opened and maintained for thirty years, at first in the log structure, and later in 
the more modern building erected in 1816. The Throop House became also a favorite 
stopping place for the red man when on his migratory expeditions between the Oneida 
and Tonawanda reservations. On one occasion a party of eighteen or twenty, including 
squaws and papooses, rested for the night on the bar-room tloor. Within the recollec- 
tion of the writer these travehng bands of Indians were common, and as the squaw in- 
variably carried the papoose, seated on a piece of tough bark attached to a belt passing 
over the shoulders and in front of the forehead, while the husband and father carried 



. FAMILY SKETCHES. 185 

only his bow and arrows, a vivid and lasting impression was made thereby. For many 
years these friendly relations between Mr. Throop and his dusky brethren were main- 
tained. Many events in connection with these early times of a romantic and stirring 
nature came to the knowledge of the writer, and among these the loss of children in 
the forest, and the subsequent search by the entire neighborhood with guns, horns and 
dogs, was always a source of much interest as related by a revered and honored grand- 
father. The story of the depredations committed by bears, wolves, foxes, etc., with the 
methods adopted for their capture, originated from the same source. Benjamin Throop 
was of Scotch descent, a participant in the stirring events of the Revolutionary War 
and a relative in a direct line of Governor Enos T. Throop. He was of a kindly genial 
disposition, and died in 1842 in his eighty-eighth year. His wife, a woman remarkable, 
alike for her great fortitude, decision of character, and intimate knowledge of current 
political history, followed him in 1851 at the age of almost one hundred years. Her 
memory was remarkable and till past her eightieth year she could repeat verbatim en- 
tire chapters from the Bible. The late Azel Throop inherited what had become the 
Throop homestead, was a pensioner of the War of 1812, and died in March, 1878, aged 
eighty-six years. His wife, Fanny Van Dusen, survived him four years, and died at the 
age of eighty-four. Among the enterprising and intelligent citizens of New York, Mich- 
igan, Ohio and Illinois are many of the descendants of Benjamin and Rachel Throop, 
while on the spot where the grandfather first set foot nearly one hundred, years ago, 
lives J. Allen Throop, eldest son of Azel Throop. The present owner of the " old home- 
stead " is the father of four sons and a daughter, is a progressive farmer, proud of his 
calling, a staunch Republican, proud of his party and its history, and an intensely loyal 
American citizen, proud of the country of his birth. 

Taylor, Henry R., Clifton Springs, was born in Benton, Yates county , January 23, 
1830. His father was William, son of James, a native of County Down, Ireland, who 
came to America in 1755, at the age of nineteen. He resided in New Windsor, Orange 
county. In 1776 he enlisted in the army of the Revolution. He was in New York 
when it was taken by the British. After his enlistment expired he was often engaged 
as a militiaman for occasional service. He was engaged in the battle of White Plains, 
and shared in much of tlie irregular but trying service along the Hudson River. His 
wife was Elizabeth Thompson of Plattskill, N. Y., whom he married in 1781. William 
Taylor was born in 1793, in Orange county, N. Y., moved with his father's family to 
Ontario county in 1818, lived for a short time in the town of Seneca, then moved to the 
town of Benton ; married Margaret Coleman in 1821, when they settled in Southwest 
Benton on a farm where he lived until his death, in 1879. He received a commission 
as lieutenant in the Forty second Regiment o^ Infantry from Governor Yates in 1824, 
and a captain's commission in the One Hundred and Third Regiment from Governor 
Enos Throop in 1830. Was elected to the office of supervisor for a number of terms 
and also filled the office of superintendent of the poor for several years. Mr. and Mrs. 
Taylor had born to them six sons and one daughter, all of whom are still living except 
one son who died in infancy. Henry R. Taylor, the fourth child, was married October 
16, 1860, to Adelia C. Barnes, daughter of James G. Barnes of the town of Seneca. 
They lived in Benton, one and one half miles west of Penn Yan, till November, 1871, 



186 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

when they moved to the town of Hopewell, Ontario county, having bought the farm 
once owned by the late Jesse Cost near the north line of the town. He now owns 143 
acres and carries on general farming. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have had born to them 
seven children : William, Sarah Eliza (deceased), Harry S., Margaretta A., Ralph B. 
(deceased), John Worth, and Mary C. R. Harry S. graduated at the Albany Normal 
College in the class of 1890, and Margaretta A. from the Auburn High School in 
the class of 1890; both are engaged in teaching. Mr. Taylor was originally a Seward 
Whig, hence when the Republican party was formed he naturally found his place in that 
organization and has not missed voting at every general election since he became a 
voter in 1851. He was elected to the office of justice of the peace in Benton in 1860, 
and re-elected in 1870; he also held the office of assessor for one term. He is a mem- 
ber of the Hopewell (rrange No. 79. He and his family are all members of the Pres- 
byterian church of Shortsville, of which he has been one of the elders for the past fifteen 
years. 

Trickey, Jeremiah, Canandaigua, was born in Munroe, Orange county, June 14, 1836. 
His father, Stephen, was a native of the same county, where he was born February 23, 
1808. He was a son of David, a native of Orange county, who had eight cnildren, of 
whom Stephen was the oldest. He was for twelve years superintendent of the Tow- 
send Iron Works in Orange county, and in May, 1837, came to Ontario county to su- 
perintend a farm of 749 acres owned by Towsend in Bristol, a position he filled until 
April 2, 1847, when he bought a farm on the Academy Tract of Elam W. Crane. He 
was a Republican and a supporter of the church, and at the time of the establishing and 
building of the Union church he was treasurer of the society. By his death (June 13, 
1887) this section lost one of its most prominent men ; liberal and charitable to a fault 
and honored and respected by all who knew him. He married when about twenty-eight 
years of age, Hannah Davenport of Orange county, and had four children ; the two 
sons only survive: John D., a farmer of Chapinville ; and Jeremiah our subject. The 
boyhood of the latter was spent on the farm in Bristol, where he was educated in the 
common schools and assisted on the farm until 1884, when he bought the farm of his 
father, and has since been the owner. For fifteen years previous he had conducted 
the farm on shares for his father. Mr. Trickey has always taken an active interest in 
public affairs. He has always been in active business, and in addition to farm duties 
has been an extensive buyer of stock in the west and at home. He married March 
27, 1859, Keziah A., daughter of Cyrus Coville of South Bristol, and they had three 
children : Cyrus, a merchant of Academy ; Alice, wife of John Sutton ; and Sarah, 
wife of Irva Phillips, who works the homestead farm for Mr. Trickey. 

Turck, Frederick, Geneva, was born in the town of Seneca (now Geneva) August 7i 
1828. He was educated in the public schools and has always followed farming. Mr. 
Turck is not married. His father, Andrew, was born in the town of Guilderland, Al- 
bany county, in 1798, and came here with his parents in 1807. In early life he was a 
glass-blower and afterwards a farmer. He married Catherine Turner of Geneva, for- 
merly of his native place, and they had eleven children: Abram, Elizabeth, who died 
ag»d seven years; Andrew J., James, Henry, Catherine, Sophia, Frederick, George, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 187 

who died recently; Amelia and Margaret. He died November 25, 18.SS, and his 
mother in 1857. His father's brother, Samuel Turck, resides with Frederick Turck, 
aged eighty- seven years. 

Tilden, Christopher, Manchester, was born in Charlestown, N. H., April 26, 1827. 
His father moved to Palmyra early in this century and carried on the stove and tin 
business for a number of years. In 1844 he moved on the homestead farm of 125 acres 
in Manchester, which he purchased and of which the subject of this brief sketch in- 
herited a part upon the death of his father. Christopher Tilden lived upon that farm 
and toiled for many years. There he was married to Marcelline Holmes of Manches- 
ter, a descendant of one of Ontario's pioneer families. Finding more land desirable and 
available Mr. Tilden purchased another. farm of 100 acres near Palmyra, upon which 
he still lives. Mr. Tilden has filled many local and town offices and was a director of 
the plank road for many years. He enjoys the respect and esteem of all. 

Taylor, John B., Geneva, was born in the town of Seneca, now Geneva, October 5, 
1823. He was educated in the public schools and followed farming. January 3, 1853, 
he married Lucioda W. Smith of Waitsfield, Vt., and they had two daughters, Ruth 
E., a school teacher who resides at home, and Jane E., who died aged four years. Mr. 
Taylor's father, Horace B., was born April 28, 1799, on the lake road in the town. He 
married Jane Barnes, born February 20. 1803, and they had eight children: John B., 
Horace and Jane E. (twins), Elizabeth A., George W., Mary E., Charles W., and Mark 
S., four survive. Mrs. Taylor's father, Ithamar Smith, was born in Shelburne, Mass , 
June 6, 1787. October 26, 1817, he married Ruth Barnard of his native place, and 
they had seven children : Chauncey, Selah, who died in infancy ; Selah second, Luther L., 
Lucinda W., Abigail H., and Francis B. Mrs. Taylor's grandfather, Selah Smith, was 
a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Taylor's grandfather, John, was one of the 
early pioneers of this country, coming here at the age of twelve years and passing 
through Rochester when there were only two log houses there. 

Tuttle, the late Anson, Farmington, father of Ricliard A., was born in the town of 
Seneca, August 9, 1822. He was educated in the district schools, and after his father 
sold his farm became a wood-worker in the railway shops at Canandaigua. October 7, 
1856, he married Amanda M., daughter of Wilmarth and Saloma. Smith, of Farmington. 
They had six children : Caroline A. married Carl C. Herendeen, of Macedon ; Annie I. 
married Edward W. Stephenson, of Farmington ; Mary A. ; Joseph W., who married 
Elizabeth C. Padgham, and have two children, Mary E. and J. Eugene ; Richard, who 
resides on the homestead with his mother; and Nettie E., who died December 17, 1882. 
Mrs. Tattle's father, Wilmarth Smith, was born in this town on the farm now owned 
by Cole Brothers, known as the "stock farm," which was part of the original purchase, 
and the part now owned by Amanda M. Tuttle was also part of the same purchase, on 
April 13, 1792; she was the second white child born in the town. In 1812 he married 
Saloma Eddy, of Northampton, Mass., and had eleven children. Her grandfather, 
-Jonathan Smith, was born in North Addison, Vt., about the year of 1770, and married 
Lydia Wilmarth, of his native place. They had these children ; Wilmarth, Asa, Orrin 
and Amanda. Mrs. Tuttle's brothers and sisters were : Dollie, Daniel P., ChloeP., 



188 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Abel W., Annie H., Lydia E., Nancy H., Amanda M., Mary M., Darius C. and Orrin E 
Mrs. Tuttle's father, Wilmarth, was in the War of 1812. 

Thayer, C. C, Chfton Springs, was born in Dana, Mass., January 11, 1840. He pre- 
pared for Amherst College at Monson Academy, Mass., in 1861, just at the breaking 
out of the Civil War, but instead of entering college he enlisted in the Tenth Massa- 
chusetts Militia (three months' service), after which he returned to West Warren, Mass., 
where he conducted a mission work, out of which there afterwards grew a self-support- 
ing church. By the advice of some of the directors and professors of Amherst College, 
he entered the Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago, 111. After one year, and under 
a special order of General Grant, he entered the army of the Southweyt for hospital 
service, and remained three and one-half years, when he re- entered the Chicago Theo- 
logical Seminary and graduated in the regular course in 1867. The same year'he 
married Miss Mary F. Spencer, of Ripon College, Wis., and the following spring went 
under appointment of the "American Board" to the "Central Turkey Mission," Asia, 
and was stationed at old Antioch. In 1871 he Avas voted by his mission from Antioch 
to Aintab for the purpose of starting the Aintab College, and in connection with his 
associate. Rev. Henry Marden, gathered and trained the first class for the college. 
After six months of sickness, he returned to America in June, 1873, and after three 
and one- half years of ill-health he entered Rush Medical College and graduated in 1878. 
While pursuing his medical course he was called to take the practice of a former pro- 
fessor in the college, whose health had failed, where he remained for three years, when 
he wag invited to the practice of medicine in the Clifton Springs Sanitarium, where he 
remained for six years, when he resigned and opened a successful practice in Minne- 
apolis, Minn., where he lived four and one- half years, till recalled to the Clifton Springs 
Sanitarium as the chief physician. Dr. Thayer has a daughter in Ripon College, Wis., 
and a son in Lima Academy, N. Y., both born in Turkey. 

Thomson, jr., William, Gorham, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, January 14, 1851, 
son of William and Mary Thomson, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Subject was 
nine years old when he came to America with his parents. He received a common 
school education, and was taught the milling business, which he followed eight years, 
and then learned the carpenter's trade, at which he has since worked. In 1882 he 
married Isabelle, daughter of James Robson, and they had two children, James W. and 
Robert F., who live at home. Mr. Thomson is a Republican, and was assessor three 
years. He and family are members of the Presbyterian church at Gorham. 

Teece, Thomas, Gorham, a native of Shropshire, England, was born July 18, 1847, 
one of nine children of James and Jane Teece of that place. His father was a farmer, 
and died in January, 1851. His mother is still living near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, 
England. At twelve years old Thomas was apprenticed to the dry goods trade for 
four years, afterwards living on the farm. In the spring of 1870 he came to America, 
being twenty-two years old, and lived near Gorham and Hall's Corners for five years. 
In 1875 he married Eleanor, daughter of James and Mary Watkins, of Steuben county. 
Mr. and Mrs. Watkins came to this country from Monmouthshire, England, in 1845, 
and lived in Steuben county. Mr. Watkins died in May, 1891, and his wife in July, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 189 

1887. Mr. and Mrs. Teece have had seven children, all of vi'hom are living: Mary J., 
James H., Mertie, Minnie, Nellie, Sarah B. and Maud E. In 1875 Mr.. Teece vi^ent to 
Steuben county where he purchased a farm of fifty-two acres, and farmed it eleven 
years there. In 188G he came back to Ontario county and worked a farm on shares 
near Hall's Corners. In 1890 he purchased a farm of 115 acres near Gorham village, 
where he now lives. He is a Eepublican in politics, and a member of Stanley Grange 
No. 284. Mrs. Teece is a Baptist, but the family attend and support the Presbyterian 
church. 

Tellier, J. S., Naples, editor of the Naples Record. This gentleman is a self-made 
man, having started out in life for himself at the age of fifteen years, and has made his 
own way in the world. He has been for the past six years editor and proprietor of the 
Record^ well known throughout the country as a live and enterprising independent 
newspaper. 

Tibbals, David, Canadice, was born in Hartford county, Conn., October 8, 1785. 
When eight years old his father moved to Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y. There 
David lived until manhood. He learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, married, and 
moved to Cayuga county, N. Y., there followed his profession for ten years. In 1816 
he bought a farm in Canadice and in 1818 moved on to it and there lived until his death, 
which occurred September 27, 1868. Mr. Tibbals was the husband of three wives, and 
the father of seven children. His first wife was the mother of one (Phebe), and died 
September 17, 1809, in Saratoga county. His second wife was the mother of six chil- 
dren (Sarah, Wakeman, Charlotte, Peter, Noah and Luther). On April 9, 1832, this 
wife and mother died a most pitiable death, caused by falling on to a new made fire in 
an old fashioned log house fire-place. Mr. Tibbals rose early on Sunday morning, built 
the fire as usual, and went to the barn to do some chores, expecting to return before 
any of the family were up. When he came in he found Mrs. Tibbals sitting on the 
lloor with her flannel clothing all burned ofi^ one side of her, with the fragments of 
clothing and adhering coals scattered over the floor. She lingered four days and ex- 
pired. Mrs. Tibbals was an unfortunate woman from her youth, being troubled with 
epilepsy, which caused her premature death. Mr, Tibbals's third consort died April .3, 
1864. Of the children of Mr. Tibbals, four are dead : Phebe, Sarah, Peter and Wake- 
man. Charlotte, it is unknown. Noah and Luther live in Canadice. Noah is on the 
homestead where he was born. 

Tobey, Frederick B., East Bloomfield, was born in East Bloomfield, April 24, 18 — , 
son of Lorenzo Brooks, who.se father, Mieah Brooks, was a native of Counecticut. The 
mother of Frederick B. Tobey was Emeline, daughter of Benjamin ToVjey. She died 
when subject was quite young, and he was adopted by Frederick N. Tobey, a brother 
of his mother, who had no children. Frederick N. Tobey was born in Massachusetts 
in 180G, and came to East Bloomfield when ten years of age. He married Mariana 
Steele, sister of Hiram Steele. Mr. Tobey was a farmer and lived and died on the farm 
settled by his father. He served as justice of the peace and constable. Frederick B. 
Tobey was reared on the farm he now own.s, educated in East Bloomfield Academy 
and the Collegiate Institute of Rochester. June 23, 1873, he married Sarah Hopkins, 



190 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Henry Hopkins, of Salem, N. Y., whose wife 
was Evelyn Hamlin, a native of Elyria, 0. Mr. Hopkins and wife had two sons and 
four daughters. He died in 1890 and his wife in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Tobey have had 
three children : Frederick H., Arthur R. and Charles H. Mr. Tobey owns 3(>0 acres in 
Bast Bloomfield, and has always been a Democrat. He has been assessor for three 
years, and is a member of Milnor Lodge No. 139 F. Sz A. M., and also of the Farmers" 
Alliance at East Bloomfield. He and family are members of the Episcopal church, of 
which his adopted father Avas one of the founders. Mr. Tobey has been a vestryman 
ever since the church was organized. 

Totman, Levi W., Bristol, was born in Bristol, April 7, 1842. His father was Ward 
Totman, a son of Thomas Totman, who was born August 22, 1763. Ward Totman was 
born in Warren county, August 12, 1804. When a young man he and his mother re- 
moved to Jefferson county, where he married Irene Joiner, of Sullivan, Madison county, 
a daughter of Benjamin Joiner. She bore him four sons and three daughters. They 
came to Bristol in 1840, and settled on the farm now owned by the subject. Mrs. Tot- 
man died in July, 1803, and Mr. Totman married Hannah M. Moore, of Wateitown. 
She died in 1887. He and wife were members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Totman 
died March 23, 1892. Subject of sketch was educated in East Bloomfield Academy. 
In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, First N. Y. Mounted Rifles, and served until June, 
1865. He was in the following battles: Williamsburg, Suffolk, Deserted House, Wel- 
don Road, and other engagements. He owns 200 acres of land. He has been twice 
married, first to Zylpha M. Moore, of East Watertown, Jefferson county, by whom he 
had the following children: Inez M. (deceased), Morris H. (deceased), Ella M., Flor- 
ence L., Grace A., and Joel W. Mrs. Totman died February 6, 1883, and November 7 
of the same year Mr. Totman married Miss Julia Wood worth, of East Watertown, Jef- 
ferson county, by whom he has had two children : Ruth, and Oscar who died in in- 
fancy. Mr. Totman is a Republican and has been highway commissioner one term. 
He is a member of the Good Templars, and also a member of the G. A. R. Mr. 
Totman and wife and their two elder daughters are members of the M. E. Church. 

Trimble, Robert D., Gorham, was born in Wayne county, November 11, 1840, a son 
of John and Jane Trimble, natives of Scotland, who had seven sons and two daugh- 
ters. About 1820 they settled on a farm in Wayne county. The mother died in 1854 
and the father in 1867. Robert D. was educated in Auburn High School, and resided 
in Wayne county until twenty years of age, when he went to Webster and there 
in 1863 married Frances, daughter of Benjamin H. Randolph, of Monroe county, and 
they had two daughters, Robertie F., and Edith L. In 1863 Mr. Trimble enlisted in the 
First N. Y. Veteran Cavalry, serving two years, and was for eighteen months color 
bearer. He was at Winchester, Strassburg, Fisher's Hill, New Market, Piedmont, and 
other skirmishes. At the close of the war he engaged in farming in Webster until 1887 
when he purchased 160 acres in Gorham. He is a breeder of Jersey cattle. He deals 
extensively in apples and in red and black raspberries. He has the only evaporator in 
the town, and last season evaporated between 5,000 and 10,OoO bushels of apples, 
and from two to three tons of raspberries. Mr. Trimble is a Republican and has been 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 191 

commissioner of highways several terms. He and family are members of the Baptist 
Church at Middlesex. He was deacon of the Webster Baptist Church for some 
years. He is a member of the G. A. R. No. 672 at Webster, and of the A. O. U. W. 
at Rushville. 

Thomas, Samuel B., Gorham, was born in Jerusalem, Yates county, December 30 
1847. His father, David A., was a son of Judge David Thomas, of Scipio, who mar- 
ried a Miss Allen and had ten children. He was one of the leading men of the 
county, and was associate judge of Yates county several years. David A. was born in 
Scipio in 1816. He was a great reader. His wife was Hannah S. Wyman, and to them 
were born five sons and four daughters. For many years they resided at Potter 
Centre. His death occurred July, 1886. Mrs. Thomas now resides at Rushville. Sam- 
uel B. was educated in the common schools, and December 16, 1873, married Cornelia 
Young, a native of Jerusalem, born September 5, 1848. For twenty-five years he 
has lived in Gorham, and for nineteen years has resided on the Young homestead. In 
politics he is a Democrat. The father of Mrs. Thomas was Abraham Young, son of 
Jacob Young, who married in Albany county Elizabeth Henry, by whom he had a son 
and two daughters. Mr. Young came to Gorham about 1812, but later moved to Yates 
county, and died in 1836. His wife died in 1848. Abraham Young was born in 1799. 
He married first, April 18, 1821, Almira Robinson, and had four sons and five daugh- 
ters. November 10, 1837, Mrs. Young died, and September 20, 1839, he married Sa- 
mantha Porter Reed, by whom he had two sous and two daughters. He died Decem- 
ber 28, 1885, and his wife died July 8, 1892. 

Tay, Hinckley, Farmington, was born in the town of Concord, N. H., October 10, 
1822, and came to this State with his parents when he was two years old. He was 
educated in the common schools, and came to Farmington in 1839, and has always fol- 
lowed farming. He has just been re-elected poorraaster the twenty-third term. He 
has married twice ; first, in 1850, Mary Lapham, and had one daughter, Mary, who 
married John Burns. Mrs. Tay died in 1864, and he married second, March 10, 1872, 
Sarah E., daughter of Cornelius and Mercy Johnson of this town. They had two 
children : Harriet E. and Walter H., both residing at home. Mr. Tay's father was born 
in New Hampshire, and married Sarah Kelly, and had six children : Howard, Rufus, 
Albert, Francis, Harriet, and Hinckley. His mother died in 1844. Mrs. Tay's father, 
Cornelius Johnson, was born in this town in 1814, and was a farmer. In 1845 he mar- 
ried Mercy Deits, and had five children: Sarah E., John W,, George A., Ella E., and 
Carrie. Mrs. Tay's grandfather, Daniel Deits, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. 
Mr. Tay's grandfather, Ebenezer Kelly, was also a soldier in the Revolutionary War. 
The ancestry of the family is English, German, and Irish. 

Travis, Rufus W.. Bristol, was born August 7, 1835, in Bristol. His father was John 
B., son of Robert L., a native of Orange county, born in 1762, who when a young man, 
went to Pike county, Pa., where he married and had four sons and three daughters. 
Here he spent his life, and for eighteen years lived with his son, John B. Travis, and 
finally went to Port Jervis, where he died in 1859. John B. Travis was born in Pike 
county. Pa., September 1, 1812. In 1830 he came to Bristol, and married in 1833 



192 HISTOEY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Maria Young of Canandaigua, born January 28, 1814, a daughter of Israel Young, a 
native of Cattaraugus county, and an early settler of Canandaigua, and they had three 
sons and three daughters. Mrs. Travis died June 30, 1844, and September 15, 1844, 
Mr. Travis married Louisa Tower of Bristol, by vi^hom he had a son and a daughter. 
He died September 6, 1857, and his wife died in 1872. Rufus W. was reared on a 
farm, and educated in the common schools of Bristol. Except for eighteen years of 
his life spent as harnes.s-maker, he has been a farmer. Mr. Travis married, July 29, 
1855, Sallie M. Gardner, born in Bristol, August 23, 1836. She was a daughter of 
Richard Gardner of Bristol. September 9, 1862, Mr. Travis enlisted in Company H, 
Fourth N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and served until August 3, 1865. He was on garri- 
son duty until March, 1864, when he went into the field. He participated in the 
following battles : Wilderness, Ny River, Strawberry Lawn, Reams Station, Peters- 
burg, Deep Bottom. August 25, 1864, at Reams Station, Mr. Travis was taken pris- 
oner, and for three and a half months was confined Libbie and Belle Isle prisons. 
When released he went into the commissary department at Annapolis, and June 1, 
1865, was transferred to Baltimore, and was clerk in the headquarters office at the. 
Jarvis General Hospital, where he was discharged at the close of the war. Mr. Travis 
returned to Bristol, and except four years in Nebraska, his life has been spent in 
that town. He now owns 131 acre«, and follows general farming and hop growing, 
having fifteen acres of hops. Mr. Travis is a Republican, and in 1880 and '81 was col- 
lector of Bristol, and in 1890-93 was elected justice of the peace. He and wife are 
members of the Royal Templars of Temperance of Bristol Centre. Mr. Travis is a 
member of the G. A. R. Lillie Post, 303. They have seven children, of whom two 
died in infancy, Addie and Cozy, and those living are : William B., educated in Can- 
andaigua Academy, was a teacher many years, but at present is a commercial traveler. 
He married Jennie Crandall of Bristol, by whom he had two children: Grace E., and 
Fred A. The second child was George R., educated in Canandaigua. He married 
Anna Garrison, and had three children : Louis E., Mary A., Etta C. George R. was 
a teacher, but at present is engaged with the Geneva Optical Co. John R. was edu- 
cated in Canandaigua. He is at present one of the firm of Travis & Moore, of Belding, 
Mich. Mary L. was educated in Geneva Union and Classical School, Genesee Wes- 
leyau Seminary, and graduated at Geneseo Normal and Training School in 1891, and 
has since been a primary teacher in Belding, Mich. Charles R., the youngest child, is 
at home. 

Titus, Oliver S , Shortsville, was born at Phelps, May 13, 1843. He received a lib- 
eral education, and when nineteen years of age he enlisted in Company C, One Hun- 
dred and Forty-eighth N. Y. Vols., under Captain Dexter E. Clapp. This was on 
August 22, 1862. He was principally employed upon detached service at department 
headquarters at Fortress Monroe, and was mustered out June 5, 1865. After the war 
Mr. Titus married Francis M. Upham, of Sherburne, Chenango county. He resided m 
Phelps and also in Kirksville, Mo., for a few years. Upon Christmas day, 1874, Mr. 
Titus occupied a position with the Empire Drill Company of Shortsville, with which 
company he has since been identified, and now holds the office of secretary and treas- 
urer. Mr. Titus is identified with local social, church and benevolent institutions here. 



. FAMILY SKETCHES. 193 

such as Royal Templars of Temperance, etc., etc. He has a family of three children, 
one son and two daughters. 

Tiffany, Francis J.. Hopewell, was born in Canandaigua, April 30, 1823, a son of 
Edmund Tiffany, a native of Massachusetts, who when six years of age came with his 
parents, Zachariah and Susan Tiffany, to Canandaigua. Here the grandparents lived 
and died. Edmund Tiffany married Polly Jones, and they had one son and three 
daughters. He died in 1868, and his wife died in 1865. Francis J. was reared on a 
farm, and educated in the common schools and Canandaigua Academy. He married 
Martha Faurot, a native of Hopewell, and they had one daughter, Mary E., who be- 
came Mrs. Henry A. Darling. She died in 1883, leaving two children: Grace and 
Henry T. G-race died in 1883. Since 1880 Mr. Tiffany has resided on a part of what 
is known as the Bush estate. He is a Republican, and has been inspector fifteen 
years. He and wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Canandaigua. 

Taft, Capt. Robert, West Bloomfield, the largest landholder of West Bloomfield, was 
a native of Uxbridge, Mass., and bought of Phelps & Gorham seventeen lots, fourteen 
of which were one mile square, and three over one mile by half a mile. The deed 
signed in Boston bore date of February 20, 1790, the consideration being $654, and in 
that year Mr. Taft settled on his land and built his home, where his grandson, William 
P., now lives. During succeeding years Captain Taft acquired several other lots from 
Oliver Phelps and others, and some of '' Frederick Taft, Gentleman, of Uxbridge," by 
whom the lands were surveyed, though it was not often that he resided here. Robert 
Taft first built a log house, and in 1801 built the brick portion of the house now oc- 
cupied by William P., the stone portion being added by his son Chapm about 1836. 
The children of Capt. Robert Taft were as follows : Josiah, Jesse, Robert second, 
Bezaleel, Chapin, Maria, Lydia, Nabby, Hannah. Maria married Abner Peck before 
1815, their daughters being Louisa, Caroline, and Mary Jane. Hannah married Will- 
iam Pitts of Honeoye. Myron L. of this town is a grandson of Josiah, and Elvira L. 
of Elmira a granddaughter. Lewis H. Taft and Royal of Le Roy are sons of Robert 
second, and Mrs. Myron Shepard and Mrs. Chloe Thomas are daughters. Mrs. Charles 
R. Case of Allen's Hill (Chloe Joan) is a daughter of Bezaleel, and a son, Robert 3d, 
is in San Jose, Cal. William P. and Caleb of this town are sons of Chapin. Royal 
Wheelock is a grandson of Lydia, who married Royal Wheelock, and the venerable 
Nancy Peck of this village, now ninety- seven years of age, is the daughter of Lydia 
and Royal Wheelock. Robert T. Leach of this village is a son of Nabby, who married 
Clement Leach. Henry Shelton, of New York city, and Frederick Shelton, of Silver 
City, N. M., are grandsons of Jesse. 

Tibbals, Albert H., Canadice, was born in this town January 28, 1843. Arnold Tib- 
bals, who was born in 1713 in Connecticut, was of English descent, and a son of Cap- 
tain Tibbals, one of the founders of the Connecticut colony. Arnold was the father 
of David 1st, father of David 2d, father of Peter, father of Albert H. David 2d came 
to Canadice in 1818 and settled where his son Noah now lives. His son Peter was 
born April 22, 1821, in Canadice, and was apprenticed to Chauncey Parsons, a black- 
smith in Geneseo, and in that town gained part of his education. He married while 
y 



194 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

there Jane Bennett, a native of England, who came with her father George and his 
six brothers to this country when ten years old. Peter lived in various places and 
came to Cauadice and settled where Albert H. now lives in 1858, and here he was en- 
gaged in farming and blacksmithing until his death, July 17, 1878. Of his four chil- 
dren, one died young, and the others are: Albert H. ; Addie L., born in 1857, wife of 
Rev. A. W. Fenton, a Methodist minister ; and Netta, born in 1860, wife of Stephen 
J. Cole, a farmer of Richmond. He held several of the town offices. Albert H. was 
educated at the district schools and Dansville Seminary, and worked on his father's 
farm, teaching school winters for three years. He then enlisted in Company K, One 
Hundred and Forty -seventh New York Infantry, under Colonel F. C. Miller, in July, 
1863. He was in several engagements, including all the battles of the Wilderness Cam- 
paign to the battle and charge of Petersburg, June 18, 1864. Of more than six hundred 
men of this regiment who went into the Wilderness on the 4th of May, less than one 
hundred were left and fit for duty after this battle of Petersburg. Mr. Tibbals was 
slightly wounded twice in these battles, but not disabled nor excused from duty till the 
latter part of June, when he went into hospital on account of sickness. Later he re- 
turned to his regiment and participated in the battles of Hatcher's R'ln, Gravelly 
Run, Five Forks, and at General Lee's .surrender at Appomattox C. H. He was ad- 
jutant's clerk at headquarters much of the time when not in active movement, and was 
discharged in July, 1865. Returning home he taught school fourteen winters and en- 
gaged in farming. In 1866 he married Lucy E., daughter of Henry Slingerland of this 
town. They have two sons: Grant A., born November 4, 1867, for some time a 
teacher, and now clerk of the Surrogate's Court of this county ; and Walter H., born 
July 11, 1881. Mr. Tibbals is now serving his fifth term as justice of the peace; he 
was a notary public several year.s, a member of the Board of Supervisors in 1884-5, 
and justice of sessions m 1890-1-2. 

Turck, M. D., William, Clifton Springs, was born in Ontario county, October 5, 1858. 
He received an academic education, and eventually graduated from the Bufi'alo Medi- 
cal College in 1886. He commenced practicing his profession at Orleans, this county, 
and after one year moved to Clifton Springs, where he enjoys a lucrative practice. Dr. 
Turck married Emma Williamson. 

Upton, Hon. William W., now of Washington, D. C, one of the most distinguished 
men whom Ontario county has produced, was born in Victor, July 11, 1817, of a 
family, for two generations, among the most prominent in that town. His father, 
James Upton,* came to Victor from Charlemont, Mass., in 1797, and shortly afterwards 
brought to his new home his widowed mother. Catherine (Hartwell) Upton, his brother 
David, and his sisters Sarah, wife of In-ael Blood, and Joanna. The brother David re- 
moved to Michigan, where his descendants still reside. The sister Joanna married, suc- 
cessively, Norman Bruce and Isaac Marsh, both of Victor, and reared twenty-two 
adopted children, but none of her own. James Upton, long a prominent figure in Vic- 
ter, who was born in 1779, and died in 1857, married in J808 Olive, daughter of Sam- 

" For a full account of these Uptons, their ancestors and kindred, see W. H. Upton's " Upton 
Family Records": London, 1893. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 195 

uel and Lucy (Tracy) Boughton, of Victor. He very early acquired by purchase from 
his brother-in-law, Israel Blood, one of the finest farms in the county, the well known 
"Upton Homestead," situated about a mile from Victor village, and afterwards oc- 
cupied by his son Josiah and his daughter Mary E. Moore, and now in the possession 
of Jedediah Hawkins. Upon this farm James Upton spent a long and useful life. He 
was frequently chosen to fill important local offices, and was a man of much influence 
in the county. He reared a large family of children and was able to afford them a 
good education, and to present each of them the then large sum of two thousand dol- 
lars when they successively went forth from the paternal roof- tree. Of these children 
five were intimately connected with the history of Victor, viz. : Josiah W. Upton, of 
Victor, born 1812; was prominent in all aiFairs of the town until his death in 1888. 
James Upton, born 1815 ; died in Rochester, N. Y., where his son, Clarence H. Upton, 
now resides. Mary Emeline Upton, who married William C. Moore, Charles E. Up- 
ton, of Rochester, born 1833 ; died 1886. William W. Upton was pre-eminently the 
scholar of the family, and fr-^ra his earliest years a love of learning, for its own sake 
was, perhaps, his most prominent characteristic. After securing such education as the 
neighborhood afforded, including a course at the Lima Seminary, and mastering the art 
of surveying, he taught school for a short time in Bloorafield ; but, warned by the con- 
dition of his health to seek more active employment, in 1838 he went to La Grange 
county, Ind., under contract to survey and make estimates for a canal. Failing to re- 
ceive the compensation due him there, he went the same year to Victor, Mich., where 
his father owned some "wild" land. He made this trip on foot, carrying his cloth- 
ing, surveying instruments and — characteristic of the man — " about ten pounds Of 
books " on his back. He immediately went to work clearing his father's land, as well as 
some which he and his brother James secured, hired oxen, planted a crop, and built 
himself a comfortable log house, besides surveying for the neighbors, taking part in 
town meetings, building a wolf trap, etc. Sundays he devoted to his books, among 
which were Voltaire's '' Charles XII." (m French) and Burns's " Poems." In Septem- 
ber he was driven back to his native town by the famous " Michigan ague." He taught 
school in the district west of Victor village that autumn, and a year later was em- 
ployed as surveyor in the construction of a canal near Buffalo. In 1840 he married 
in Victor, N. Y., and began the practice of law m Victor, Mich. His ability and in- 
dustry soon gained him a prominent place at the bar of his adopted State, and he was 
frequently chosen to positions of trust. He was supervisor of Victor (Mich.), 1840-5; 
surveyor of Clinton county, 1841-5; county treasurer, 1845-7; and a member of the 
Legislature which made Lansing the capital. He was appointed district attorney for 
Ingham county in 1848, and was elected to the same otHce for two terms of two years 
each, in 1849 and 1851. He had removed to De Witt in 1845, and to Lansing, in which 
city he built the first house which was not of logs, in 1847. Although by this time 
Mr. Upton's success in life was assured, and no young man in Michigan seemed to 
have a more brilliant political future before him, the wonderful tales of the new 
land of gold, the fascinating perils of the trip across the plains, and his own 
sagacious conception of the great future of the Pacific Coast, led Mr. Upton to re- 
sign his office, and set out in April, 1852, with his little family for California. In that 



1&6 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

State he practiced his profession with great siiccess, first at Weaverville and later 
at Sacramento, whither he removed in 1855. In 185G he was a member of the Leg- 
islature. In 1801 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Sacramento county, a 
position which he held till 1864. The ill health of his family compelled him in the 
latter year to decline becoming a candidate for Congress, and in 1865 to remove to 
Portland Oregon. Thither his reputation had preceded him. He at once took a fore- 
most position at the bar, and was almost immediately elected to the Legislature. From 
this time forward he was a power in the political and social life of Oregon. In 1867 
Mr. Upton was appointed a justice of the Supreme Court of Oregon. In 1868 he was 
elected to the same position for a term of six years; he became chief justice in 1872. 
At the expiration of his term of office, financial reverses compelled him to decline a 
re-nomination and resume the practice of his profession. In 1877 he was appointed 
second comptroller of the treasury of the United States, and removed to Washington, 
D. C. His new position was practically a judicial one, and a court of last resort (the 
comptroller's deaijgions being reversible by act of Congress only) ; and Judge Upton 
filled it with great credit through three administrations, passing upon nearly one hun- 
dred and sixty claims and accounts, involving about six hundred millions of dollars. 
Upon the inauguration of Cleveland, Judge Upton tendered his resignation, and retir- 
ing from office at the age of sixty-eight, he has since June 1, 1885, continued the prac- 
tice of his profession in Washington City. Early in 1885 the government published 
his " Digest of Decisions of the Second Comptroller of the Treasury, 1809 to 1884." 
Of the forty-five years of what we may call his active life, he spent thirty-three in pub- 
lic office, yet he was never defeated in an election. He is a Freemason of rank, a 
Knight Templar, and a thirty-third degree Scottish Rite; and his course in every rela- 
tion of life has ever been guided by the three great lights of that ancient craft. We 
cannot close our sketch without a further reference to the one thing that perhaps char- 
acterizes Judge Upton more than any other, his love of learning for its own sake. This 
made him, from his youth, distinctively a student. While it was always a source of 
regret to him that his career was not based on the substantial foundation of a collegiate 
education, he early acquired, by his own industry, a better education than that pos- 
sessed by most university men. He was twice married. His first wife, Maria Amanda 
daughter of Joseph and Amanda (Adams) Hollister of Victor, whom he married in 
that town February 8, 1840, died at Sacramento, December 24, 1858. His second wife. 
Marietta, daughter of Amasa and Alida Ann (Ketcham) Bryan, whom he married at 
East Avon, March 29, 1860, still lives. Of his eleven children, the six who survived 
infancy have all visited Victor, and have many friends in our county. They were : 
James Boughton Upton, of Oretown, Oregon, born 1844 ; is a lawyer retired from 
practice ; a Freemason. Has issue. Charles Backus Upton, of Walla Walla, Washing- 
ton, born 1845 ; a lawyer and large landowner. Unmarried. Marietta Upton, born 
1848; died in Washington, D. C, unmarried, 1880. William Henry Upton, of Walla 
Walla, Washington, born 1854. Graduated at Yale 1877. He is judge of the Supreme 
Court, a F. R. S. A., member of numerous learned societies; a Royal Arch Mason, a 
thirty-second degree Scottish Rite, etc. Has issue. George Whitman Upton, of War- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 197 

ren, Ohio, born 1857 ; a lawyer. Ralph Richard Upton, of Washington, D. C, born 
1809; graduated at Yale 1892. 

Ver Planck, Samuel H., Geneva, son of W. G. Ver Planck, was born in Albany in 
1827. In 18.39 his father came to Geneva with his family, where subject has been en- 
gaged in the banking business since 1847, at that time entering the Bank of Geneva, 
where he remained four years. He was general bookkeeper in the People's Bank of 
New York one year, then entered the Union Bank of Rochester as bookkeeper, where 
he remained one year as bookkeeper and two years as cashier. Returning home he 
entered the Bank of Geneva as cashier, and was elected president of the bank in 1860. 
which position he has held ever since. Mr. Ver Planck has been in the banking busi- 
ness longer than any other man in his county. 

Van Deusen, M.D., George H., Gorham, is a native of Montgomery county, born 
August 24, 1836, a son of Cornelius, whose father, Gloudy Van Deusen, came to Mont- 
gomery county in 1796, and there died in 1845. The family is of Dutch descent and 
came to America in 1667. Mr. Gloudy Van Deusen served five years in the Revolu- 
tionary war. In 1829 Cornelius married Elizabeth Cornue, a native of Montgomery 
county, and daughter of Wessel Cornue, one of the first settlers of that county. Cor- 
nelius and wife had seven sons and four daughters, all now liging. He died in 1863 
and his wife in 1877. Dr George H. spent part of his youth in New Jersey, where 
his father died. His mother's death occurred while on a visit to Steuben county 
Subject taught school four years, and in 1861 was graduated from the Medical Depart- 
ment of the University of Vermont, and was appointed physician in the insane asylum 
in New York city. February, 1862, he received an appointment from Gideon Welles 
as assistant surgeon of U. S. Volunteer Navy, serving first in North Atlantic Blockad- 
ing Squadron, and then in South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. In 1863 he was 
ordered to West Gulf Squadron, under command of D. G. Faragut. In 1864 Dr. Van 
Deusen resigned his position as navy surgeon and began praticing his profession at 
Bethel, Vt., where he remained four years and then moved to Painted Post. In 1875 
he came to Gorham, where he has since had a very successful practice. He was form 
erly a member of Vermont State Medical Society, president of Steuben County Med- 
ical Society, and is now a member of Ontario County Medical Society. In politics Dr. 
Van Deusen is now a Prohibitionist. He was a superintendent of schools in Bethel 
Vt. He is a member of Rushville Lodge No. 377 F. & A. M. and of G. A. R. Scott 
Post No. 315. In 1863 Dr. Van Deusan married Celia A., daughter of John Liscom 
of Burlington, Vt. Dr. Van Deusen and wife have had two children : Fred Mower 
who died in infancy ; and Kate, a graduate of Geneseo Normal School, class '93. 

Van Riper, John H., Gorham, is a native of Washtenaw county, Mich., born August 
27, 1846. His father was John G., a son of Garrett, a native of New Jersey, who 
went to Gorham and afterwards Michigan, where he died aged eighty-one. He and 
his wife Catharine had eleven children. She was born in New Jersey and died in New 
York aged fifty. John G. was born in Gorharri, October 10, 1812. When a young 
man he went to Michigan and there married Eliza Kierstead, a native of New Jersey 
by whom he had eleven children. He died March 1, 1887, in Livingston county, where 



198 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

he resided several years. The death of his wife occurred March 19, 1877, aged fifty- 
nine. Between nine and twenty-six years of age John H. lived with his uncle, Peter 
P. Fero, and received a common school education. December 9, 1873, he married 
Mary E. Proudfit, a native of Seneca, born March 1, 1853. and daughter of John 
Proudfit, a native of Pennsylvania, and early settler of Seneca. The subject and wife 
were born two sons, C. Leroy and Clayton P. Mr. Vdn Riper is a general farmer 
and owns sixty-five acres, on which he has resided since 1870. He is a Prohibitionist 
in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Stanley Grange No. 2S4. He and 
family are members of the Presbyterian church of Gorhara Centre. 

Vincent, Robert H., Clifton Springs, was born in Troy, September 22, 1869. He 
was educated at the Albany Military Academy and Hobart College. He came to 
Clifton Springs during 1887, his father, Dr. Frank L. Vincent, having received the 
appointment of physician upon the Sanitarium stafl". Dr. Vincent was also at that 
time secretary of the New York State Medical Society. In 1891 R. H. Vincent 
purchased an interest in the Walker Fertilizer Company, the firm now being composed 
of Joshua Walker, Robert H. Vincent and E. J. Walker. 

Vail, John P., Geneva, son of James D. and E. (WyckofF) Vail (who settled in Rom- 
ulus about 1830), was born August 17, 1836. His father was a farmer and he lived on 
the farm until twenty years of age. In 1859 he went to Penn Yan, and there learned 
the art of photography, or the old arabrotype style of taking pictures. In 1860 he 
opened a gallery in Palmyra and carried on business there eleven years. He then 
came to Geneva and engaged in the nursery business four years. In 1876 he opened 
his present gallery, where he is doing a fine class of work. He married in 1864 Rose 
P. Foster, and they have one child, Newton F. Mrs. Vail died October 8, 1878, and he 
married second, September 17, 1881, Lillie T. Seeley. 

Van Huben, John, Geneva, was born in Switzerland, February 23, 1846, and came 
with his parents to this country when eight years old. They located in Rochester, 
where John was educated in the public schools and learned the butcher's trade. Au- 
gust 2, 1864, he enlisted in Company A, First Light Artillery, Rochester, Battalion G, 
N. G. S. N. Y., and was honorably discharged November 31 of the same year. He 
came to Geneva to reside in 1872, and November 17, 1880, married Margaret Kurtz of 
Geneva. They have one son and three daughters: Arthur B., Mildred L., Floese L. 
and Hazel M. Mr. Van Huben's father, John, was a soldier in Company D, Thirteenth 
N. Y. Vols., and participated in all the battles of this regiment but one, when he was a 
prisoner in Libby Prison. He was honorably discharged at Rochester, May 14, 1863. 

Van Auken, D. J., Geneva, was born in Cayuga county, November 2, 1849. He re- 
ceived an academic and high school education, after which he read law in his father's 
office, but never applied for admission to practice. He then engaged in mercantile 
business at Hannibal, Oswego county, and while there was appointed deputy canal 
collector at Oswego, an office which he held three years. In 1878 Mr. Van Auken 
came to Geneva and engaged in the wall paper business for about seven years, and in 
1886 became one of the incorporators of the Ontario Accident Association. Later 
on he became similarly connected with the Manufacturer's Accident Indemnity Com- 
pany, and was elected its vice-president; and it may truthfully be said that most of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 199 

the success achieved by this company is due to the efficient effort of our subject. In 
1877, while a resident of Oswego county, Mr. Van Auken married Clara Wilson of 
Geneva. 

Vanderhoof, Jacob W., Manchester, was born on the old farm in the town of Man- 
chester, September 23, 1834. He is a son of Abram Vandprhoof, whose father's name 
was Jacob, who ran the old Vanderhoof Hotel here for many years. Flis ancestors 
came into Ontario county early in the seventeenth century. They participated in the 
war of the Revolution and also of 1812. Jacob N. Vanderhoof possesses the old farm, 
upon which he lives. He is a great party worker and a staunch Democrat. He has 
been repeatedly solicited to accept public offices, but so far has refused. He married 
Miss Mina Bissel of Allen Hill, this county, but they have no children. 

Upton, James, Victor, father of Clarence H., was born in Victor, where J. W. 
Hawkins now resides, April 14, 1816. He was educated in the public schools and at 
Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, and followed farming for some time, also taught 
school several years. The family moved to Rochester in 1855. He was a railway 
contractor there for many years, and in politics was a Republican, and served two 
years in the common council. He served in that capacity on several important com- 
mittees. He was also a candidate of his party for the State Legislature, but Roch- 
ester being Democratic at that time he was defeated by a small majority. July 3, 
1844, he married EUira E , daughter of Jeremiah and Mahala Hawkins of his native 
county, educated at Ontario Female Seminary, Canandaigua, and at Lima, and they 
had one son, Clarence H. The latter was born August '2-\, 184^'. and was educated in 
the public and select schools of Rochester, and studied one year at Yale University. 
He is a real estate operator, and resides with his mother on Bast Avenue. His father 
died February 23, 1866, mourned by a bereaved widow and son, and many relatives 
and a large circle of friends. James Upton, sr., grandfather of Clarence H., was born 
in Charleraont, Mass., February 19. 1779, and removed to Victor about 1799. April 
21, 1808, he married Olive Boughton, who was born in 1793. Her ancestors came 
from Wales, and were of French extraction. He was a man of decided character and 
an active worker in the church, and contributed liberally toward the first Methodist 
church that was built in Victor. 

Wilson, William, Geneva, was born in the old town of Seneca, June 16, 1855. He 
was educated in the pubhc schools, Canandaigua Academy, and graduated from Hobart 
College, class of '76. Since that time he has been in the nursery business, now in 
company with G. R. Watson, under the firm name of Wiiham Wilson & Co. October 
4, 1884, he was elected captain of the Thirty-fourth Separate Company, National 
Guards, and received his commission from the governor. In camp in the fall of 1892 
he commanded a battalion. He is a Democrat in politics. October 10, 1878, he mar- 
ried Minnie E. Hippie of Geneva, and they have one son, James. Captain Wilson's 
father, James, was born at the old home about 1818, and married Anna Whitney of 
Flint Creek. They had four children : Libbie M., who married John Hammond of 
Geneva; Anna R., who married Rev. J. E. Babcock ; William; and Jennie B., who 
married Ricliard F. Rankine of Geneva. Captain Wilson's father was a lieutenant- 
colonel in the State Militia. James Wilson, one of Captain Wilson's ancestors, was 
one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. 



200 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Walton, Eldreth A., Geneva, was born in Westfield, Mass., in 18G0. He received an 
academic education, and was in the ice business one year. He has been in the service 
of the American and the United States Express Companies eight years, in various posi- 
tions from messenger to agent in full charge in Geneva four years. In 188G he became 
an active member of a company which organized the Ontario Mutual Accident Com- 
pany, also was one of the organizers of the People's Building, Loan and Savings Asso- 
ciation, which has been a success from the beginning. In 1891 he with others organ- 
ized the Torrey Park Land Company, which has accomplished much in the develop- 
ment and prosperity of the northern part of the village. He is also one of the pro- 
moters of the Geneva Surface Street Railway Company, which will soon be in success- 
ful operation. He is president of the Geneva Driving Club, and is one of the police 
commissioners. In 1884 he married Elfreda B. Covert of Gene a. Mr. Walton is one 
of the directors of the Geneva Medical and Surgical College, founded by the late John 
V. Ditmar. 

Wisewell, M.D., Francis H., Phelps, was born in Potter, Yates county, February 
20, 1845. His father was Henry, and his mother Martha (Field) Wisewell. His grand- 
father also was Henry Wisewell. About 1870 Francis H. entered the University of 
Michigan at Ann Arbor, studying medicine, where he graduated about 1872. He came 
to Phelps in 1877 and engaged in the drug business (selling also stationery, books and 
wall paper), where he has since remained. He married, in 1875, Isabel Ellas of Bath, 
Steuben county, a daughter of George S. and Amanda (Loomis) Ellas ; Amanda Loomis 
being a daughter of Judge Chester Loomis, who came to Ontario county from New 
England at an early day. They have three children : Carl F., George Ellas and Francis 
H. Wisewell, jr. 

Weyburn, M.D., Edwin, Geneva, sod of Samuel Weyburn, was born in this county 
in 1818. He studied medicine with Dr. Jedediah Smith of Geneva and graduated from 
the Geneva Medical College about 1850, practicing here until his death in 1879. Henry 
D., son of Edwin, was born in Geneva in 1845, studied medicine with his father and 
attended the Geneva Medical College during 1809-70, and in 1876 graduated from the 
Cincinnati Medical College, and has practice! here ever since. He is a Republican, and 
has been coroner three years, taking an active interest in politics. Dr. H. D. Weyburn 
was in Chicago during 1871-72 and was an eye witness to the great fire. He has prac- 
ticed in Geneva twenty-one years. 

Wilson, L Stanley, Canandaigua, was born in Waterloo, Seneca county, March 9, 
1844, a son of Ralph, a native of Wayne county, born in the village of Rose. He mar- 
ried Eleanor E., daughter of Colonel Lucius Stanley of Seneca, and they have four chil- 
dren, of whom subject alone survives. When he was three years old his father died, 
and Mrs. Wilson went to her father's in Seneca where L. Stanley was reared. He was 
educated in the common schools and followed farming until about twenty years of age. 
He then learned the carpenter's trade in which he has ever since been engaged. In 
1872 he came to Canandaigua and soon after began contracting. He has made a spe- 
cialty of jobbing and repair work, has a large line of customers and usually employs from 
one to six men. He and his family are men:ibers of the M. E. Church of this town. He 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 201 

has never been a politician. Mr. Wilson married in 1865 Mary Caroline, daughter of 
George T. Robertson of Ferguson Corners, Yates county, and they have four children : 
Philip K., a carpenter of Canandaigua ; Minnie M., a dressmaker ; Mary C. and L. Stan- 
ley, jr., both students. 

Wheeler, Thaddeus R., Canandaigua, was born in East Bloomfield, was born March 
30, 1835. His grandfather, George A., a son of Joshua Wheeler, was a native of Con- 
necticut, who came to this State about 1800 and finally moved to Bloomfield. He mar- 
ried a daughter of Benjamin Wheeler, a native of Massachusetts, and they had nine 
children, of whom Addison H. was Ijorn February 13, 1806. He married, November, 
1829, Lucy P., daughter of Thaddeus Remington, a farmer of Canandaigua, and bought 
a farm of 130 acres on the town line of Canandaigua, after six years moving on to the 
old homestead farm, where he died in 1869. Mr. Wheeler was a Republican, and a 
young man of public spirit, always ready to support every good object. He had nine 
children, all but one now living on farms in this rounty. A daughter died when eleven 
years old. Thaddeus spent his youth on the farm, and was educated in Bloomfield. 
Academy. He assisted his father on the farm until about twenty -four years old when, 
in partnership with his brother Oscar, he bought a farm in Bloomfield, which they 
owned three years. He worked for his father on different farms until he was thirty- 
one, and then bought the Bloomfield farm back. In 1881 he bought the Sanders farm 
of 100 acres in Canandaigua, moving into the old Jcshua R. Giddings house, which was 
the first frame house built west of the village. Since cbming here Mr. Wheeler has 
erected a beautiful residence, new barns, etc., making now a very valuable property. 
He married, April 6, 1804, Augusta E.. daughter of Nathaniel B. Stanton of Steuben 
county, and they have two sons : Walter S., who conducts a farm in Canandaigua ; and 
Wells J. who lives on the homestead. The latter was born July 17, 1868, educated in 
the common schools and Canandaigua Academy, and married in 1887 Grace S. Collins, 
and they have two children : Roy W. and Sarah E. 

Wolverton, Jonas W., Canandaigua, was born in Frenchtown, N. J., October 15, 1819, 
a son of Joel, a farmer of that town. When Jonas was but eight years old his parents 
moved to Ontario county and bought a farm in East Bloomfield, and some three or four 
years later the farm on the west shore of Canandaigua Lake now occupied by George 
C Mather. Here he died in 1849, leaving a widow and eight children, but four of whom 
survive him: Job, a produce dealer of Canandaigua; Peter, a farmer of Canandaigua; 
Mary, wife of James S. Hickox, of Canandaigua; and Jonas W. Jonas was educated 
in the common schools, and assisted on the farm until twenty-three years of age, when 
he farmed by the month for about seven years. In 1851 he was married to Patience, 
widow of Amasa B. Spencer, and daughter of Harris Andrews, a prominent farmer of 
Canandaigua, and a native of Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Wolverton have had one 
child, Emily Amelia, wife of Ira P. Cribb, died in 1875 aged twenty-three years. Mr. 
Wolverton h'ves on a fine grain and fruit farm of 100 acres, and has besides thirty acres 
on the Middle Road. He is a Democrat but has never taken an active interest in pol- 
itics. He is interested in church work, and himself and wife are members of the M. E. 
Church of Canandaigua. 



202 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Winch, Amasa T., Canadice, was born in Marlow, N. H., May 9, 1820. His father 
was John Winch, a native of Alstead, N. H., his grandfather, Luther, was born in 
Framingham, Mass., a descendant of one of the early families of Massachusetts colony. 
His mother was Mary, daughter of Ephraim Thomson, whose ancestor came over to 
the Plymouth colony in the second shipload of colonists. John Winch located in 
Marlow, and subsequently removed to Cornish, where he resided till the fall of 1829, 
when he came on with his family and settled on a farm of one hundred af^res at Can- 
adice Corners, which he had purchased two years previously. He was elected town 
clerk in 1831 and supervisor in 1832, was also justice of the peace, and held other 
offices. He died February 4, 1882. Amasa T. was educated in the common schools 
of the town and the Lima Seminary. He was teacher, surveyor, and farmer, and on 
his marriage in 1847 located on the farm now owned by his brother Lorenzo. His 
wife is Elizabeth, daughter of Cornelius Terbush, descended from the early Dutch 
settlers on the Hudson. Of their four children three died young, and one daughter, 
Lucy A., is the wife of Lucius M. Doolittle, who resides with them and manages the 
farm, and also an apiary. Mr. Winch was town superintendent of schools three 
terms, supervisor seven years, 1870 to 1877; member of assembly two terms, 1877 and 
1878, serving on Committees on Education, General Laws, Public Lands and others, 
and was justice of the peace one term. He has also served in different offices in the 
Canadice Methodist church for many years. Lorenzo Winch, son of John, was born 
in Cornish, N H., in 1827, and was but two years old when brought with his parents 
to Canadice. He was educated at the schools of the town and early worked at farm- 
ing. For some time he also worked at blacksmithing, and still keeps a shop for his 
own use. In 1849 he married Abigail J. Doolittle. and has had five children: Emma 
J., born in 1850; Mary E., born in 1852 ; Wilber A., born in 1857; John F., born in 
1861 ; Fred L , born in 1864, died in 1890. Emma J., has been a school teacher many 
years. Wilber, the oldest son, also a teacher, now resides at home and is a 
farmer. Mr. Winch has been justice of the peace twelve years, and is the present 
supervisor (1892 and 1893). He is a Republican and a Methodist. Mrs. Winch's 
father, Thomas Doolittle, was born in Bethlehem, Conn., in 1792, and came from Rut- 
land, Vt., to Onondaga county, and thence to this town. 

Wilder, George A., Bristol, a native of Bristol, born November 7, 1833, is a son of 
John, a son of Ephraim and Lydia (Loomis) Wilder, who came from Connecticut to 
Bristol about 1790. They had four sons and four daughters. John was born in Bris- 
tol, June 7, 1794, and married Eunice Codding, born May 2, 1796, by whom he had 
five sons and a d: tighter. Mr. Wilder was educated in the district school and became 
one of the leading farmers of the town. George A. Wilder was educated in the dis- 
trict school, and is a general farmer and hop grower. He owns 225 acres of land 
March 4, 1860, he married Mary L. Case, a native of Bristol and a daughter of Sey- 
mour W. Case. Mr. Wilder and wife have had three children : George S., a farmer of 
Bristol, who married Belle Dudley of Buffalo, by whom he had one child, Ethelyn L. ; 
John S., who is a clerk in a dry goods store in Cleveland, 0. ; and Carrie E., wife of 
George Downie of Cleveland, 0. Mr. Wilder is a Republican, and he and family at- 
tend the Congregational church of 'Bristol. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 203 

Wheeler, Sylvester H., Bristol, was born in Livonia, January 18, 1829, and is a son 
of Sylvester Wheeler, a son of Aaron Wheeler, a native of Massachusetts. Sylvester 
Wheeler was born in Dighton, Mass, in 1778. In 1795 he came 1o Richmond, and 
after several years went to Livonia and there owned a farm. In 1832 he came to 
Bristol and purchased the farm subject now owns. Mr. Wheeler was twice married, 
first to Thankful Spencer, by whom he had nine children. Mrs. Wheeler di°d in 
1828, and Mr. Wheeler married Mrs. Betsey Hicks Marsh, by whom he had five chil- 
dren. IIu was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was wounded at Black Rock. He 
died October 28, 1833, and his wife September 15, 1889. Subject of sketch was edu- 
cated in Canandaififua Academy. At the age of sixteen he taught school, and at the 
age of twenty-one he engaged in the mercantile business at Bristol, and was there sev- 
eral years when he went to South Bloorafield and purchased the grist-mill now owned 
by Mr. Cooper. After three years he went to Texas, where he remained three years 
and assisted in establishing the Butterfield overland mail route. In 1861 he returned 
to Bristol and has since been engaged in farming. He was also in the mercantile busi- 
ness from 1870-1889. Mr. Wheeler has been twice married, first October 15, 1848, to 
Mary P. Cad worth of Bristol, daughter of Ezekiel Cudworth. They had seven chil- 
dren : Isabella, Roswell, Florence, Wallace, Horatio (deceased), Nathaniel and Arthur. 
Mrs. Wheeler died December 19, 1870, and December 30, 1871, Mr. Wheeler married 
Sarina Cleveland of Naples, daughter of Wheeler G. and Julia (Parks) Cleveland. Mr. 
Wheeler's second wife bore him four children : Sylvester H., Mabel E., Roland E., and 
R. Leslie, all of whom are living. Mr. Wheeler is a Republican and has been superin- 
tendent of schools two years, and was supervisor four years. He and family attend 
the Universalist church. 

Wolven, John, Phelps, was born in Seneca, November, 21, 1841, one of two children 
the other being Harriet, widow of J. C. Jackson,) of Alexander and Eliza (Towns- 
end) Wolven. Alexander, the father, was born near Saugerties, the mother being a 
native of Seneca. The grandfather was Levi Wolven. John married, November 22, 
1865, Eloise Snyder of Lyons, one of eight children of Philip and Ann Snyder. They 
have one son, Elmer E., and an adopted daughter, Alee Harmon Wolven. Since 
1846 Mr. Wolven has lived on his fine farm of 320 acres which is used for general 
farming, fruit and mint. He also has a flock of 140 sheep. 

Waite, D. Byron, Canadice, was born near his present residence in Canadice, Feb- 
ruary 29, 1828. His father, Capt. Benjamin G. Waite, was born in Petersburg, N. Y., 
April 27, 1793. He was with the Eighty-sixth New York Volunteers in the war of 
1812, under General Brown on the northern frontier in this State. He married Mary 
Odell, sister of the late Mrs. Lydia Baxter, the poet, and her grandfather, Abbott, 
fell in the Revolutionary War. Captain Waite died in Canadice, January 27, 1861. 
Peleg, grandfather of our subject, was born in West Greenwich, R. I., in 1761, and 
his wife was Mary Greene, whose father was a cousin of Gen. Naihaniel Greene of 
Revolutionary fame. Peleg was a descendant in the fifth generation of Thomas of 
Portsmouth, R. I., who came from England in 1634 to Boston, and went to Portsmouth 
in 1639. D. Byron was educated at Alfred Seminary, Clinton Liberal Institute, and 



204 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

at the National Law School at Ballston, and was admitted to the bar at Canton, N. 
Y., in 1850. He went to Council Bluffs, la., the same year, and was readmitted in that 
State. In 1852 he was elected district attorney of Mills county. He practiced but a 
short time, when he retired permanently. He was then engaged in the service of the 
American Fur Company, and in crossing emigrants for the Council Bluffs Ferry Com- 
pany, and for two years traveled in the wilds of Kansas, Nebraska and Dakota, buy- 
ing and collectmg furs. In 1853 he returned to his native town, and was elected jus- 
tice of the peace, an office he has held longer than any other incumbent in the town, 
but was never an aspirant for any office whatever. In 1855 he married Harriet M., 
daughter of Maurice Brown, an attorney at Springwater. He removed to Hastings, 
Minn., but owing to the ill health of his parents he returned a year later, and has 
resided here ever since. He has had four children : Byron Audubon, Genevra, Bur- 
etta, and Gates Percival. The two sons are at Kettle Falls, Wash. His wife died in 
18G9, and he married second Amanda M. Colvin, widow of the Rev. W. W. Colvin, a 
Methodist clergyman. Early in life Mr. Waite was a teacher in the common schools. 
He has devoted considerable time to collecting and writing local history, and has col- 
lected and classified the botanical subjects of his native town. He is a member of the 
"Ornithologists' Union," and is now engaged in writing the botanical and bird history 
of Canadice. In politics he is a Republican, hut often votes for a competent honest 
Democrat rather than for a Republican of poorer qualifications. His father, Captain 
Waite, had four sons and two daughters, of whom D. Byron and Edwin Gr. are living 
of the sons. The latter was born in 1824 in Granville, Washington county, before 
the family came to this town. He went to California as a gold hunter in 1849, and 
has been a member of both branches of the State Legislature there, county trea.surer 
of Nevada county, and during four administrations was naval officer of San Francisco, 
and after that chief clerk in the Mint. He is now secretary of state of California. 

White, Captain George, Phelps, was born in Scotland, May 16, 1803. He early 
adopted a seafaring life, and at fourteen years began as cabin boy. At the age of twenty- 
one he became captain, and for forty years followed the sea. At the age of thirty-one 
he married Euphemia Gibson, sister of John Gibson, one of the noted men of Phelps, 
who did much for the improvement of the village (the present Gibson block, now owned 
by the White family, having been built by him). Captain White and wife came to this 
country thirty-five years ago and settled in Phelps, on the farm where they ever after- 
wards made their home, and where they celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their 
marriage in 1884. Captain White died at his home April 29, 1893, as the age of eighty- 
nine years, leaving a wife and five children, three sons and two daughters. One son died 
in Phelps in 1866. John Gibson died a bachelor in August, 1864, having been in his 
life time largely engaged in malting and distilling. 

Whitney, Cheney P., Phelps, was born in Seneca June 10, 1836. His father was 
Cheeney Whitney, born April 27, 1795 (died at the age of ninety). His mother was 
Olive Colwell of Seneca, and her parents were Daniel and Thankful (Paine) Colwell. 
Nathan Whitney, the grandfather, came to this State from Conway, Mass., in 1792. 
Cheney P. married, November 26, 1861, Mary C, daughter of John F. and Margaret 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 205 

(Lever) Chapman of East Hampton, Mass., and New Jersey. The grandfather was 
Daniel Chapmai), the family dating back to the Chapmans of Saybrook, Conn. They 
have four children : Margaret Olive (Mrs. Wm. F. Chapman of Boston) ; Almon C, 
Minnie M., and Jchn Cheeney. Mr. Whitney came to Phelps in 1873. His farm of 
136 acres is used for fruit. He having about twenty-five acres of vineyard, twenty-five 
of apple orchard, and five acres of berries ; it being one of the noted fruit farms of this 
section. 

Wheelock, Royal, West Bloomfield, was born July 16, 1766, and was among the first 
settlers of the town of West Bloomfield. He came from Uxbridge, Mass,, wnth his 
wife, daughter B^^tsey, son Harry, and in company with Captain Robert Taft, settled in 
West Bloomfield in 1793. He was a descendant in the sixth generation of Ralph Whee- 
lock.whowas born in Shropshire, Eng., in 1600 and came to this country in 1638 with 
his wife, a daughter and a son, and settled in Medfield, Mass. He was one of the first 
selectmen of that town, and held many offices ' f trust. Royal Wheelock married Lydia 
Taft, daughter of Captain Robert Taft, and died in West Bloomfield November 24, 1856. 
His wife, born May 22, 1774, died January 13, 1847. Their children were: Betsey, 
born January 23, 1790, married Otis Thompson and died in West Bloomfield; Harry, 
born October 20, 1792, married Judith Gillett and died in Leicester, N. Y. ; Nancy, 
born January 16, 1796, married Hon. Reynold Peck in June, 1817, and is now living 
in West Bloomfield, aged ninety-seven years ; Silas, born May 14, 1799, married Almira 
Durrant and died in Salem, Mich., March 17, 1869 ; Royal, born April 15, 1801, married 
Ann Pinckney and died in Salem, Mich., December 22, 1876 ; Robert T., born March 
3, 1803, married Marj' J. Murray, and died in Superior, Mich., September 27,1848; Ira 
T., born September 25, 1805, died unmarried in Leicester, N. Y., June 16, 1829 ; Ann, 
born September 27, 1811, married Elijah Niles, and is now living at Alfred, N. Y. ; John 
R., born Decembers, 1808, married first, Rhoda, and second, Deborah Plimpton, and 
died in West Bloomfield in 1889 ; Jerry L, born December 13, 1817, married Mary 
Allen April 27, 1847, and died at Ovid, Mich., November 7, -1890. Mrs. Nancy Peck 
was among the first white children born in Bloomfield, and is now the oldest inhabitant. 
She recalls many reminiscences of the pioneer days. For many years after her mar- 
riage a large portion of the clothing of her family was spun and woven by hfer hands. 

Vanderhoof, Levi, Manchester, was born in Manchester December 22, 1843. His 
grandfather, Jacob Vanderhoof, ran the old Vanderhoof hotel here for many years. His 
father, Abram Vanderhoof, followed agricultural pursuits and became possessed of con- 
siderable land in this vicinity. The family have always been of considerable influence 
and importance, especially in political aff lirs and have been strong Democrats. Levi 
possesses a fine farm of 100 acres besides other property. He married Mary S., daughter 
of Simon P Robinson. They have no children. 

Wheat, Van Bui*en, Phelps, was born in Phelps on the family homestead December 
21, 1834, son of Sidney (born in Phelps December 27, 1809) and Rebecca (Waggoner) 
Wheat of Miftlinsburg, Pa. Benjamin, the grandfather, was born in Conway, Mass., 
March 25, 1781, and came to New York when a boy. V. B. Wheat married. May 11, 
1865, Ann Janette Stoughtenburg, of Hopewell, daughter of Isaac and Ann Stoughten- 



206 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

burg. They had four children : Rollin L., Anna R., Elsie W., and Sidney I. Mr. 
Wheat and his son, R. L., own a farm of 150 acres, about forty of which are devoted to 
fruit culture. They have a vineyard of twenty three acres in full bearing and very 
productive. They are also engaged in breeding and raising horses for the market. Mr. 
Wheat is one of the representative citizens of the town. 

Warner Family, The.— Jesse Warner came to Orleans, town of Hopewell, from Con- 
way, Mass., in 1796, and settled on the h 11 just east of the village of Orleans, where he 
resided until his death at the age of eighty-six years. His wife was Sarah Warrener, 
by whom he had seven sons and one daughter, who all settled on farms near him, 
married and reared large families of children. Their names in the order of their birth 
were: Elijah, Rufus, Lewis, John, Oliver, Jesse and James, and the daughter Lucinda ; 
the latter married Elisha Peck, and was the mother of a large family, including the 
late Prof. Lewis Peck, of Phelps. Jesse Warner, sr., was a rigid Calvanislic Baptist 
and would argue strongly in favor of his theology ; he was a very positive man, and 
has been heard to say to his antagonist in argument, shaking his cane at him (usually 
his oldest son, Elijah, who leaned to Arminiaiiism), "You little "coon, you! don't 
you suppose / know ;" with no intent to use his cane only as emphasizing his opinion. 
In 1812 or '13, when an epidemic of fever swept this section of the country, Mr. 
Warner contracted the disease, and it was believed that he would not recover; so 
strong was this bplief that his son Lewis measured his father for a shroud and went 
to Geneva (the only place where it could be obtained) and returned with it to find 
his father improving, finally recovering. Lewis was soon taken with the disease and 
died, and the shroud secured for his father was used for him. He left four sons and 
three daughters, who reached maturity. A notable event in the family history oc- 
curred during the War of 1812. Under the call for volunteers to repel the enemy at 
the invasion of Buffalo, Jesse Warner, jr., with Washington Moore, his brother William 
and others, responded. Instead of repelling the invasion the little army was defeated, 
and made its escape as best it could. During the retreat many of the volunteers 
were shot by the Indians concealed in the woods along the route. Jesse was shot in 
the hip, and he carried the ball through life. Being so seriously wounded that he 
could not escape, he was captured by the Indians, and though the blood was gushing 
from the wound into his boot he strove to walk without limping, believing that his 
captors would have killed and scalped him had they known he was so seriously 
wounded. They took his new hat and coat and gave him in return an old conical hat 
and an old gray frock coat, both of which he brought home with him, and they were 
retained many years in the family as mementoes of the event. He was taken to 
Canada and confined in the upper story of a block- house near the Niagara River, 
under guard. He and a son of Judge Barker tore their blankets into strips to form a 
rope, by which they let themselves down to the ground. The alarm was soon given, 
but they were not pursued, as evidently it was supposed they would not undertake 
the hazardous crossing of the river. This, however, they did by tying rails together 
with their strips of blanket, making a frail raft, upon which they floated and paddled 
down and across the river, through floating cakes of ice, landing two or three miles 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 207 

below the point of starting, nearly opposite the British fort on the other side. No 
grass grew under their feet as they hastened homeward, Jesse to joyfully meet his 
young wife and two children and rejoicing friends. Washington Moore while running 
from ihe battle-ground with his gun in his right hand in a horizontal position, was 
shot through the wrist, causing him to drop his gun ; lie did not stop to pick it up, but 
hastened on and finally reached his home. Esquire William Moore (father of Wm. A 
Moore, attorney and counselor-at law, of Detroit, Mich.) escaped without a scratch 
He was a member of the first Constitutional Convention of Michigan, and was also a 
member of the Legislature of that State. Another incident of the family history was 
the tragic death of Oliver Warner. He started on a visit to his native town of Con- 
way about 1825. While traveling by stage coach in the vicinity where he was born, 
a shower came up and the stage halted at a country tavern while the passengers sought 
the shelter of the hostelry until the shower should pass. During the storm lightning 
struck the house and instantly killed Oliver Warner and another. The sad event was 
a severe shock to his wife and family of six sons and two daughters. He was buried 
there at the time, and the next winter his brothers John and Jesse went with horses 
and sleigh and brought the body home, and it was buried in Orleans cemetery, where 
his widow long since was laid by his side. John Warner was bound an apprentice to 
the tanner's trade at the time his father came to this county, consequently he did not 
come with the rest of the family, but remained to finish his trade, and came four or 
five years later, about 1800. He married Susan Post, who came from Southampton, 
near the east end of Long Island. He built a tannery ai'd nia'^c lenther, boots and 
shoes for people even miles away, and after twelve years bought the farm where his 
son Ulysses now lives, and built thereon the two-story brick house now occupied by 
the latter. There, from about 1812, he kept a tavern, furnishing accommodations to 
the teamsters who for many years carted goods from Albany to Buffalo with six and 
eight-horse teams. The Tonawanda and Oneida Indians, in their visits back and 
forth, often put up at this tavern, sleeping in the bar room, shed and horse barn, and 
Ulysses remembers having to step over them to get upstairs to bed- In religion most 
of Je.'Jse Warner's children were Baptists; John and Jesse, however, were Universal- 
ists. Ulysses Warner, son of John, and who now occupies his father's homestead, in 
addition to the preceding interesting account of his ancestors, thus speaks of himself: 
" I dislike to write about myself; besides, I have not had a very eventful life or a very 
brilliant history. I was born on the 7th of May, 1812, while our nation was struggling 
with Great Britain !o obtain or retain free trade and sailors' rights on the high seas 
I had good common school advantages and the benefit of some excellent select schools, 
with such teachers as Judge Richard Marvin, of Chautauqua, and John L. Moore, old- 
est son of Esquire William Moore. I married on the 10th of December, 1835, Mary 
Ann Rice, daughter of Eider Caleb Rice, whose mother was the sister of the eccentric 
Rev. John Leland of New England fame. She died in 1842, leaving one son, still sur- 
viving. I married second Eliza Ann Jones, on the 23d of March, 1843, a daughter of 
the late Thomas C. Jones, of Hopewell, by whom we have seven sons and four daugh- 
ters, a)\ now living, making twelve for me, my present wife having lost two twin boys. 
I was brought up on a farm and in a tavern. There used to be martial music and very. 



208 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

much patriotism when 1 was a boy ; many and many company trainings — barefoots 
(infantry) and independent rifle corps — have met at our house to exercise in military 
tactics, to show to the world that no people could successfully invade us or tread on 
our toes imless they expected to be immediately annihilated ; and many roast turkeys 
and pigs, and rice puddings, etc., have they partaken of without being molested by any 
foreign or domestic fee. I said ab^ive that I was a faimer, but at maturity my brother 
older had learned the tanning aud currying trade at Medina. I joined with him and 
erected a tannery and shoe shop in Orleans and run it about fifteen years; following 
this, I was in the drv goods and grocery business three or four years ; then I moved 
on to the home farm, where I still reside, and have worked hard and long to raise and 
educate my children, and have taught them, I hope, to be honest and truthful, which 
would have a tendency to make them respectable. In my younger days I was a 
Universalist, and think that faith is the nearest right of any. In politics I was a Dem- 
ocrat until during the great Rebellion, when Lincoln was crossing that boisterous 
stream, I voted for him the second time he was elected ; sincp then I have supported 
the Republican policy. As a Democrat I was elected justice of the peace at the age of 
twenty-one years, and held the office for more than thirty years, to about the close ot 
the war. The majority of the electors being Democratic, and I having committed the 
' unpardonable sin,' in their opinion, when I voted to sanction a more vigorous prose- 
cution of the war and that it was not a failure, I was deemed unfit or incompetent to 
hold the office any longer, and they gave me the cold shoulder, and with a united push 
shoved me off their platform — without any regard for past service — although the result 
of a free ballot and honest count. During the time I held that office I was selected 
and served three or four years on the bench with circuit and county judges for the trial 
of criminals in the Oyer and Terminer and Sessions. I was elected to and served in 
the State Legislature in the year 1859." 

Webster, Edward B., Geneva, was born in Geneva, September 2, 1844, and was the 
son of the late Horace Webster, professor of mathematics in Hobart College, ^nd after- 
wards president of the College of the City of New York. He died in Geneva in 1870, 
leaving two children: Margaret W., wife of William Slosson, and Edward B., the su'j- 
ject of this sketch. In April, 1861, Edward enlisted in the second company of the 
Seventh Regiment of N. Y. thirty day men, and afterward re-enlisted for three years 
in Company E, of the One Hundred and Sixty-fifth N. Y. Vols. Mr. Webster entered 
the service as a private, and by promotion was commissioned second lieutenant, first lieu- 
tenant and eventually captain of his company, and holding the latter was mustered 
but during the fall of 1865. Returning to Geneva, Captain Webster engaged in farming 
for several years, and later became connected with the village gas works. In 1881 he 
was appointed postmaster at Geneva, and served one term. In 1885 he was elected 
secretary of the Phillips & Clark Stove Company, a position he still holds. In 1867 
Mr. Webster was married to Helen Farr, by whom he has had seven children, six of 
whom are still living. 

Watson, Grove R., Geneva, was born in the town of Seneca, Ontario county, No- 
vember 26, 1868, was educated in the common schools of Geneva, and is associated 



. FAMILY SKETCHES. 209 

with William Wilson in the nursery business, under the firm name of William Wilson 
& Co., of Geneva. Mr. Watson's father, John, was born in the town of Benton, Yates 
county, was a farmer by occupation, and married Mary Whedon of the town of Seneca. 
They had two children : Grove R. and Margaret E., who died at the age of s<^ven years. 
Mr. Watson's father died in 1874, and his mother in 1882. Mr. Watson is a member 
of tlie Knights of Pythias, also of the Algonquin Club. Some of his ancestors were in 
the Revolutionary war. 

Williams, George N., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, March 11, 1837. a son 
of Dr. Thomas Williams, a native of New Hampshire, where he was born March 27, 
1787. He was a graduate of Dartmouth College class of 1814, and of Dartmouth Med- 
ical College in 1818. He emigrated that year to Ontario county and located in Canan- 
daigua, following the practice of his profession until his death, January 9, 1860. He 
married November 27, 1823, Lucinda Barlow, daughter of Col. Thomas Remington of 
Canandaigua, and they had eleven children, of whom four are living: Mrs. Charles P. 
Johnson of Wisner, Mich., Mrs. L. C. Loomis of Washington, D. C, Mrs. W. L. Gor- 
don of Topeka, and George N. He was educated at East Bloomfield Academy and 
Lima Seminary, and after leaving school taught for a short time, then studied law until 
November, 1861, when he enlisted as a private, and was elected first lieutenant of Com- 
pany K, Ninety- eighth Regiment N. Y. Volunteers; he was afterwards promoted to a 
captaincy, and was mustered out of the service in June, 1863. Mr. Williams is now a 
member of the military order of the Loyal Legion of the United Stated. Returning 
to Canandaigua he resumed the study of law, and was admitted to practice in Decem- 
ber, 1864. He followed his profession for four years, then engaged in the business of 
banking, which is still his occupation. He was twice elected treasurer of Ontario 
county, and for six years was cashier of the First National Bank of Canandaigua. In 
the year 1866 Mr. Williams married Abigail Stanley, daughter of ex-Governor Myron 
H. Clark, and they have two children, a daughter, Mary Clark Williams of Canandai- 
gua, and a son, Clark Williams of New York city. 

Wilder, Charles J., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, November 27, 1852, a 
son of Austin H., a native also, born in 1809, and died in 1872. He was a man of con- 
siderable prominence in Canandaigua, and during the early days of the N. Y. C. R. R. 
held the office of station agent here. Of his seven children four survive : Mrs. Frank 
Cooley of Jackson, Mich , I. Hart Wilder of Flint, Mich., Mrs. H. L. Hart of Canan- 
daigua, and Charles J. The latter was educated in the common schools and at the 
academy here. After leaving school he followed farming a short time. He th^-n went 
as clerk in the jewelry store of W. H. Ellis. Here he remained six years, then en- 
gaged as bookkeeper with Torrey & Son, coal dealers, where he has been for nine 
years. The office is now conducted by T. M Emerick. In the spring of 1884 Mr. 
Wilder was nominated on the Republican ticket for town clerk, and elected by a major- 
ity of about 150, and was re-elected to the same po.sition for five years. He is a mem- 
ber of Kanandarque Lodge, K. of P., No. 245. 

Woodin, Benjamin P., Geneva, was born on the old homestead, March 12, 1840; was 
educated in the public schools, and has always followed farming. September 27, 1871, 



210 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

he married Mary E Reed of Geneva, and they had four daughters and a son, the latter 
dymg in extreme infancy. The others were: Juha G., Naomi R., Lizzie R. and Elsa 
M. Mr. Woodin's father, Benjamin, was born in Newburg, Orange county, in 1787, 
and came to the White Spring farm with his parents when an infant. He married 
Juha A. Condit of Junius, Seneca county, and they had twelve children, ten of whom 
grew to maturity : Moses C, Matilda, Elsa, Mary, Electa G, Juha A., Justin G., Har- 
riet M., Byron G. and Benjamin P. Mr. Woodin's grandfather, James, was a soldier 
in the Revolutionary, and also in the French and Indian war. The musket, cartridge- 
box and belts that he carried are in the possession of Mr. Woodin. 

Widman, William A., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, April 17, 1860, a son 
of John, one of the first shoe dealers of the town, born in Germany in 1823. He came 
to this country when about twenty-five years old, first locating at Rochester, where he 
remained a short time, then at West Bloomfield. He came to Canandaigua next and 
followed shoemaking. He was a partner with Latta & Orr, and in 1867 entered into 
partnership with Matthew O'Brien in the shoe business. After about four months the 
building where the Hubbell block now stands was burned, and Mr. Widman lost very 
heavily. In 1868 he established a business alone, which he conducted until his death 
(1886), with the exception of about eighteen months,when John A. Ming was with him. 
In 1852 he married Mary B. Drexler, by whom he had eleven children, of whom ten 
survive. William A., the second son, is now conducting the store where his father was 
proprietor so long, located at 220 Main street, where he carries a complete stock of 
boots and shoes, rubbers, etc., also conducting a manufacturing department in connec- 
tion. He is assisted in the store by his brother Charles, who is at the head of the cus- 
tom department, ai^d his sister Louise is also an assistant in the store. They employ 
James Hughes and Herman Knaier in the custom and repair department. 

Washburn, Charles W., Gorham, was born in Gorham on the farm now owned by the 
Joshaa Washburn estate. He is a son of Joshua, a son of Isaac, a native of Herkimer 
county and one of the pioneers of Gorham. settling near Rushville in an early day, 
where he lived and died. Joshua was born in Gorham in 1802. R\s first wife was 
Christine Wagner, and they had three children. His second wife was Phoebe Ketchini 
of Pittstown, Rensselaer county, born in 1815. She was one of twelve children of 
Joseph and Ollie (Vene.sse) Ketchim. By the second marriage Mr. Washburn had five 
sons ami two daughters. He was poormaster and a«!sessor many years, and owned 124 
acres at his death, April 1 1, 1879. Charles W. was reared on a farm, and educated in the 
common school«. Farming has been his life occupation. He is a Democrat, and a 
member of Reed's Corners Grange and Rushville Masonic Lodge, also a member of 
Reed's Corners Agricultural Society ftnd Rushville Agricultural Society. 

Wheeler, Rv:)bert H , East Bloomfield, was born June 3, 1837, a son of Addison H., 
a son of Major George A. Wlieeler, who was a son of Joshua and Rebecca (Snow) 
Wheeler, natives of Connecticut. Major George A. was a native of Connecticut, born 
April 21, 1777. About 1800 he came to East Bloomfield, and there married Phoebe, 
daughter ■ f Benjamin Wheeler, and had twelve children, nine survive. Mr. Wheeler 
was in the war of 1812, and once kept a tavern in Lakeville, Livingston county, but in 



MMILY sketches. 21 i 

1826 settled on a farm of 180 acres in East Bloorafield. He died in 1835, and his wife 
ill 1849. Addison H. was born in Livingston county in 1806, and married Lucy P. 
Remington of Canandaigua, born in 1810, a daughter of Thaddeus and Betsey (Root) 
Remington, early settlers there. Mr. Wheeler and wife had six sons and three daugh- 
ters, all living except one daughter, who died young. Mr. Wheeler was a farmer, 
and at one time owned 500 acres of land. He was a Republican, and died in Bast 
BInnm field February 29, 1872, and his wife April 5, 1884. Robert H. Wheeler re- 
ceived a common school education, and has made farming his life occupation. In 
1865 he bought the farm he now owi.s of 242 acres, on which he has erected buildings 
and made other improvements at a cost of $5,000. He is a Republican, and through 
his efforts a post-office was established, in 1892, known as "Wheeler's Station." 
Mr. Wheeler has been highway commissioner three years, and was elected sheriff 
of Ontario county in 1886. He is a member of Canandaigua Lodge No. 294, F. & 
A. M. January 28, 1858, he married Elizabeth A. Miller of East Bloomfield, one 
of two daughters of Spencer C. and Ann C. (Cater) Miller, he a native of Canandaigua, 
born May, 1815, and she was born in Ulster county. May 15, 1815, and came to East 
Bloomfield with her parents, Peter and Mary Jansen Cater, to live when five years 
old. Mary Jansen Cater was a descendant of Roeloff and Anneka Webber Jansen, of 
which quite a history is given in Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. 420, May, 1885. 
Spencer C. was a son of Jesse and Eunice Morley Miller, natives of Connecticut, who 
came to Canandaigua. Eunice Morley Miller was a daughter of Timothy and Eunice 
Bissel Morley of Connecticut. To subject and wife were born three children : Marcia R., 
Lizzie J. and Horace C Marcia R. is the wife of Willis B. Lee of East Bloomfield. 
In 1885 Mr. Lee put up a cider mill at Wheeler Station, and has since done an ex- 
tensive business as a produce dealer. Lizzie Jansen Wheeler is the wife of Charles B. 
Green of Red Creek, Wayne county. They had one son, Avery W., who died April 
10, 1893, aged ten months. Horace G. is als^ a member of Canandaigua Lodge No_ 
294, F. & A. M., also of Canandaigua Lodge No. 245, K. of P. His occupation is that 
of a locomotive engineer. In the fall of 1892 he married Maude S. Benham, a native 
of East Bloomfield, and daughter of Chester Benham, of Canandaigua. 

Warfield, Zadock, Hopewell, was bora in 1808, February 15, in Montgomery county. 
Md., and came to this State in 1828. He married Chloe, second daughter of Leonard 
Knapp, December 20, 1832. He was the fourth child of Zadock and Rachel Warfield. 
His grandfather, Birce Warfield, was born in Anna Arundel Co., Md., and was a soldier 
in the Revolutionary War. He gave his sword to his grandson at the age of six years, 
being in his, Zadock's, possession up to April, 1893, when he transferred it to H. J. War- 
field, of Mason, Mich. This was the wish of his grandfather that it be handed down 
from one generation to another, as long as there was a Warfield left, or to coming pos- 
terity. Zadock Warfield, jr., moved from his native State to the town of Manchester 
with his parents at the age of twenty years, living with his father until he married, and 
soon after moved to the town of Hopewell, where he has since Uved at the old home- 
stead, fifty-seven years. In the spring of 1893 he moved to Shortsville ; is now living 
with his daughters, his wife having crossed the river August 17, 1889, in her seventy- 
seventh year. They lived to celebrate their golden wedding, December 20, 1882. 



212 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Eight children blessed this union, all of whom are now living: Leonard K., Mary E. 
Clementine, Louesa J., Zadock W., Henry J., Eugene E., and Issabell C. Nineteen 
grandchildren were born to thera, all but one (a twin babe) lived to bless this union, 
and three great-grandchildren are now living. Mr. Warfield is a Republican, he was 
also a devout Methodist, as also his wife, and endured the hardships of pioneer life. He 
lived to see the dense forest exchanged far out to fertile fields. 

Wheeler, John B., East Bloomfield, was born in East Bloomfield, August 10, 1833. 
His father, John Harvey, was a son of Benjamin, and was born in Ma.«sachusetts, 
March 16, 1795, coming to East Bloomfield when five years of age. His wife was Bet- 
sey A. Lee, a native of East Bloomfield, born in March, 1795, and they had five sons 
and seven daughters, of whom two sons and three daughters survive. Betsey A. 
was a daughter of Amos Lee, a native of Massachusetts, and one of the first settlers of 
East Bloomfield. Mr. Wheeler became an extensive real estate owner, though at his 
death he owned but 200 acres. Mr. Wheeler was an active Republican, but not an of- 
fice seeker. He was a strong temperance man, and assisted largely in building the 
Baptist and Universalist churches at Baptist Hill. He died in June, 1871. John B. 
was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He and his brother Nathan 
rented the homestead until 1861, when he purchased the farm of 200 acres, where he 
has since resided. He has made improvements at a cost $10,000, having built a fine 
residence in 1878. Mr. Wheeler is an active Republican, but has always declined of- 
fice. He attends and supports the Universalist Church. March 8, 1855, he married 
Achsah M., daughter of Royal A. Andrews, of Bristol, and they have three children : 
George A., Jesse A., and Edith A. Edith A. died at the age of five years. George A. 
was educated at East Bloomfield Academy and Genesee Wesley an Seminary, and is a 
farmer of East Bloomfield. He married M. Belle, daughter of Benjamin F. Hicks, and 
has four children : Edith, Ralph H., Margaret, and Leah. Jesse A. was educated in 
Canandaigua Academy and Genesee Wesieyan Seminary. He began teaching at sev- 
enteen years, and has been following it in connection with farming since In 1886 he 
married Katie, daughter of William L. Rowe, of Columbia county, and they have two 
children : Charles R., and Bessie. 

Washburn, John W., Gorham, was born on the farm he now owns January 15, 1829. 
His father was Richard, a son of Isaac and Sarah Washburn, of Eastern, who had eight 
children. About 1809 the latter settled in Gorham on the farm now owned by Mr. 
Thomas, where he died. His family, except one son that died in the West, live in 
Gorham and Canandaigua. Richard Washburn was born in Eastern as was also his 
wife, Elizabeth Francisco. Richard Washburn and wife have four sons and four daugh- 
ters, of whom two are living. John W., and Mrs. Emeline Ketcham. About 1811 Mr. 
Washburn settled on eighty acres of the Phelps and Gorham purchase. He was a 
Whig in politics and was highway commissioner a number of years. He died in Gor- 
ham, June 22, 1868, and his wife in 1855. John W. was educated in the common 
schools and in Rushville Academy. February 16, 1871, he married Mary C, daughter 
of George Y. Daines, a native of Torrey, who now resides at Dresden at the age of 
eighty-three years. Her grandfather was Jesse Daines, an early settler of Torrey. Mr. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 213 

Washburn has always been a farmer and has dealt extensively in sheep. He is a Demo- 
crat in politics, has been commissioner of highways six years in succession, and is now 
assessor. He is a member of Rushvijle Lodge No. 377 F. & A. M., and he and family 
attend and support the M. E. Church at Rushville, N. Y. 

Walter, William W., Hopewell, was born in Kent county, England, June 20, 1837, 
the day Queen Victoria ascended the throne. He is the youngest of nine children of 
James and Frances (Friday) Walter, natives of England. In 1853 Mr. Walter came to 
America and resided with his children (who had previously emigrated; until his death 
in February, 1867. At the age of nine years subject began to support himself by 
working on a farm. At the age of fifteen years he came to America, where he con- 
tinued farm work and also attended school in Madison county. He afterwards taught 
school two years. In 1861 he enlisted in the First N. Y. Engineer Regiment, and 
served three years. In November, 1864, he received his discharge, and returned to 
Syracuse, where he engaged in the butcher busine.ss one year, also taught school in the 
towns of Onondaga and La Fayette a number of terms. He then purchased a farm near 
Syracuse, where he resided until 1874, when he bought sixty acres known as Parkus 
farm in Hopewell. He makes a specialty of dairying, and in pilitics is a Republican. 
In 1865 Mr. Walter married Mary R. Gri< gs, a native of Stockbridge, and the youngest 
of six children of J. C. and Polly (Carbin) Griggs, natives of Tolland county. Conn. 
Mr. Walters and wife have these children : Herbert E., Edwin 0. (died in infancy), and 
Arthur J. 

Welch, William Harris, Canandaigua, was born in Erie, Pa., December 15, 1862, a 
son of Edwin H. and Elizabeth H. (Fidler) Welch. Edwin H. was born in Johnstown, 
Pa., and was educated for a civil engineer in the Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y., 
and has always followed this profession, with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company 
much of the time. He is now living at Lock Haven, Pa. He has three children : Liz- 
zie Helena, Paul Herbert, an artist, and William H. The boyhood of the latter was 
spent in Lock Haven, where his parents moved before he was two years old. He was 
educated in the common schools and at the State Normal School of Lock Haven, 
and spent six years in study and practice with his father. In the summer of 1879 he 
was chairman of an engineer corps, which was his first start, and was employed on 
railroad location and construction work from 1880 to 1885. In February, 1885, he 
went to Elmira, and in June, 1885, came to Canandaigua, where he has since made his 
home, holding the position of supervisor of the Canandaigua Division of the Northern 
Central Railway since September 1, 1891. He married, October 10, 1888, Grace G., 
daughter of the Hon. John Raines, and they are the parents of three daughters : Cath- 
erine Elizabeth, Edith Helena, and Grace Pauline. 

Wilcox, William W., Canandaigua, was born inSimsbury, Conn., September 12, 1852, 
and came with his parents to Canandaigua in 1857, where they bought the Judge Sib- 
ley property, and for the first few years conducted the farm ; at a later day he was 
president of the First National Bank. He was a very prominent man in the town, and 
died August 28, 1885. He had eight children, two of whom reside in Canandaigua: 
Charles, who conducts a vineyard on the lake ; and William W. The latter was edu- 



214 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

cated in Canandaigua, and after leaving school went to Blooniington, III., and engaged 
in tlie wholesale and retail grocery business for seven years, returning to Canandaigua 
in 1 882, and in 18S3 went as bookkeeper for N. H. Grimes, and at the death of the lat- 
ter in 1891 he bought the store, which he has since conducted. He carries a full line 
of everything sold in a grocery and provision store and does a very large business. He 
employs nine clerks besides bookkeeper and cashier. 

Woolston, Franklin, Victor, was born on the old homestead near Fishers, April 24, 
1836. He was educated in the district schools and Fair6eld Academy, and is a farmer. 
March 31, 1883, he married Rhoda, daughter of John and Maria Ingraham, formerly of 
Penfield, Monroe county, and they have had five children : John W., and Franklin I. 
died in infancy, three survive: Miranda, George A., and Elmira W. Mr. Woolston's 
father, William, was born near the village of Victor, June 13, 1807, and married Laura 
Andrus, who was born near Roxbury, Delaware county, May 23, 1812. Her father 
joined farms with Jay Gould's father. They had eight children : Franklin, John A., 
Laura A., Miranda C, William J., Daniel D., Hannah H., and David W. Mrs. Wools- 
ton's father, John Ingraham, was born in Perth, Canada, July 12, 1832, and married 
Maria Johnson, of Farraersville, Canada. They had thirteen children: Richad J., 
Rhoda, William A., Budora, Isabelle, Charles M., Mary L.. Lydia M., Harriet J., Leon- 
E., George N., Arthur H., and Emma M. 

Young, Samuel D., Farraington, was born east of the homestead upon which he now 
resides November 8, 1848. He was educated in the district schools and followed farm- 
ing. October 18, 1870, he married Harriet L., daughter of Nathan L. and Lydia S. 
Aldrich. Both paternal and maternal sides of those families were the oldest and earliest 
settlers of the town. They have two children: Electa L., and John N. Mr. Young's 
father, John, was born in Phelps, August 18, 1808. He was educated in the district 
schools and was a farmer. February 5, 1827, he married Electa Wilcox, and had seven 
children: Nancy, born in 1829 ; Sarah in 1832, who died at the age of fourteen years; 
Mary A., born in 1834; Elizabeth, born in 1836; William, in 1841 ; Irena, born 1845; 
and Samuel D. Their mother was born in the town of Phelps, September 4, 1809, and 
died October 12. 1870. 'John moved his family to Farmington in 1835, with a capital 
of less than $500, but by strict attention he acquired considerable property, owning 
at one time 1,100 acres in this county. He died August 31, 1892. Mr. Young's grand- 
father, William, was born in 1782 in Massachusetts, and came west when a young man- 
In 1807 he married Mrs. Nancy (Dickinson) Pulling, and they had four children : John, 
William, Oliver, and Ambrose P. The ancestry of the Young family is Dutch. Will- 
iam married Althina Frost in 1864, and had three children: Mary E., Hattie and Carrie. 
He died January 31, 1870. 

Lobdell, Burton H., Victor, was born on the old homestead three miles southeast of 
the village March 18, 1846. He was educated in the public schools and Eastman's 
Commercial College, Rochester, and is a farmer. March 19, 1873, he married Amelia 
Ketchum of Victor, and they have two children : Nelson L., and Marion F. Mr. Lob- 
dell's father, Jacob L., was also born on the old homestead in 1819. In 1843 he mar- 
ried Joanna Farr, formerly of Canandaigua, and they have four children : Burton H., 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 215 

Byron J., Oliver L., and Frances M. Byron J. is in Los Angeles, California. Mr. 
Lobdell's grandfather was born in Stockbridge, Mass., March 14, 1771, and came to this 
town at an early day. He was the first white man that wintered in the town, and was 
the first supervisor of Victor, was justice of the peace several years, and was a man of 
good judgment. He married Hannah Boughton, who was born April 6, 1775, and had 
fourteen children. He died November 12, 1847, and his wife April 6, 186G. 

Crittenden, Stalham, Phelps, was born in Phelps, April 30, 1827, one of seven chil- 
dren of Cotton and Esther (Rice) Crittenden, both of whom came to Phelps from Con- 
way, Mass., in early life. Osee Crittenden, the grandfather, came from Massachusetts 
also. Mr. Crittenden married November 16, 185G, M. A. Knapp, of Hopewell, daugh- 
ter of John and Louisa (Warner) Knapp of that town. They have one son, Clarence 
E., who married in 1879 Grace, daughter of George W. and Adaline (Humphrey) Van 
Auken. They have three children : Alice W., Mark C, and Ross. Mr. Crittenden has 
always lived in the town, and is one of the representative citizens. He has served for 
twelve years continuously as assessor. 

Warner, Henry D., Phelps, was born on the Hiram Warner homestead in Phelps, he 
being one of four children of Hiram and Mary (Knapp) Warner, both of whom were 
born in the town of Hopewell. The grandfather, Rufus, came from Conway, Mass. 
and settled in Hopewell in early life. Henry D. married in January, 1875, Frances B. 
Spear, of Clifton Springs, a daughter of James and Mary (Baggerly) Spear, whose 
ancesters were Maryland people. They have three ohildrpn : B-'llo, Earle Spear, and 
Theodore Henry. The farms of Mr. Warner comprise 205 acres, used for grain and 
general crops, with fifteen acres of orchard. 

Parr, William E., Naples, son of John Parr (deceased), was born in Lyons, Wayne 
county, October 18, 1875, Came to Naples when two years old, where he has since 
resided. He attended school at the academy, and his occupation was grape culture. 
He worked at carpentry several years. He lives on Mount Pleasant street with his 
mother and two sisters in a Queen Anne cottage of unique architecture, which he 
designed and constructed himself. He is now employed at the Middlesex Valley rail- 
road station. 

Chapin, George V., Hopewell, was born in Canandaigua. Early in life, deprived by 
death of his father's counsel and assistance, the son through his own exertion and ap- 
plication, supported and educated himself, completing his studies in the Canandaigua 
Aca'^emy. He taught in district schools during the winter season for several years, 
employing the remainder of his time in attending school, and the summer vacation in 
farm work. He had charge of the public schools in the villages of East Bloomfield, 
Clifton Springs and Canandaigua, for a number of years, when, his health failing, he 
left school work, and for two years was engaged in the real estate and insurance busi- 
ness in Cleveland, 0., and in a railroad enterprise in West Virginia. His first appear- 
ance in politics was his election, upon the Democratic ticket to the office of justice of 
the peace, which position he filled with so much ability that he had but one appeal 
taken from his decisions, and in that he was sustained by the higher court. In 1874 



216 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

he returned to Ontario county, and the next year was elected school commissioner in 
the eastern district of that county, to which position he was twice re-elected. In 1877, 
though already holding a State certificate, he submitted to an examination and received 
the first State certificate granted to a school commissioner upon this plan, and for three 
years was the only commissioner in the State holding such a document. Mr. Chapin 
has been an active member of educational associations, and read papers upon important 
questions, particularly before the State Association of School Commissioners and City 
Superintendents, among which was one advocating a plan for grading of public schools, 
another upon commissioners' qualifications, and in behalf of that body, he presented 
to the Legislature of 1880, a bill requiring certain qualifications for persons to be eligible 
to the office of school commissioner. He was for two years vice-president, and in 1881 
president of the same association. In 1870, upon his motion, and largely through his 
efforts, the Ontario County Teachers' Association was formed, and with the exception 
of his two years' absence from the county, he has been one of its ablest supporters. 
Mr. Chapin retains his place of residence at the old Capt. Chapin homestead in Chapin- 
ville. He has been in the general management of the North American Dredging and 
Improvement Co., of New York city, closing his active relations with them in 1890, 
and is at presen*^ associated with B. C. Howell in pumping out the water of Lake 
Angeline, Michigan. The father of George V. was Henry Chapin, who was one of the 
leading merchants in Canandaigua and died in San Francisco, September 30, 1850 He 
was a son of Urial, a native of Connecticut who came to Seneca Falls, where he died. 
His wife was a Miss Pratt, by whom he had four chililfen : Ralph, Cornelia, and Laura. 
Ralph was cashier in the Utica Branch Bank in Canandaigua, and afterwards was 
county treasurer of Ontario county for nine years. Henry Chapin came to Canandai- 
gua and married Cynthia M. Chapin, a native of Chapinville, N. Y., and daughter of 
Henry Chapin, son of General Israel Chapin, aid-de-camp to Gen. Washington, and 
the first Indian agent in Western New York. Israel Chapin came from Hatfield, 
Mass., to Canandaigua. His wife was a Miss Marsh, by whom he had the following 
children : Thaddeus, Israel, Henry, George, Betsey, Annie, Lois and Sallie. Israel 
Chapin, jr., was captain in the State militia. The children of Henry Chapin and wife 
were: James H., who resides on the homestead of Capt. Israel Chapin, jr., in Chapin- 
ville, N. Y.; Ralph P., a builder and contractor in Jackson, Mich.; William H., deceased ; 
and George V. resides the most of his time with his brother, Edward, who is a physi- 
cian in Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Peeling, Thomas W., East Bloomfield, was born in Elsing, Norfolk, England, August 
18, 1836, a son of William and Ann (Ireson) Peeling. The grandfather was George 
Peeling of England, who married Mary Archer and had six children : John, Elizabeth, 
William, James, Elizabeth (2d), Robert and Charles. John and Charles remained in 
England, the others coming to the United States. William Peeling was born May 10. 
1808, in Swannington, Norfolk, Eng. His wife died in February, 1840. Our subject 
was the only child. In 1849 William came to this country and located in East Bloom- 
field, working two years. He then went to Rochester, where he worked for H. E. 
Hooker & Co. twenty years. He died at his son's in December, 1887. Thomas W. 
came to the United States in August, 1850, and located in East Bloomfield where he 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 217 

worked on the farm summers and attended school winters. He raises and deals in 
fruit. In August, 1889, he took charge of the postoffice at East Bloomfield. He is a 
member of the A. 0. TJ. W. His wife was Sarah Peeling, born in Elsing, county of 
Norfolk, England, same county as subject, and was a daughter of James and Martha 
Peeling. They had these children: Anna. Addie. Frank (deceased), Susan L. and 
Bertha A. 

Miller, Charles Dudley, Geneva, was born in the town of Utica, Oneida county, De- 
cember 3, 1818. He was educated in the Utica High School, Hamilton College, and 
Harvard University. He was appointed colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth 
Regiment of Madison county, receiving his commission from Grovernor Seward, and has 
always performed his duty in whatever position placed. October 13, 1843, he married 
Elizabeth, only daughter of Hon. Oerrit Smith, of Peterboro, N. Y., and they have had 
four children, one daughter and three sons: Gerrit S., who married Susan Dixwell, of 
Cambridge, Mass., and they had three children : C. Dudley. William F., who died at the 
age of twenty-six, and Ann F., who resides at home with her parents. C. Dudley mar- 
ried Louise Willard of Oswego Falls, and they have had two sons : Charles D. 3d, and 
one who died in infancy. Colonel Miller has been associated with every movement for 
the improvement and elevation of mankind from his young manhood until the present 
time. His grandnephew Alexander McComb Miller, is making his application for his 
appointment as a cadet at West Point, and it is known that the family has had a con- 
tinuous record since before the R'^volution in military service. 

Becker, Philip. Geneva, was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 19, 1835, where he 
was educated. He came to the United States in 1854, first locating in Brooklyn, N. Y. 
for one year, then came to Geneva, and has been in the hotel business twentv-five years. 
He has been in his present location twenty-one years in the " Kirkwood." Through 
polite attention to commercial men and the general public, together with efficient man- 
agement it has become one of the leading hotels of the place. February 11, 1861, he 
married Ma'-y Finck of Geneva, formerly of Rochester, and they have had five chil- 
dren : John H. (deceased), Fannie L., Henry H., Edward (deceased), and Louis (de- 
ceased), Fannie L. married James C. Beebe, of Syracuse, and they have one daughter. 
Inez B. Henry H. is in company with his father under the firm name of Philip Becker 
& Son. He married Mary E. Steele of Romulus, N. Y., and they had a son, Eldreth J., 
who died in infancy. Philip Becker is a member of Ark Lodge No. 33 F. & A. M. 

Warfiield. William H., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua April 8, 1835. The 
family is of English extraction, and were early settlers of Maryland. The father, Wil- 
liam, was born in Montgomery county, Maryland, where William was reared and edu- 
cated in the common schools. In 1828 the family came to Ontario county and settled 
in Manchester, where his father died in 1847. In 1834 William bought 114 acres in 
Canandaigua, where he died in 1881. He was an enthusiastic Republican, and was one 
of the strong old-fa.shioned Methodists. He had many friends and few enemies. He 
married in 1831 liucirda, daughter of Leonard Kaapp of Hopewell, by whom he had 
two children: Susan C, who married John H.Jones of Hopewell, removed to Michigan 
where she died November 3, 1886 ; and William H. Mr. Warfield is a Republican, and 



218 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

was justice of the peace of the town of Farmington. N. Y., from January, 1864, until 
1881. In 1872 he was elected justice of sessions and re-elected in 1873, and has held 
some of the minor town offices. He has been secretary of the Ontario County Agri- 
cultural Society for nine years, and is a member, trustee and treasurer of the Methodist 
Church. He married June 8, 1859, Anna BHza, daughter of Daniel and Lydia L. (Brown) 
Smith, of Farmington. They have two children : Dora A., wife of Justin E. Newman 
of Canandaigua ; and Edith L., who lives at home. 

McBlain. Samuel, Geneva, was born in the town of Seneca May 30, 1836. He was 
reared on the farm and foUowed farming as an occupation in the summers, attending 
the district school in the winter and graduated at the Albany Normal School in 1861. 
August 15, 18G2, he enlisted in Company E, Fourty-fourth Regiment N. Y. Volunteers 
as a private. He was succes-sively promoted to the office of corporal, sergeant and first 
sergeant in said company. In October, 1864, the term of enlistment of the original 
Forty-fourth Regiment havinar expired, he was transferred to Company T, One Hun- 
dred and Fortieth Regiment N. Y. S. Volunteers. In this regiment he held the office 
of sergeant-major, second lieutenant and acting adjutant, first lieutenant, and at Appo- 
mattox was brevetted captain. February 22, 1866, he married Sarah J. Huie of Ge- 
neva, and they have had four children: George, residing at home; H. Mills, who was 
killed by accident with a horse; Thomas, who died when nine months old, and Jennie 
E., residing at home with her parents. Mr. McBlain's father was born in County Down, 
Ireland, in 1797, and came to the United States in 1824. He married Mary A. Martin 
and had five children : Robert, who went into the war from California in the Confed- 
erate cavalry; William J., who died in 1861 ; Mary A.; Samuel, the subject of this 
sketch, and George, who was killed at the first Fredericksburg battle. Mrs. McBlain's 
father, Thomas Huie, was born in the town of Geneva Auguat 2, 1802. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools and married Sarah Harris, formerly of Maryland, and they 
had four children: John H., Prudence B., George E., and Sarah J. Mr. Huie died May 
27, 1877. and his wife died July 22, 1883. Captain McBlain participated in the follow- 
ing battles: Fredericksburg, Chanoellor.sville, Middleburg, Gettysburg, Rappahannock 
Station, Mine Run, Wilderne-'s, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Bethesda Church, Cold 
Harbor, Weldon Road, Poplar Spring Church, Five Forks and Appomattox Court House. 
At the close of the'war Captain McBlain .settled on the farm where he now resides and 
holds the office of postmaster. 

Reed, Mason H., Gorhani, was born in Gorham July 22, 1806, a son of Samuel, a son 
of Ezra, a native of Dutchess county. Samuel married Lucy Towner of Dutchess 
county, and had five sons and a daughter. About 1795 he came to Gorham and settled 
near Reed's Corners where he died in 1813, and his wife at ninety-five years of age. 
Samuel was a soldier in the War of 1812. Mason H. married first Clarissa Nash, by 
whom he had one son, Alvah (deceased), who married Caroline Rodgers and had three 
children. He married second Lana Brown of South Bristol by whom he had one child 
Lana, who died aged six months. Mr. Reed sold the old homestead and purchased an- 
other farm and now owns 150 acres. Since 1845 Mr. Reed has been a Democrat, and 
has i)een assessor twelve yfears, but never accepted any other office although urged to 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 2l& 

do so. He gave the land at Reed's Corners on which the Congregational church stands • 
and attends and supports that church. He also gave seven and one-half acres of the 
World's Fair ground in Gorham to the association in 1853. Mr. Reed has alv?ays been 
a temperance man. 

Van Dusen Nurseries, The.— A history of the nursery business in Geneva would be 
incomplete without mention of these nurseries, and of the man whose name they 
boar. With some changes of ownership, they are one of the oldest, if not the oldest, 
nursery house in the country. In 1839 J. J. Thomas, the eminent pomologist, now 
of Union Springs, started a small nursery business at Macedon, N. Y. With the ex- 
ception of a few years, when Wm. R. Smith of Macedon had an intere-it in the busi- 
ne.s.s, Mr. Thomas continued the business alone till 1856, having in the meantime 
largely increased his plantings at Macedon, and also having made considerable plant- 
ings at Union Springs. In 1856 Mr. Thomas sold a half interest in both the Mace- 
don and Union Springs business to Edward W. Herendeen of Macedon, and about 
1859 Mr. Herendeen purchased Mr. Thomas's interest and continued the entire business 
alone until 1867, when he bought the " Chellborg " farm, (now known as "The Van 
Dusen Nurseries"), on the preemption road, two miles west of Geneva, formed a 
partnership with Mr. J. B. Jones of New York city, and commenced the nursery busi- 
ness in Geneva. In 1869 Mr. Herendeen moved to Geneva, having closed out the 
Macedon and Union Springs interests. In January, 1872, Curtis L. Van Dusen of 
Macedon bought out the interest of Mr. Jones and formed with Mr. Herendeen the 
firm of Herendeen and Van Dusen. Mr. Van Dusen was born in Dutchess county, 
New York, in 1826. From early boyhood his efforts contributed largely to the support 
of his parents' family. As a young lad he built up a carrying or expressage business, 
making trips on canal boats, carrying small packages, making purchases and transacting 
business in Albany and other places for his employers at the various towns along the 
line of his route. In this business he evmced the sterling integrity and good judgment 
which characterized him through life. While still a young lad he was frequently en- 
trusted with valuable money packages to deliver, and important business matters to 
transact. He married Martha Willard in 1851, at Pittsford, N. Y., and removed to 
Canada, where he engaged in the lumber business, returning to New York State about 
1855, engaging in farming; and the agricultural implement business at Palmyra till 1865, 
when he removed to Macedon where, in connection with farming, he gradually engaged 
in the nursery business, finally resulting in his moving to Geneva and purchasing a half 
interest in the firm of Herendeen & Jones. Closely following this came the crash of 
1873, causing disaster to a considerable portion of the nursery interests in Geneva, in- 
cluding Herendeen & Van Dusen. At a meeting of the creditors a proposal was made 
which contemplated the assuming of the entire business by Mr. Van Dusen on such 
a basis as, if carried out successfully, would save the interests both of the creditors and 
the firm. To the accomplishment of the plan finally agreed upon, he brought those 
qualities of character, the recognition of which had secured him the co-operation of 
the creditors of the firm — uncompromising integrity, excellent judgment, and an ability 
for hard work. The last ten years of his life brought to him both his greatest trials and 
disappointments of his business career, in the financial embarrassment of his firm, and 



^20 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

also his greatest success, in the management of the business so as to extricate it from 
those embarrassments. In 1881, two years before his death, he had carried out the 
plan successfully, paid the last dollar of indebtedness, and was in possesion of a com- 
fortable fortune. Mr. Van Dusen's educational opportunities were extremely limited, 
but during his entire life he fully compensated for the lack of early opportunities by 
the great extent of his reading, which covered so wide a range of subjects that few 
men with a university education are so well posted, and on so wide a range of subjects 
as was he. To the habit of reading he united an excellent memory, a keen sense of 
humor, and such conversational powers as to make him a charming companion. Fol- 
lowing his death in 1883, the business was continued as the C. L. Van Dusen Nursery 
Company, under the management of his son, Everett L., and his son-in-law, W. L. 
McKay, who has been connected with the busmess since 1882. Since the death of Mr. 
Everett Van Dusen, four years later, the business has continued under the management 
of Mr. McKay, and the industry of fruit growmg has, under his management, been 
added to the nursery business. 

Mason, J. Harvey, Canandaigua, was born in South Bloomtield, May 6, 1819, a son 
of Jesse, a native of Massachusetts, who came to this section in 1813. He was born 
in Bristol, Mass., in 1795 and married, when about twenty-three years of age, Mehitable, 
daughter of Amos Lee of South Bloomfield, and they had twelve children, seven of 
whom survive: Three sons are in Buffalo; one daughter in Fall River, Mass., and 
one in Canandaigua; a brother, Henry, is a merchant in East Bloomfield. Our sub- 
ject, J. H., was the oldest son. When about three years old his parents moved to 
Rochester and in 1829 to Canandaigua, where his father engaged in tanning. J. H. 
was educated in the district school (where their store is now located), also Canandai- 
gua. On leaving school he learned the tanning business, in whicli he has always been 
engaged, also dealing in hides, wool, tallow, etc. In 1891 they handled from 60,000 
to 80,000 lbs. of wool alone. Mr. Mason has always taken an interest in politics, and 
has twice represented his town as supervisor. He has also been overseer of the poor 
several years. He is a director of the Canandaigua Lake Steamboat Company, of 
which he is vice-president. He is the oldest Mason of Canandaigua, having been a 
member since 1853. He married, July 2, 1840, Harriet, daughter of Allen Smith, a 
grocer of this town, and they have one son, Jesse H., a partner in the business. 

Bowker, Simon K., Phelps, was born in Union, Broome county, in 1830. He was 
the only son of five children of Joseph and Hannah (Bardeen) Bowker. Joseph, 
the father, was born in Connecticut near Hartford, and came to New York State 
when a young man. Hannah Bardeen, the mother, was born in Vermont. Simon K. 
Bowker came to Geneva in 1844 and learned the trade of carriage maker. In 1853 
he came to Phelps, where he has since remained. He engaged in carriage manufac- 
turing with John M. Nelson, who established it in 1836, in connection with undertak- 
ing. In 1859 he married Caroline A., daughter of John M. Nelson, and they have 
two children: Nelson J. Bowker, in the employ of the Petibone Cataract Paper 
Company as bookkeeper ; and Ellen H. (Mrs. Frank 6. Walker of Texarkana, Texas). 
Since the death of Mr. Nelson, Mr. Bowker has carried on the business of undertaking. 



I'AMILY SKETCHES. 221 

He is one of the enterprising citizens of the town, has been president of the village, 
and has been for fourteen years a member of the Board of Education ; and is now 
president of the same. 

Cone, WinfieldS., Hopewell, was born December 12, 1846, in Hopewell, on the farm 
he now owns, a son of James L. and Edna C. (Beach) Cone. He was educated in the 
common schools and Canandaigua Academy, and has followed farming. He inherited 
100 acres of land from his grandfather, to which he has added sixty acres. January 5, 
1870, he married Josephine H. Mitchell, a native of New Jersey, born July 26, 1851. 
She is a daughter of Henry C. Mitchell of Gorham. To subject and wife were born 
two daughters Maud B., born June 1, 1871, and educated in Canandaigua Union 
School, Hattie B.. born May 2, 1874, attends school in Canandaigua. Mr. Cone is a 
Democrat and was town clerk eleven years in succession. The family attends the 
M. E. church at Hopewell Centre, of which Mrs. Cone and daughter Maud B., are 
members. 

Richardson, Silas, Victor, was born on the farm on which he now lives, Auo-ust 15 
1805, was educated in the district school which his grandfather helped build, has always 
been a farmer and to this day does all the garden work. He married twice, first, De- 
cember 18, 1820, Hannah Snediker of this town, and had two children: Charles S., 
who has been dead about thirty-eight years, and Mary, who married Stephen Lombart, 
and resides in Michigan. Mrs. Richardson died October 23, 1853, and he married 
second, on September 20, 1854, Adeline Ladd, and they had three children : Jeremiah 
C, who. died in 1870; Elias L., born May 31, 1863. He was educated in the public 
schools and Foit Plain Academy, and was a fa'-mer having charge of the homestead 
farm. June 23, 1887, he married Carrie E., daughter of Andrew and Gertrude Ket- 
chum of Perrington, they have one son^ Howard S. John M. was born September 16 
1866, was educated in the public schools, and is treasurer of the Electric Moter Man- 
ufacturing Company in Chicago, 111. March 8, 1889, he married Kate M. Minor of 
Canandaigua, and they have one daughter, Lina C. Mr. Richardson's father, Jeremiah, 
was born in Hartland, Vt., May 10, 1778, and married Sally Seymour of the State of 
Connecticut. She was born November 25, 1789, and came to Mayfield, now Fulton 
county. His grandfather, Thomas, came to Victor in the year 1800, and his father, 
Jeremiah, in the year 1802. His grandfather, Thomas, when at work on his farm in 
Vermont heard the cannonading on Lake Champlain in the War of 1776, went to his 
horre, took his wife and family to his father, made a small bundle, picked up his rifle 
and served three years until independence was declared. His birthday was the 4th of 
July, and up to the time of his dea h he invited his friends and celebrated the occasion 
in a fitting manner. Mr. Richardson's father sold his wheat one year in Canandaigua 
for twenty-five cents a bushel, at the same time traded eight bushels of wheat for one 
pound of tea, and when about to build a barn went to Albany and purchased nails for 
the same at eighteen cents per pound. Mr. Richardson has been justice of the peace 
twelve years, and is a member of the Universalist church, and his father was in the 
War of 1812 at the time Buffalo was burned. 



222 ^HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Davis, Edmund 0., G-orham. In an early day three brothers, Philip, John and Will- 
iam came from Wales. One settled in Massachusetts, one in Pennsylvania, and one in 
South Carolina. Subject is a descendant of the one who settled in Pennsylvania. His 
father was Ezekiel, son of William, a son of Philip, who was a native of Pennsylvania 
and early came to Hopewell where he purchased land of the Indians. He here built 
flour-mills and afterwards exchanged the mills for land in Gorham. He died in Penn- 
sylvania. William Davis was a native of the latter town, where he died. His wife 
was Mary Shaw and they had eleven children. Ezekiel was born November 22, 1818, 
in Northumberland county. Pa. He married Elizabeth Thorp by whom he had three 
sons and three daughters. Mary E. Davis and Edmund O. Davis now on the old home- 
stead ; Celia Davis Potter and James A. Potter, on north part of the land, have nine 
children ; Uriah L. Davis, row of Fairmont, Neb., his wife, Martha Foster, have two 
sons: William F. Davis married Anna Christie, have one son; Sarah E. Davis, died in 
1863. In 1840 became to Gorham and took possession of 300 acres of land left him 
by his father, adding to this 125 acres. He died in 1888, and his wife in 1865. Ed- 
mund 0. married in 1873 Annie Spry a native of Hamilton county, Ontario, born Sep- 
tember 10, 1851. She is a daughter of George anti Isabella (McNaughton) Spry, he a 
native of Devonshire, Eng., and she of Amsterdam. Mr. Spry and wife had five chil- 
dren. He died in 1863 and Mrs. Spry resides with her daughter. Edmond O. and wife 
have one child, Adella E. Mr. Davis is a Democrat and is now excise commissioner. 
He and family attend the Congregational church at Reed's Corners of which he has been 
trustee several years. 

Smith, Franklin D., Phelps, was born in Manchester September 22, 1829, a son of 
Asa and Hannah (Poor) Smith. The father was born in Vermont near Mount Mansfield, 
and the mother near Haverhill, N. H. The ancestors on both sides were soldiers in the 
Revolutionary army, and were at the battle of Bunker Hill. Franklin D. Smith married, 
February 1. 1865, Mary Wilson of New Jer.sey, she being one of two children of Peter 
and Susan Lambertson. Samuel Lambertson, her ancestor, served as a soldier for seven 
years during the Revolutionary War. He subsequently drew his land in Virginia and 
was killed by an Indian while at work on his land. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have five 
children: Edmund W., George F., Alden R., Mary E., and Lura L. Smith. Mr. Smith 
owns two farms, one of 155 acres in Manchester, and the home farm in Phelps of 225 
acres, which he has owned since 1878. It is one of the notable places of the town, the 
buildings having been erected by Mr. Smith at a cost of nearly $10,000. 

Mott, Edwin M., Farmington, was born in Gorham, Ontario county June 5, 1846. 
He was educated in the public schools and Oneida Seminary and is a farmer. March 8, 
1875, he married Mary A., only living daughter of David W. and Ann Sheldon of this 
town. They had one daughter, Emma, who died at the age of four years. Mr. Mott's 
father, Henry, was born in Washington, Dutchess counny, April 20, 1791, and married 
Catherine Mackey, who was born in Rensselaerville, Albany county, in 1807. They 
had eight children, five survive : Anson, Alvira, Lucius, Edwin M., and Dilwin, three 
died young. His father died October 26, 1883, and his mother, September .15, 1881. 
His mother's father, Benjamin E. Mackey, was a colonel in the War of 1812. Mrs. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 223 

Mott's father, David W. Sheldon, was born in this town January 21, 1814. February 
12, 1840, he married Ann Gue, and they had four children : Daniel, Hannah C, Emify 
B., and Mary A. The other three are deceased. Her father died September 17, 1882, 
and her mother resides with them. In poHtics Mr. Mott is a Democrat. 

Decker, Edwin M., Richmond, was born in Livingston county in 1843. Bis mother 
and grandmother were from Massachusetts. He came with his father and family when 
an infant to Canandaigua, where he was educated in the common schools, and he worked 
by the month until beginning farming on his own account. He married in 1871, Lydia 
Child, daughter of George H. Child, now of Victor, and they have six children: Albert 
E., George L., Fred W., Mary J., Alice J., and Howard W. Eight years ago Mr. 
Decker came to Richmond and purchased the Cobb farm of sixty-five acres in the 
eastern part of the town. He has three acres of hops, for which he has built a hop 
house. The father of Mrs. Decker, George H. Child, was born in Bristol in 1826, and 
married Josephine Tiffany of Naples, and the parents of both came from Connecticut to 
this county. George H. Child's father, came from Rhode Island, and his mother came 
from Massachusetts. 

Ashley, Frederick Leonard, Richmond, was born March 2.5, 1845, on the old home- 
stead. His grandfather, Noah 1st (son of William, who lived in Westfield, Mass.), 
was born in Sheffield, Mass., and went first to Vermont, where he was a merchant 
tlien to Richmond in 1802. He took up 185 acres of land on lot 32, built first a log 
house on the east side of the road, and in 1816 built the ci,hctnntinl farm house now 
occupied by Frederick L., and resided there until his death in 1841, aged nearly seventy- 
two years. Squire Ashley was for many years agent for the sale of the Phelps and 
Gorham lands in this town, and later was manager of a union store at the Center. He 
held the offices of supervisor and jufitice of the peace. His wife was Betsey Sheldon of 
Richmond, Mass. His brother William lived here many years and finally moved to 
Ashley, Mich., the place taking its name from the family. Noah 1st had ten children. 
Noah 2d was born on the homestead and was a farmer all his life. He married Mi- 
nerva Tisdale, daughter of Leonard Tisdale of Blodgett's Mi'ls, Cortland county, in 
1832, and their children were: Almira Jane, Mary Evelyn, Clinton S, Noah Tisdale, 
Frank A., Frederick L., Ellen Minerva, and Augusta V. Frederick L. was educated 
at the district school, Lima Seminary, and at Eastman's Business College, and has been 
a farmer. He married in 1876, Fanny E. Briggs, daughter of John G. Briggs, and their 
children are Frederick Carleton, born August 17, 1878, and Evelyn Minevra, born De- 
cember 4, 1882. 

Johnson, George, Richmond, was born on the spot where he now resides in 1823. 
His father, Sylvester, a native of Dighton, Mass., served as ship carpenter during the 
war of 1812, and af'erwards came heiewith his wife, Ruth Chase, who died soon 
after, leaving three children : James, Hiram, and Abbey. He married second Beulah 
Bush of East Bloom field, by whom he had two children : Louise (deceased) and George. 
The latter was educated at tlie district schools and at Allen's Hill under Professor Rice, 
and married in 1853 Emeline D. Bailey of Somerset, Niagara county, who was born 
at Baptist Hill, in Bristol, in 1830. They have had four children : Frank B., born in 



224 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUMTY. 

1854, died in 1858; Carrie E., born in 1856, died in 1858; Jennie 0., born April 11, 
1859, wife of L. A. Mitchell; and Emma C, born September 22, 18G0, wife of A. N. 
Stewart of Livonia. Mr. Johnson has a flock of three hundred Merino sheep and is 
engaged in mixed farming. For the past fiftef n years he has bought large quantities 
of wool, and has been industrious and energetic. 

Bacon, Orrin S., Victor, was born in the town of Canandaigua, March 29, 1837. and 
was educated in the public schools and Dundee Academy. After his education was 
completed he engaged in a variety of occupations. For a number of years he conducted 
a meat market, and also has been a dealer in beef, cattle, horses and real estate. He 
was elected collector of the town of Victor and held the position ten years ; was ap- 
pointed under sheriff for three years, and was elected sheriff in the year of 1879. Jan- 
uary 1, 1880, he occupied the sheriff's quarters at Canandaigua, holding that position 
three years, and was afterward appointed deputy collector of internal revenue under 
H. S. t'ierce for nearly four years. In April, 1887, he was employed by McKechnie & 
Company as financial manager of their private bank at Canandaigua ; also of the estate 
of James McKechnie, which continues until the present time. September 14, 1856, he 
married Harriet E., oldest daughter of Albert and Electa (Hubbell) Simonds of Victor, 
and they have five children : Lillian M., Orrin S., jr., who married Minnie Gallup of 
Victor; Albert S., who is a Presbyterian minister at Niagara Falls; Lizzie S., who 
married Edward Simmons, now of Canandaigua; and Jane 0., who resides with her 
parents. Mr. Bacon's father, Rev. Hiram Bacon, was born in Tioga county, Pa., in 
1808, and came to this State when a boy. He married Mary Stebbens, formerly of 
Massachusetts, and had five children. The ancestry of the family on the paternal side 
is English, on the maternal side Scotch. 

Gambee, William H., Geneva, was born in Varick, Seneca county, February 4, 1833. 
He was educated in the public schools and graduated from Lima Seminary. He has 
always been a produce dealer and farmer. January 4, 1860, he married S. Elizabeth 
Boyd, who was born on the place on which they reside, north of Geneva, her father's 
homestead. They have one daughter, Nellie E., who was married on February 5, 1893, 
to Edward Hooper of Newark, Wayne county. Mr. Gambee's father, William, was 
born in Pennsylvania about 1792, and married Agnes Armstrong. They had six chil- 
dren : John y., Mary E., Isaac T., William H., Annie and Lavina. Mrs. Gambee's 
father, David Boyd, was born in Pennsylvania in 1796, and married Ann Ringer, by 
whom he had eight children : John, Isabella, Robert, Sarah E., Elvira, Charles, Eliza- 
beth, and David. David Boyd served in the war of 1812, and Mr. Gambee's father, 
William, was also in that war. Mr. Gambee was a sutler in the army of the Potomac 
in the late war. 

Hunt, William H., Phelps, was born in the city of Syracuse, October 25, 1857, the old- 
est of three children of William and Emma (Featherston) Hunt, both of whom were 
born in England. Mr. Hunt came to this country when about twenty five years of age 
to join his elder brothers, who were already established in Syracuse. The family moved 
to Phelps in the spring of 1858 and have since remained here. William H. was mar- 
ried January 4, 1882, to Carrie J., daughter of Andrew J. acd Harriet (Wilcox) Humph- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 225 

rey of Phelps. The grandfather was Hugh Humphrey of Phelps, and his father was 
Oliver Humphrey, one of the early settlers of this locality. They have one son, Harold 
Hunt. Mr. Hunt has been for ten years on the farm which he now occupies, which he 
uses largely as a grain farm. 

Short, Daniel, Richmond, settled in Honeoye. where Dr. Wilbur now resides, in an 
early day, coming from Massachusetts. His son, Daniel 2d, and grandson, Daniel 3d, 
were born in Williamstown, Mass., and all came here. Daniel 3d was eighteen years of 
age when he moved here, and had been previously drafted into service in the war of 
1812 for three months. He and his sister, Speedy, came herein a buggy and both 
entered into service with their uncles, William and Abel Short, who had come here a 
little earlier. Daniel 3d married Mary Doolittle, born in Bristol, whose ancestors came 
from Connecticut. Three of his children died young ; the others were: Speedy, Har- 
riet, Daniel 4th, Clarissa, Lucy, Adaline, Spencer D., Nancy, and Eraeline. Daniel 3d 
was commissioner of highways fourteen years. He died in 1867, and his wife in 1869, 
Daniel 4th was born in 1823. He was educated in the common and select schools, 
taught two winters after his majority, and worked by the month on his father's farm 
until twenty-seven years of age. He then married Persis B. Doolittle, whose father. 
Dr. Willard Doolittle, was a practicing physician here forty years. She had been a 
school teacher for several years and died in 1889. They bad five children, two of whom 
died ypung ; the others are: Louis Daniel, born in 1864, graduated from Rochester 
University, class of 1888, and has been mostly employed since in newspaper work ; 
Mary D. was born in 1869, graduated from Lima Seminary and is now at home ; and 
Willard Scot*^, now a student in Lima Seminary. Mr. Short was a revenue assessor 
two' years, county superintendent of the poor in 1889, town assessor four years, aijd 
has been an auctioneer for thirty year.';, and a farmer all his life. He is a Republican 
and a member of the Congregational church here. His farm consists of 125 acres. 
Spencer D., .son of Daniel 3d, was born in Livonia, July 31, 1832. He was educated in 
the schools of Honeoye, and his residence has been on the homestead, first taken up 
by Philip Short, a cousin of Daniel 2d, about 1792, then owned by Philip 2d, then by 
Daniel, and now by Spencer D. The latter has been assessor, commissioner of high- 
ways, and supervisor 1869-70-71 and '72, and was chairman of the Board during the 
the latter two years. He is a Republican. In 1861 he married Lorinda A., daughter 
of Grideon Pitts, whose father, Gideon, was one of the founders of the town. Six chil- 
dren have been born to them : Abbie L. (Mrs. B. O. Terry of Nunda) ; NelHe B. (Mrs. 
James B. Bothwell of Missouri); Spencer Wells, a banker in Iowa; Florence N., lives 
at home; Ralph Richmond and Gideon Pitts, both students at Lima Seminary. Mr. 
Short's farm consists of ICO acres. He makes a specialty of sheep, and for several 
years has been purchasing agent for large breeders of sheep in the South and West. 

Gatchel Family, Origin and Descendants of the. — 1st, William Gatchel, grandfather 
and great-grandfather to the generation of descendants now living, was born April 13, 
1733. birthplace not known, but lived in the town of Chazy, near Lake Champlain, in 
northern part of New York State. At an early date he married Eunice Graves, by 
whom he had the following children, to wit: William, Nancy, Don A., Harvey, Saph- 



226 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ronia and Lamentta. William Gatchel died January 24, 1805. 2d, William Gatchel, 
father of the present living treneration, was born in of Chazv, November 7, 1796. At 
an early age the family removed to Oneida county, this State, where he learned the 
clothier's trade, which he followed successfully for several years. In 1821 he left his 
parental home and came to Farmington, Ontario county. April 2, 1822, he married 
Huldah Herendeen, daughter of Welcome Herendeen, one of the first pioneer settlers 
in town (Farmington). By this marriage four children came to bless their home, 
namely: William H., Welcome D., Harriet A., and Arthur M. These children are all 
living and situated as follows: William H., now owns and lives on the homestead 
farm ; Welcome D., now living in Louisville, Ky., a seller of photo stock supplies, 
married Frances Tripp of Walworth, Wayne county, N. Y., March 19, 1856. Four 
children were born to them, to wit : Mary, now married and living in West Virginia ; 
next camft Albert D., now living at Birmingham, Ala. ; Willie A. who died at the age 
of foiir; and Frank T., a recent graduate at Yale College. Harriet A. married Theodore 
E. Lawrence, formerly of Cayuga county, N. Y., March 24, 1875. They have one son, 
William. Mr. Lawrence died October 7. 1888. He had successfully followed farming 
for a business. Arthur M., unmarried, is now living on the old home farm with his 
elder brother and widowed sister and son. William Gatchel, the father, died Septem- 
ber 23, 1871. Huldah Gatchel, the wife, died November 7, 1868. 

Marsh, Horatio H., Bristol, was born in Bristol. September 18, 1820, and is a- son of 
Parley Marsh, a son of Elisha Marsh, a native of Vermont. Parley Marsh was born in 
Vermont in 1791, and about 1815 came to Bristol and here married Betsey Hicks, born 
in 1798, daughter of Jabez Hicks. They had two children : Thadeus, who died at the 
age of two years, and Horatio H. Horatio H. was reared on a farm and was but two 
years of age when his father died in 1822. Mrs. Marsh then married Sylvester Wheeler, 
by whom she had five children. Two are living : Sylvester H. and Mrs. Orville Bentley 
When subject was thirteen years old his stepfather died, and he was obliged to help 
support the family, working by the month on a farm. He early in life took chaige of 
his father's farm of eighty acres, and after many year< bought out the heirs. Here he 
lived until 1889, in which year liis mother died, when he moved to a small place east 
of Bristol Hill. In 1871 Mr. Marsh married Mary L. Jones, of Bristol, daughter of 
Elijah Jones. Mr. Marsh is a Republican, and he has been assessor six years. He and 
family attend the Universalist church. 

Nellis, John W., Geneva, was born in Oppenheim, Fulton county, May 4, 1857, and 
was educated in the common school" and Rochester Commercial College. He resided 
in Montgomery county seven years, and later came to Western New York, locating in 
Geneva, where he is a farmer and dairyman. March 13, 1883, he married Ettie D. 
Fonda, of Montgomery county, and they have one son, Edward Guy, born March 11, 
1884. Mr Nellis's father was bor-^ at the old home in 1809, and married Eva Wilson, 
of his native place. They had nine children, of whom seven survive : Eleanor, Mar- 
garet, Lena, James W., Emily, Martha and John W. Mrs. Nellis's father, Dow H. 
Fonda, was born at Fonda, Montgomery county, in 1809. In 1832 he married Ann 
Veeder, who belonged to one of the representative families of his native town, and had. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 227 

seven children. Mr. Fonda was a son of General Fonda, a soldier of the War of 1812. 
Fonda, the county seat of Montgoniery county, was named in honor of this family. 
They owned slaves at an early day, and when a son or daughter married it was a cus- 
tom to give them a slave. 

Sackett, Charles C, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, January 17, 1859, a son 
of Frederick A. Sackett, a farmer of this town. The grandfathers, both paternal and 
maiunnl, were natives of Connecticut. Charles C. was educated in the academy, with 
a course at Poughkeepsie Business College, and his father having several farms, Charles 
acted as manager of these. When, in 1887, the subject was agitated of building the 
Canandiagua Street Railway, Mr. Sackett, in company with Mr. Clement, Mr. Cooley 
and Mr. Milliken, was among the first to take hold of it, and Mr. Sackett was the gen- 
eral manager and constructor of the line, with F. 0. Chamberlain as president. In 
July, 1892, Mr. Sackett, as trustee, became the owner of the road, and he is now 
president, the company having $30,000 capital stock. Mr. Sackett served as super- 
visor during the years of 1890-91-92, being a staunch and active Republican. He 
married in 1884 Charlotte Houghten, of this town, sister of Judge Houghten, of Sara- 
toga county. 

Hudson, Henry C, Farmington, was born in Stockport, England, June 18, 1837, and 
came with his grandfather to the United States when he was about thirteen years old, 
and located in Oneida county. December 3, 1872, he married Caroline A., daughter of 
Jeremiah B. and Louisa A. Cooper, of Little Falls. His father, Thomas, was born at 
the old home, and married Mary Ann Cheetham, of his native place. They had five 
children : Sarah, who died young ; Henry C, Joel, Sarah 2d, and Martha. Mrs. Hudson's 
father, Jeremiah B. Cooper, was born in Herkimer county, and married Louisa A. Hall, 
of his native place. They had these children: Mary A., Sally, Caroline A., Eleanor, 
Roselia Benton and Coradori. Mrs. Hudson's great-grandfather was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary War. Mr. Hudson's mothe'r, at the death of his father, came to her son 
in 1857. She died in 1862. 

Heaton, John, Geneva, was born in Liverpool, England, was a miner by occupation. ■ 
He has followed gardening and farming for some time. He married twice, first Mrs. 
Ellen Purdy, of Staffordshire, England, and they had five children : Lucy, Leon, Sarah, 
Alice and Emma. Mrs. Heaton died March 13, 1886, and he married second, March 
21, 1893, Fannie E. Whedon, of Geneva. Mrs. Heaton's father, Alphonson Whedon, 
was born on the old homestead near Crownwell's Hollow, April 30, 1797, was educated 
in the schools of that early day, and was a farmer by occupation. May 29, 1828, he 
married Fannie Parke, of the town of Seneca, and they had five children : James L., 
Bber, Sarah A., Fannie E. and John L. Mrs. Heaton's grandfather, Marsena Whedon, 
was born in Berkshire county, Ma-s., and with two brothers bought a large tract of 
land in the town of Seneca. This family is one of the oldest, and were among ihe 
early pioneers. Mrs. Heaton's great-grandfather was impressed in the king's service 
in colonial times. 

Cone, James L., Hopewell. The Cone family has been represented in America for 
seven generations. Daniel Cone, the founder of the family, came to this country about 



228 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

1650, and died in 1676. Next came Caleb 3d, Caleb 4th, Ozias 5th, Ozias 6th, Warren, 
aod 7th James L. Ozias, grandfather of subject, was born in Connecticut, May 2, 1774, 
and when a young man came to Hopewell, and there married Mercy, daughter of 
Daniel Warren, one of the first settlers of Hopewell. Mr. Cone died here in 1805, 
Warren Cone was born in Hopewell, October 2, 1800. He married Sally A., daughter 
of John Case, and they had four children : James L., Mary A., Carohne and Lydia. 
Mary A. married E. S. Snow ; Caroline married George Jones, and Lydia married 
Charles W. Beach. The wife of Warren Cone died in 1835, and Mr. Cone married 
Pamelia Hawes, by whom he had four children. His sons, William H. and George W., 
are both locomotive engineers. His daughter Julia married Samuel Friedlander. 
Mercy married a Mr. Rodgers, and resides in Minnesota. Mr. Cone was in early life a 
farmer, but later became engineer. He spent many years on Lake Erie. His death 
occurred at Toronto, Canada, in 1863. James L. was born in Hopewell, December 15, 
1822. When he was thirteen years old his mother died, and he began working on a 
farm. He received a common school education, and in 1845 he married Edna C. Beach, 
a native of Hopewell, born on the old Beach homestead, May 16, 1822. Her parents 
were David W. and Eliza (Murray) Beach, the former a native of Massachuse' ts, and 
the latter of Canandaigua. Mr. Beach came to Hopewell in 1819 and there lived until 
his death, April 6, 1889. He had three daughters: Lucy A., who married Hiram 
Depue; Laviah, who married James W. Case; and Edna C. Mr. Cone and wife have 
had five children : Winfield S., Electa B. (married and lives in Clinton, la,), Alice B. 
(deceased), and James S. (deceased). David W. resides with his parents. He has been 
twice married, first to Kate A. Arnold, and second to Sarah Huntsman, by whom he 
has one child, William M. Mr. Cone is a Democrat, and has been justice of the peace 
for four terms, assessor three years, and highway commissioner one term. He attends 
the M. E. church at Hopewell Centre. Wife of subject died December 6, 1890. 

Bilsborrow, George, Geneva, was born in Walsingham, in the county of Norfolk 
England, January 15, 1807. His boyhood days were spent near Bolton, and he came 
to the United States when a young man, in 1832, locating in Geneva. He married 
Agnes Wilkie, of Geneva, who was born in Newton Stewart, Scotland, August 24, 
1812, and came to the United States when five years old. They had five children : 
Robert, who married Margaret Buchanan, of Leroy, N. Y. ; Elizabeth A., who married 
J. O. Rupert, of Penn Yan; George W., who married Elizabeth Monagle, of Gorham ; 
Agnes; and Janette, who married Oliver J. Monagle, of Gorham. Mrs. Bilsborrow's 
father, George, was born at the old home at Newton Stewart, Scotland, and came to 
the United States in 1817. He married Janette McKane, of Newton Stewart, and they 
had ten children. The ancestry of this family is Scotch and English. Mrs. Bilsborrow 
an'l her daughter Agnes reside on the old homes'ead. 

Backenstose, Dwight B., Geneva, son of Frederick T. and Leah (Kipp) Backenstose, 
was born in Benton, Yates county, December 24, 1846 He attended the public schools 
of Geneva, and in 1868 graduated from the law department of the University of Mich- 
igan at Ann Arbor, and has practiced his profession here since that time. He is one 
of the leading lawyers of Ontario county, and was elected member of assembly in 1877. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 229 

He is a Republican, and takes an active part in political affairs. In 1876 he married 
Lillie C , daughter of Arthur W. Foote, of Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Brooks, J. A., Clifton Springs, was born in Broome county, N. Y., Fel)ruary 15, 1859. 
He received a good education in the schools of that vicinity and Cortland Normal School. 
Is also a graduate of Lowell's Business College, Binghamton. He was engaged in mer- 
cantile work after this for four years; then w, s identified with Y. M. C. A. work for 
two or three years as general secretary. Mr. Brooks then became identified with the 
Clifton Springs Manufacturing Company, of wh'ch he is the superintendent and a 
trustee. He married Miss A. M. Place of Broome county, and they have one child, a 
boy. Mr. Brooks is a member of the Methodist Church and is a member of The Amer- 
ican Association of Inventors and Manufacturers. 

Barnes, D. Eddy, Geneva, was born on the old homestead in the southern part of 
Geneva August 10, 1856. He was educated in the public schools, Canandaigua and 
Geneva Academies, and has always followed farming. He has married twi'-e ; first on 
October 17, 1878, Caroline, second daughter of Henry and Mary Haslett of Seneca. 
Mrs. Barnes died April 29, 1891. For his second wife on December 7, 1892, he married 
Harriet, only daughter of Silas and Isabella Phinney, of Bellona, formerly of Friend- 
ship, Allegany county. Mr. Barnes's father, David, was born in Pennsylvania in 1798, 
and came with his parents here when an infant. He was one of the oldest pioneers, 
with all that the term implies and he, too, was a farmer. H- married twice ; first Mar- 
tha Spencer of Yates county, by whom he had a son and a daughter, both deceased. 
For his .second wife he married Lucy A. Dorinan of Seneca They had two children : 
D. Eddy and Ella D., who married George Kelsey and had one daughter, Lucy, who is 
still living. Mrs. Kelsey died April 8, 1890. David Barnes, father of our subject, was 
a colonel in the State militia, and died April 9, 1871. 

Barnes, William T., Geneva, was born in Seneca (now Geneva) August 15, 1817. He 
was educated in the schools of his day and owns the fa'-m on which he wa ; born. He 
is now a retired farmer. May 9, 1858, he married Mary J., daughter of George and 
Dolly Barden of Benton, Yates county, and they have four children : Grace B., who 
married Edward Black of Bellona, and has a daughter, Maud J.; Albert W., who 
married Mary E. Sloan of Yates county and has four children: Le Roy F., Marv L. 
Karl and Alexander ; Arthur L. who married Gertrude Turner of Yates county, they 
have one daughter, Bessie E.; and Fred C, who married Helen M. Scott of Geneva. 
Mr. Barnes's father, Thomas, was born in Ireland in 1777 and came to the United States 
with his father when six years old. He married Elizabeth Goundry, and had ten chil- 
dren who grew to maturity. Mrs. Barnes's father, George Barden, was born in Massa- 
chusetts in 1788, and came to this State with his parents when nine years old where 
he married Dolly Witter of Pennsylvania, and had thirteen children. Mr. Barnes's 
father was a soldier in the War of 1812. Mrs. Barnes's grandfather, Thomas Barden, 
was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. Mr. Barnes's brother George served in 
the late war three year*. Mrs. Barnes's brother Tilson also served in the second Mich- 
gan Cavalry three years. 



230 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Borgman, Barney, jr , Geneva, son of Barney, was born in Rochester, September 16, 
1853. He carried on the furniture business in Penn Yan for eight years, and in 1887 
came to Geneva and engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, also upholb^tery. 
He married Mary Frear of Dundee, and has one child, Stephen. The family are mem- 
bers of the Catholic Church. 

Berry, Michael, Oanandaigua, was born in County Cork, Ireland, August 8, 1835, and 
came to this country in 1854, first locating at Lindsay. Canada, where he learned the 
trade of harnessmaker. In 1866 he came to Canandaigua, and the next spring started 
a harness shop in Bull's block on Main street. He was a partner of M. J. Moran until 
October, 1891, when he moved into his present location in the McKechnie block on 
Main street, where he carries a full line of harnesses, saddlery, blankets, etc. Mr. Berry 
has always taken an active interest in politics, and is a Democrat. He has held the 
office of assessor, and is prominent in the politics of the town. He is a member of the 
Catholic Church of Canandaigua. Mr. Berry married in 1870 Lizzie Higgins of Canan- 
daigua, who died two years later. 

Covert, M.D., Nelson B., Geneva, was born in the town of Ovid, Seneca county, Jan- 
uary 22, 1840. He received his early education at the Seneca Collegiate Institute pre- 
paratory to the study of medicine. He graduated from the Cleveland Homoeopathic 
Medical College in the spring of 1862. He first began practice in Fentonville, Mich , 
and in September, 1864. came to Geneva where he entered into partnership with Dr, 
H. L. Eddy, which continued for two years. Since that period he has continued busi- 
ness for him.self at his present location. He is a member of the Ontario County Homoe- 
opathic Medical Society, the State State Bomoeopathic Medical Society, which at its 
annual meeting in Albany in February, 1891, conferred an honorary degree upon him, 
called the " Regent's Degree." He is also a member <^t the National Society. The Amer- 
ican Institute of Homoeopathy and Ophthalmological and Otological Society. He has 
held the office of coroner for two terms, and health officer of the village for several years, 
and was instrumental in having the sewerage commission appointed whose du y it is 
to provide survey plans and maps for a complete system of sewerage for the village of 
Geneva. He is also president of the People's Building and Loan Association of this 
villag-e, one of the largest doing business in this State. He with his family attends the 
Baptist Church and have been closely identified with every advance the church has 
made during the past twenty-five years. 

Chapin, Robert Simons, West Bloomfield, son of Rev. Asa Chapin, was born in 1830, 
was educated in the district schools, and worked on his father's farm. In 1862 he 
bought a farm adjoining the homestead of sixty acres, which he sold to his brother in 
1872, then buying 105 acres where he now resides, also adjoining the homestead. In 
1872 he married Elizabeth A., daughter of Rev. David Millard, a former pastor of the 
Christian Church in the village, who traveled extensively in the East and published a 
book, " Millard's Arabia, Petria and the Holy Land." Mrs. Chapin died August 7, 1886, 
and he married second in 1887 Sarah Kyle, of this town, born in 1861, and they have 
had three children : Robert A., Reynold S., and Elizabeth Ann. Mr. Chapin is a staunch 
Republican. Augu.st 10, 1888, he raised the first campaign pole in the county, 110 feet, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 231 

to a crowd of 1,500 pepple, the largest political gathering in the town in fifty years, 
and also assisted in raising fifteen other poles the same season, singing eighty-six times 
in public during the campaign. 

Caiman, Menzo, Hopewell, was born in Little Falls, April 21, 1841. His grand- 
parents were early settlers of Herkimer county, where they lived and died. His 
father, John Caiman, was born in Herkimer county in 1806. His father died when 
John was a mere child, and the latter was bound out on a farm until sixteen years of 
age, when he learned the carpenter trade. He purchased a farm in Herkimer county, 
and some years later purchased another, making 400 acres. He was one of the leading 
dairymen of the county. Mr. Caiman was a strictly temperance man, having never 
tasted liquor in his life. The wife of Mr. Caiman was Kate Maria Sluyter, born in 
Greenbush, Rensselaer county, by whom he had three sons and two daughters. Mr. 
Caiman died in 1868, and his wife in 1884. At the age of twenty-one Menzo engaged 
in farming, which he has since followed. In 18C6 he married Mary E. Countryman, a 
native of Minden, and a daughter of George and Nancy Countryman, early settlers of 
Fort Plain. For many years Mr. Countryman was a dealer in boots and shoes in Fort 
Plain. He and his wife both died in Stark. Subject and wife have one son, Edward 
E. In 1869 Mr. Caiman purchased a farm in Hopewell and has since improved it at a 
cost of $6,000. He is now one of the leading farmers of the town. He is a Republi- 
can, but has Ubver aspired to public office. 

Cooley, A. Eugene, Canandaigua, was born in Canandniirnn. October 21, 1844, a son 
of Albert B. Cooley, a native of this town, and a sou of Lyman, born in this town in 
1792 of old New England stock. He had seven sons. Albert Cooley was born in 
1814, and married Achsah Griswold, by whom he had eight children, all now living. 
A. Eugene is the oldest son, and was educated in Canandaigua Academy. In 1862 he 
enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth N. Y. Vols. They refused to muster 
him in this regiment on account of his age, and the next August he went to Rochester 
and enlisted in the Fourth N. Y. Heavy Artillery, serving all through the war. He 
was wounded ui 1864 at Spottsylvania, was in the hospital nine months, and was then 
transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps in which he served at Point Lookout, Md., 
until the close of the war, mustered out June 29, 1865. He returned here, finished his 
i;dncation. and then came into the store, becoming a partner in 1883. He was a di- 
rector of the Canandaigua Street Railway, sanitary inspector for the Board of Health, 
and while serving in this capacity was efficient in making a change in the managem.ent 
of affairs that was very beneficial lo the tax payers. Mr. Cooley married in 1875 Mary, 
daughter of William K. Foster, former shoe merchant of this town. Mr. Cooley is a 
member of Albert M. Murray Post G. A. R. No. 162, and has been adjutant for two 
years. He has been deacon of the Congregational church for four years, snd was sec- 
retary of the Ontario District Y. P. S. C. E. for the two years past. 

Chapin, Charles, Hopewell, was born in Hopewell, March 11, 1817, a son of George, 
who was a son of Israel. George was a native of Connecticut, and. when young came 
to Canandaigua. He received a college education and was heir to a large amount of 
real estate in Ontario and Young: counties. He mairied Dollie Catlin, a native of Con- 



232 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

necticut, by whom he had four sons and three daughters. He and his wife both died 
in Hopewell. Charles Chapin married Hannah Lincoln, a native of Hopewell, born in 
1813. Her father was Artemas Lincoln, who came with his parents, Otis and Hannah 
Lincoln from Massachusetts, and settled in New York. Artemas married Sarah Hunt, 
a native of Wyoming, Pa., by whom he had two sons and two daughters: Eliza, wife 
of George Moss of Cananda'gua, and Florence, wife of Byron Childs of Hopewell. Mr. 
Chapin also had an adopted son, Charles, who died in the late war. Mr. Chapin lives 
on the farm of eighty acres which he now owns, and which is part of the Lincoln 
homestead. He is a Democrat, and has been assessor a number of years. Mr. Chapin 
is a member of the Presbyterian church at Canandaigua, and the family attend and 
support the same. 

Cammet, Smith H., Hopewell, was born in Canandaigua, June 15, 1827, a son of 
Jonathan Cammet, a native of New Hampshire, born July 19, 1791. In 1816 Jonathan 
came to Canandaigua. In 1817 he married Elizabeth Osgood, a native of New Hamp- 
shire, born May 21, 1791, and they have three sons. Mr. Cammet followed black- 
smithing sixteen years in Canandaigua; he then purchased a farm of ] 12 acres, all of 
which subject now owns, and here spent the remainder of his days. His death occurred 
in Hopewell, February 17, 1871, and that of his wife April 28, 1853. Since three years 
of age subject has lived on the old homestead. He is a farmer and owns 156 acres. 
He was educated in the common schools and Canandaigua Academy. July 2, 1867, 
he married Frances M. Barhite, a native of Cayuga county, N. Y., born September 15, 
1845. Their children are : Watson S., Edward, Frank and Nellie. Mr. Cammet is a 
Democrat in politics. He has been inspector of elections. 

Collins, Cholett, East Bloomfield, a native of East Bloomfield, was born September 
22, 1830. He is a son of Guy, whose father, Cyprian, was a native of Connecticut, 
who came early to East Bloomfield, where he died. He was a farmer and contractor 
of the building of the Brie canal. Guy was born in East Bloomfield in 1804, and mar- 
ried Maria Ellis, a native of Schoharie county, by whom he had four sons and a daugh- 
ter. Mr. Collins is a prominent man of his town. He owned 225 acres of land, and 
for many years was an extensive dealer in stock and wool. In politics he was a Whig, 
but is now a Democrat. He was supervisor two years and assessor several years. 
Mr. Collins now resides with subject at the age of eighty-nine years. Cholett Collins 
was reared on a farm and received an academic education. He is a farmer and owns 
110 acres of land. lie makes a specialty of breeding American Merino shei^p, and is 
now serving his second term as vice-president of the American Merino Sheep 
Associatian. Mr. Collins has been twice married, first in 1856, to Lucinda B. Brace, 
by whom he had two daughters: Elizabeth and Mary. His second wife was Anna 
V. McUmber, to whom he was married in 1871. Mr. Collins is a Democrat, and has 
been supervisor three years. He and family attend the Presbyterian church of East 
Bloomfield. 

Davidson, James, Canandaigua, a native of Scotland, was born in 1851. He came 
to this country in 1871 and located in Canandaigua, where he engaged in his trade of 
slioemaking until 1881, when he, in company with James D. Park, established a shoe 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 233 

store at No. 1 Tillotson Block, a fine large store, where they carry a full line of boots, 
shoes and rubbers, and conduct a custom department in connection. This company has 
been extremely successful here, a fact which they owe to their close attention to busi- 
ness, and strict integrity in their dealings. Neither Mr. Davidson nor Mr. Park have 
ever aspired to political office, although they are ardent Republicans. Mr. Davidson 
married in 1877 Ann McKinzie, a native of Scotland; they have four children: Alice, 
Alexander McKinzie, Jennie C. and Annie. Mr. Davidson and family are members of 
the Presbyterian church. Mr. Park is a native of Scotland also, coming to this 
country with Mr. Davidson. He married in 1882 Sarah B. Hughes of South Tren- 
ton. N. Y. 

Foster, H. Ward, Geneva, was born in Elmira, Chemung county, September 21, 1856. 
His father was Prof. L. C. Foster, for twenty-five years principal of Public School No. 1 
at Elmira, and now superintendent of schools at Ithaca, N. Y. He was educated in the 
public schools and Elmira Academy, graduating in 1873, when he received the county 
scholarship for Cornell University, and at once entered that institution, graduating in 
1877. For some time he taught school ; afterwards he studied law with the Hon. Mar- 
cus Lyon, of Ithaca, and was admitted to the bar in Ithaca in 1880. Soon afterward in 
Allegan, Mich., he entered into partnership with Hon. W. B. Williams, then railroad com- 
missioner of that State, and later with the law firm of Padgham & Padgham. The 
Hon. Philip Padgham now holds the position of circuit judge, and John Padgham was 
formerly probate judge of that county. These partnerships continued three years. Mr. 
Foster was then made assignee of a hardware establishment, and in due time settled the 
business in an honorable manner to all parties concerned. In the spring of 1886 he 
came to Geneva, and is now in the nursery business with W. L. McKay, under the firm 
name of H. W. Foster & Co. They are doing a good business, and the well known 
character of these gentlemen is a guarantee that the public are receiving first class and 
reliable stock from every department of their nurseries. November 17, 1880, he mar- 
ried Lyra R., second daughter of the late Jasper C. and Mary E. (Snow) Peck, of West 
Bloomfield, and they had five children : Carlotta S., who died aged nine years; Marion 
Edith, who died aged three years ; Dwight ; G. Elaine, and H. Alden. Mrs. Foster's 
father, Jasper C. Peck, was the second child and oldest son of Clark and Caroline (Hall) 
Peck, born on the old homestead east of West Bloomfleld village. He was educated in 
the common schools of his day and was a farmer and dealer. March 12, 1844, he mar- 
ried Mary E. Snow, of Worcester, Mass., who had been teaching in the old academy of 
West Bloomfield. Their children were : Cassius M., Elsene M., Lyra R., and Florence 
H. Jasper C. Peck remained on the old homestead until within a few years of his 
death. He was a thrifty farmer, was forward in all public affairs, benevolent and active 
in church and educational work ; a man whose word was as good as his bond, upon 
whose judgment reliance could be placed in pubhc and private enterprise. He began 
early in life to bear responsibilities and continued to do so until within & few years of 
his death. His wife was a woman of keen intellect, a fine conversalist, and had a habit 
of setting apart two hours each day for reading. She was a thoughtful woman of a 
delicate, sensitive nature and of unusual refinement. Mr. Peck was once sent as dele- 
gate to a presidential nominating convention of the Whigs at Baltimore. Late in life 
(Id 



2M HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

he married a second wife, Hannah Dixon, of his native town. Mr. Peck died May 30, 
1891. Jasper C. Peck's father, Clark, was born in Lyme, Conn., January 6, 1767, and 
was well educated for that day. January 19, 1797, he married Caroline Hall, who was 
but sixteen years of age, of his native town, and at once started for West Bloomfield, 
traveling with ox teams and fording rivers and streams. The country was full of 
Indians and in their new home they were visited by these natives, also by wolves and 
other wild beasts of the forest. They located upon these lands at twenty-five cents 
per acre. They had four children: Miranda, Jasper C, Abel, and Joseph A. The 
young wife made one journey on horse-back from West Bloomfield to her old home in 
Connecticut with their oldest daughter, Miranda A., a babe in arms. Mr. Clark Peck 
died January 27, 1825. Mrs. Foster's great-grandfather was Jasper Peck, who was 
born in 1737, and died at Lyme, Conn., in 1821, was sergeant of his company in the 
French and Indian wars, participating in the capture of Fort Frontenac, and was also a 
soldier in the Revolutionary War. 

Fox, Herman F., Geneva, was born in Savoy, Grermany, May 13, 1843, and came to 
the United States with his parents at the age of five years. He was educated in the 
public schools and learned the cabinet trade. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company 
B, One Hundred and ,Twenty-sixth N. Y. Vols., and was in the following battles : 
Harper's Ferry, Gettysburg, Auburn Ford, and Bristow Station. October 14, 1863, he 
was captured in the last named battle, taken to Libby prison, and from there to Belle 
Isle, where he remained six months, rejoining his regiment May 17, 1864. He was in 
the battle of Tolopotomy and Cold Harbor. He was then detailed color bearer at 
brigade headquarters, serving in that capacity in the following engagements : In front 
and at the left of Petersburg, Deep Bottom, Strawberry Plains, Ream^ Station, assault 
around Petersburg, Boydton Plank Road, and Sutherland Station. While charging the 
enemy's works, April 2, 1865, he was severely wounded the second time, losmg his 
hand. Falling from his horse he still held the flag in his other hand, which the rebels 
tried to wrench from his loyal grasp. The brigade was successful in its =econd charge 
and Mr. Fox was carried into our lines, and was honorably discharged at the close of 
the war. Upon his return to Geneva he learned telegraphy. In 1869 he began the 
manufacture of cigars, also opened a cigar store, which is continued until the present. 
In 1885 he was doorkeeper of the Assembly in the State Legislature. On March 30, 
1889, he was appointed postmaster of Geneva by the Harrison administration, serving 
his full term. In 1872 he married Mary Winkler, formerly of Lyons, Wayne county, 
and they had three children : Carrie A., Charles H., and Frederick H. Mrs. Fox died 
March 6, 1877. His father, Ernest, was born at the old home in Savoy, Germany, in 
1817, and married Amelia Gerber of his native place. They had twelve children, and 
came to the United States in 1848. 

Garlock, Peter, Phelps, was born in Phelps, October 6, 1832. He was one of nine 
children of Abram and Catharine (Cook) Garlock, of Montgomery county. The grand- 
father was Peter, and his father emigrated to this country from Holland at an early 
day. Peter Cook, the grandfather on the mother's side, was a native of New Jersey. 
Peter Garlock married in 1857 Maria Van Devort, of Phelps, who died in 1886 leaving 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 23o 

seven children : Ellen (Mrs. 0. M. Lincoln), Abram, Thomas, Charles, Kate, Alfred, and 
Jessie M He subsequently married Cecilia Smith, of Rochester, and they have two 
children : Arthur, and Grace. Mr. Garlock spent twenty-seven years in Arcadia, the 
rest of his life in Phelps. In 1863 Peter Garlock began distilling cider-brandy and 
peppermint, and has continued in that business. In 1879 he started the mill in Phelps 
where he is now located, adding improved machinery in 1885. In 1889 his son, 
Charles Garlock, went into the business with his father, under the firm name of P. 
Garlock & Son. Their plant has a capacity of from 2,500 to 3,000 barrels per year. 

Gaylord, Philotus, father of Sarah D. Mallett, was born in South Hadley, Mass., April 
7, 1813. His father was killed by the falling of a mill stone, leaving seven children, 
the eldest only fourteen, and the subject of this sketch only nine years of age. The 
farm was not out of debt, and the children were put out among neighboring farmers to 
earn their board and " keeping," while the eldest tilled the farm and paid off the debt of 
three hundred dollars, which at that time was considered a large sum. Philotus was 
taken by Captain Hiram Smith and educated in the common schools of his days, un- 
til old enough to put to a trade. He was then apprenticed to a Mr. Moody to learn 
the carpenter's trade. His work was mostly bridge building, and not content with 
such a life, he left Massachusetts, coming to New York State in 1833, where he finished 
learning the carpenter's trade with T. Judd in Bath. He married Elizabeth Buchanan, 
of Bath, Steuben county, November 10, 1834, and moved to Geneva in the spring of 
1835, where he also studied architecture, becoming later on a master architect and 
i)uilder. For a short time he was engaged in the sash and blind business with S. Wil- 
son, where he met with some reverses in business; he then entered into co-partnership 
with his cousin, Andre Smith, also a Massachusetts man, and they employed from 
twenty-five to thirty hands, erecting some of the best business blocks in Geneva, also 
two churches, viz., St. Peter's Memorial Church, and St. John's Chapel for Hobart Col- 
lege; besides many fine residences. He was much esteemed in this community and 
held public office several terms, assessor, trustee, and president of Board of Health 
being a village trustee at the time of his death which occurred October 27, 1881. There 
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord fourteen children, all born in Geneva. Jerusha, 
the eldest, was twice married, first to Chester H. Wood, of Bellona, Yates county, and 
they had three children, as follows: Ella L., Martha E., and George D., the latter being 
the only surviver. Mr. Wood was a soldier in the late war and was killed in the bat- 
tle of the Wilderness. She married second Rush S. Probasco, and they had three chil- 
dren : Mary E., Henry C, and Grace E. Andre S. married Sarah E. Sawyer of Seneca 
Falls, and had seven children, three of whom survive: Andre S., jr., Sarah B., and 
Frederick L. John B. married Anna M. Howard, of Holyoke, Mass., and had nine chil- 
dren, eight of whom survive : Adeline F., Willis H., Philotus, Agnes, James W., 
Herbert L., and Melvin S. (twins), Elizabeth and Sarah E. John B. died June 21, 1891. 
Sarah D. married George S. Mallett. formerly of Kessinglard, England, a soldier in the 
late war, who died of yellow fever at Newbern, N. C, October 9, 1864. Josiah A. mar- 
ried Alice Henry, of Fort Madison, la., and have seven children : Harry L., Anna M., 
Edith M., W. Burton, Etta M., Arthur, Helen G. Emily B. married James F. Coe, of 
Benton, Yates county. They have four children: Perry S., Edith G., Hatty E., and 



236 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

James M. Mrs. Coe died March 25, 1892. The children are cared for at the old home 
in Geneva. Hatty L. married Rev. George H. Cornell, of Schuyler county. They had 
one child, Percy W., who died at Pueblo, Col., 1886. Eight of the fourteen children 
have died. Anna A. reside.s at home unmarried. Mrs. Gaylord's father, John Buchanan, 
was a soldier in the War of 1812, and died as a result of his wounds. Rush S. Probasco 
enlisted twice in the War of the Rebellion. The second time in Company E, First 
Veteran Cavalry, and was honorably mustered out in Camp Pratt, Kanawha Valley, 
W. Va., July 20, 1865. 

Gillette, John, Canandaigua, was born in Palmyra, Wayne county, in November, 
1839, a son of John Gillette, a farmer of that town where the early life of our subject 
was spent. He prepared for college at the Palmyra Classical Union School. After 
leaving school he entered the office of Aldrich & McClouth, of Palmyra, to study law. 
He was admitted to the bar in June, 1863, and immediately opened an office in Can- 
andaigua, where he began practicing, and has ever since been here. He has built up 
an enviable reputation as a learned counsellor and brilliant speaker. He has never 
taken any active interest in politics outside of the interest all Republicans have in the 
success of the party ticket. 

Granger, Hon. Julius N., Clifton Springs, was born June 22, 1810, on the farm now 
owned by his wife, Sarah A. Granger. Judge Granger during his eventful life was 
held in the highest esteem by all. He served as justice of the peace when only twenty- 
one years of age, and filled the office for several terms thereafter ; for several years 
was judge of sessions of Ontario county; for eighteen years was recorder of the Gen- 
eral Land Office at Washington ; and for fourteen years an examiner in the pension of- 
fice. He was a staunch Democrat. Mrs. Sarah A. Granger, his wife, is still living and 
enjoying the best of health. She was born October 29, 1811. She was the only sister 
of Stephen A. Douglass, and was with him at Washington, when that talented and 
patriotic gentlemen was in the zenith of his fame. Mrs. Granger possesses a consid- 
erable amount of the ability of the Douglass family. Her mind is as bright as ever, 
which is saying considerable for a lady of over eighty years of age, and she is a 
most interesting historian. Mrs. Granger served as postmaster under the Cleveland 
administration. 

Houston, James M., Victor, was born in New York city October 13, 1845, and came 
with his parents to Canandaigua when only a few years old. He was educated in the 
district schools of that town, and is a farmer. June 1, 1880, he married Mrs. Mary C 
(Kellogg) Eaton, of Victor, N. Y. Mrs. Houston's daughter by her first husband, 
Lattie J., married William F. Hill of this town. Mr. Houston's father, Robert, was 
born in Glasgow, Scotland, about the year 1821. He married Jane Carson of his 
native place, and came to the United States about the year 1845, and soon after his 
arrival located in the town of Canandaigua. They had six children, two sons and four 
daughters: James, Agnes, Margaret, Frances, Jane and Robert. Mr. Houston came 
to Victor in the year 1873, clerking for a while, afterwards conducting the hotel at 
Victor in company with G. W. Peer from 1880 to 1889. His father's brother, James, 
Avas a merchant in England, and afterwards in California. The late Curtis A. Kellogg 



Family sketches. ■ 2.37 

was born near Miller's Corners, in the town of West Bloomfleld in the year 1841. He 
was educated in the public schools. About the year 1868 he married Mary C. Baton, 
formerly of Pittsford, Monroe Co. Mr. Kelloo'g had a variety of occupations but chief 
of all a produce dealer and commission merchant. He was killed in a railroad accident 
in March, 1878. He was mourned by a bereaved wife, and a large circle of friends 
and neighbors. 

Hollingsworth, Frank L., Victor, was born in the town of Greece, Monroe county 
October 24, 1855. He was educated in the public schools and has always been a 
farmer. December 27, 1882, he married Frances, daughter of Isaac M. and Mary 
Calkins of Victor. They have two sons and two daughters: Gilbert L., George C, 
Florence I. and Lucy M. Mr. Hollingsworth's father was born in England about the 
year 1807, came to the United States when a young man and married Elizabeth Don- 
ken. They had two sons and a daughter, Frank L., George D., and Carrie. Mrs. 
Hollingsworth's father, Isaac M., was born in the year of 1822, and married Mary 
Dibble of East Bloomfleld, and had five children : Mary, Lucy, Frances, Cora and 
Horace. 

Hildreth, John E., Geneva, was born in Geneva, July 24, 1842, was educated in the 
public schools and by occupation brought up in the nursery business and is an expert 
grafter in all varieties of that branch of the business. He was married twice, first on 
January 28, 1805, Sarah Davenpor-t of Shannon, Yates county, and they had six chil- 
dren : Mary E., Paul R., Ebenezer J., Phoebe A., Lois V., and Laura S. Mrs. Hil- 
dreth died in 1881. For his second wife he married in 1885, Caroline, sister of his first 
wife, an (\ they had one sou, Aaron B. Mr. Hildreth's father, Isaac, was born in 
Shaftsburg^Vt., June 9, 1815. and came to this State when a young man, coming on 
the Erie Canal packet. He married twice, first Rachael La Merion, and Ihey had two 
children : Laura and Rachael. For his second wife he married Phoebe A. Cunningham 
and had the following children : John E., Isaac, jr., Paul R., and Almena. Isaac, jr., 
and Paul R. were soldiers in the late war. Mr. Hildreth's father, Isaac, was the first 
man that started a nursery in Geneva, was also the first man that started peach 
orchards and vineyards on Seneca lake and was the pioneer that led the way in taking 
fruit trees to California in 1850. George Freer was his partner. He died May 18 
1865. His wife survives him. 

Kingsbury, George W., Manchester, captain U. S. army, retired. Born in Chester, 
Windsor county, Vt., August 30, 1840; educated at the Chester (Vt.) Academy and 
subsequently engaged in business at Chester until the breaking out of the War of the 
Rebellion, when he enlisted as a private in Company K, Sixteenth Vermont Vols. 
September 15, 1802 ; appointed corporal in same company October 1, 1862. Honor- 
ably mustered out of service with company August 10, 1863 ; re-enlisted January 9, 
1864, as private in Company F, Seventeenth Vermont Vols., for three years; promoted 
second lieutenant of same company April 9, 1864. Engaged in the battle of Gettys- 
burg, July 2, 3 and 4, 1863, and battles of Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court House 
from May 5 to 15 inclusive. Seriously wounded at the battle of Spottsylvania May 
15, 1864, by a minnie ball, caliber 69, entering left side immediately below axilla, pass- 



238 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ing within one-half inch of the heart, through the left lung, thence to the spine, passing 
between the aorta and spinal cord, carrying away a portion of the fourth dorsal verte- 
bra, passing back of the right lung and lodging in the right side outside the eighth and 
ninth ribs, making one the most remarkable wounds on record. Honorably discharged 
for wounds received in action October 5, 1864; received three brevets, one " for gallant 
and meritorious services at the battle of the Wilderness, Va." Appointed second 
lieutenant Veteran Reserve Corps, October 25, 1864, and was offered a position on 
President Lincoln's Body Guard, which was declined, and was subsequently assigned 
to the command of Company D, Twenty-third Regiment V. R. C, stationed at Jeffer- 
sonville, Ind., from December, 1864, to May, 1865. On duty at mustering-out camps 
of the Wisconsin volunteers at Madison and Milwaukee until December, 1865. On 
duty in the Bureau of R. F. and A. Lands in the States of Virginia, Kentucky and 
Alabama, from April, 1866, to October, 1868. Appointed second lieutenant Forty- 
third Regiment of Infantry, II. S. Army, May 31, 1867, and stationed at Detroit, Mich. 
Assigned to Company E, Twelfth U. S. Infantry, January 5, 1870, and ordered to 
Camp Gaston, Cal.; post adjutant, quartermaster, commissary, and signal officer at 
Camp Gaston from January, 1870, to April, 1875. Participated in the Modoc Indian 
war of 1873 ; in charge of the Modoc Indian prisoners at Fort Klamath, Ore.; member 
of the Military Commission for the trial of Captain Jack and other MoJoc prisoners ; 
field adjutant in charge of the execution of the Modocs ; acting assistant adjutant- 
general of the District of the Lakes at Fort Klamath, Ore. Promoted first lieutenant 
Twelfth U. S. Infantry, July 3. 1874. On duty at Angel Island, Cal., Whipple Bar- 
racks, Ariz., Fort Apache and Fort Thomas, from October, 1875, to May, 1882. Quar- 
termaster Twelfth U. S. Infantry from February 1, 1876, to July 1, 1879. Engaged in 
the Apache Indian war in Arizona during 1881-82. Reiired from active service for 
wounds received in the line of duty under the provisions of section 1251 Revised 
Statutes, May 26, 1886, and with the rank of captain U. S. Army, by act of Congress 
approved September 27, 1890. Engaged in the insurance and real estate business at 
Clifton Springs since July, 1884. 

Moore, William S., Geneva, son of William B. and Cornelia (AtAvater) Moore, was 
born in Arcadia, Wayne county, August 18, 1857. He was educated at Geneva Union 
School and Rochester Free Academy, graduating from the latter in 1877. He read law 
with Seth H. Terry and Homer H. Woodward of Rochester, and was admitted to the 
bar in April, 1880, at Rochester. He opened an office at East Bloomfield in June, 1880, 
where he continued to practice law until February, 1891, when he removed to Geneva, 
where he is now engaged in active practice. On July 11, 1883, he married Luella 
Freer of East Bloomfield, by whom he has one child, Minnie. William B. Moore died 
January 2, 1866, in Wayne county, and his widow married Marcus Ansley, and resides 
in Geneva. He is a nurseryman and fruit grower. William B. Moore had three chil- 
dren: William S., Frederick H. and Clinton B. Frederick died in October, 1886, at Los 
Angeles, California. Clinton is a nurseryman and fruit grower, residing with his par- 
ents in Geneva. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 1^39 

Munson, Roswell C, East Bloomfield, was born in East Blooinfield, November 3, 
1828, a son of Harlow and Theda (Carter) Munson, and grandson of Anson. Harlow 
was born October 29, 1799, in East Bloomfield, where he resided until his death, Feb- 
ruary 5, 1881. He was a merchant and manufacturer of boots and shoes for over thirty 
years, and in connection with a partner built and operated a large flouring mill. He 
held various town offices at different times, was postmaster for a great many years, and 
sheriff of the county for one term. In politics he was a Democrat in early life, and a 
sound War Democrat during the Rebellion. His wife, Theda C, died on the anniver- 
sary of her birthday, February 5, 1892, aged eighty-five years. She was born in Con- 
necticut, a daughter of Darius Carter and Asenath Peters, pioneers of East Bloomfield. 
Roswell C. Munson received a district school education, then attended and graduated 
from the East Bloomfield Academy, class of 1846. He entered his father's store and 
engaged in mercantile business until 1858, when he went to Oshawa, Canada, as man- 
aging partner in the agricultural implement business, and five years later went to New 
York. In 1864 he went to London. England, where he engaged in the American com- 
mission business until 1881, when he returned to East Bloomfield and occupied his late 
father's place. He is a staunch Republican, is the secretary of the Republican County 
Committee, and has been a member of that committee four successive years. He is a 
justice of the peace, and has an office in the village in connection with insurance and 
other business. He is president ^^f the town historical society. He has been twice 
married, first to Lydia E. Peck, and second to Cornelia, daughter of Thaddeus Spencer 
and Deorah F. Gay of Suffield, Conn. Mr. and Mrs. Munson have two children: Har- 
low and Theda M. 

Robinson, S. P., Manchester, was born in Manchester, February 3, 1823. He is of 
Connecticut ancestry on his father's side and Mohawk Dutch on his mother's. He has 
followed agricultural pursuits nearly all of his life, also conducting a hotel in Phelps for 
twenty yeai-s. He has held a number of town offices, overseer of the poor, district 
trustee, etc. He is a staunch Democrat and a valuable party worker. He has also had 
charge of the Gypsum Cemetery for many years. He married a Miss Mosier, and they 
have had three children, the oldest child being deceased. 

Riker, Melville G., Hopewell, was born in Cayuga county, June 14, 1844, a son of 
Henry L. Subject was reared on a farm, and educated in the common schools, and 
has always been a farmer. He is also a real estate dealer. In 1867 he married Sarah 
L. Cole, a native of Cayuga county, born in 1844. Her parents are Peter and Lavira 
Cole, natives of Ulster county, and early settlers of Cayuga county, where they now 
reside, aged respectively eighty-six and eighty-one. Mr. Cole and wife have eight 
children, all of whom are living. The children of Mr. Riker and wife are: Charles M., 
Carrie A., Wilfred C, and Annie L. Charles W. is studying mechanical and electrical 
engineering in Cornell University, and Carrie is in Union school at Canandaigua. Mr. 
Riker came to Hopewell in 1869, and in 1884 purchased the Joseph Gates farm. He is 
a Republican, and has been assessor three years. Mrs. Riker and her eldest daughter 
and eldest son are members of the Congregational Church at Canandaigua. 



240 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Steele, Elisha, East Bloomfield, was born where he now resides, August 22, 1812, a 
son of Elisha, who came from Connecticut just after his marriage (about 1794) and set- 
tled on 300 acres, where he lived until his death in December, 1812. His wife was 
Anna Brown, who lived to be almost ninety-seven years of age. They had eight chil- 
dren: Harriet, born in Bloomfield, July 11, 179- ; Elmira, born September 13, 1797; 
Edward, born September 11, 1799; Samuel H., born July 4, 1802; Garrett, born No- 
vember 6, 1804; Marina, died in infancy; Anna, born July 10, 1809; Elisha, born 
August 22, 1812. He was reared on a farm, and received a common school education 
supplemented by an academic course. When he was sixteen years old his brothers 
moved to Michigan, and he assumed charge of the homestead, of which he now owns 
150 acres, which he has improved with fine buildings. He has served as supervisor, 
elected by the Republican three years, and was active in getting the R. W. R. R. built 
through his town. February 19. 1839, he married Olive Norton, born in East Bloom- 
field, a daughter of Reuben and Clarissa (Steele) Norton, originally of Connecticut, 
who had twelve children. Subject and wife had four children : Clarissa, who died 
aged fourteen; Edgar H., born October 14, 1840, enlisted in October, 1861, in the 
Eighty-fifth N. Y. Vols., and was wounded at the Battle of Fair Oaks. He was taken 
prisoner and sent to Libby Prison, dying in June, 1862; Horatio S., and Julia A., wife 
of Wesley Sperry, of Minnesota. Mrs. Steele was a member of the Congregational 
Church, and died November 27, 1892. 

Woolston, John A., Victor, was born in Victor, January 6, 1838, was educated in 
the public schools, Fairfield Academy and Lima Seminary. He has taught school sev- 
eral winters, and is a farmer. April 6, 1864, he married Nancy C, daughter of Ben- 
jamin F. and Sally (Stafford) Lusk, of Victor. They have one son, William F., born 
December 31, 1864. He was educated in the public schools and Canandaigua Academy, 
and is a graduate from the American Veterinary College of New York city, he also 
studied in Toronto Veterinary College. He is a practical man in his profession, with 
the title of D. V. S. He resides with his parents, where his office is located. The 
early history is as follows: One John Woolston came from England with Lord Berk- 
ley, and located in New Jersey. He also had a son, John, who married and had six 
sons : John, Joshua, Michael, Cromwell, William and Joseph. The grandson of John 
was Cromwell. Joseph, the youngest brother, had two sons, Michael and Joshua. 
The latter was their great-grandfather, and married Tamer Evans, and had four sons 
and one daughter: Joseph, Michael, William, Barzillai and Jane. Joseph was the 
grandfather of John A. Woolston and Mrs. George W. Hill and Mrs. Wm. Hill. He 
married Elizabeth Bell, and in the year of 1800 came to Victor with his wife and two 
children, and were three weeks on their way. 

Page, Levi A., Seneca, was born on the homestead near Seneca Castle, January 1, 
1841. He was educated in the public schools and Lima Seminary, and has always fol- 
lowed farming. Mr. Page has been one of the assessors of the town six years, was 
elected supervisor in 1882, serving eight consecutive years, was chairman of the board 
two years, and was elected one of the superintendents of the county poor in the fall of 
1891, serving in that capacity still. February 19, 1867, he married Maggie F., daughter 
of John H. Benham of Hopewell, and they had seven children : Clara J., Laura S., 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 241 

Mary F., John A., Frank M., Levi A., jr., and Jessie B. Mrs. Page died in February, 
1886. Mr. Page's father, Levi A., vs^as born here October 6, 1816. He was educated 
in the schools oi his day and in Cazenovia Seminary, and was a farmer. He married 
Deborah, daughter of Thomas Ottley of this town. They had three children : Levi A., 
Joel and Harriet J. Mrs. Page died in August, 1850. For his second wife he married 
Mary Winters of Seneca. Mr. Page died in 1865 ; his wife resides with her son, Levi 
A. His grandfather, Nathaniel Page, came here from Conway, Mass., in 1812. 

Robinson, Willis H., of Flint, Ontario county, was the third son of David A. and 
Melissa A. Robinson. He was born in Canandaigua, January 6, 1854. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools and in early life lived with his parents on a farm near Gror- 
hara village. At the age of 6fteen he with his parents moved to what was then known 
as Flint Creek (now Flint), where he still continued farm work for three years. At 
the age of eighteen he began work with his father at the heading business. At the 
age of twenty-one he purchased a one-half interest in the business and became his 
father's partner, and continued in partnership with him until 1885, at which time he 
purchased his father's interest, and has since carried on the business alone. The busi- 
ness has steadily grown, and in 1891 it amounted to nearly $12,000. In 1892 the busi- 
ness was interrupted by a disastrous fire, and new buildings and machinery have taken 
the place of the old ones on a much improved plan. November 7, 1876, Mr. Robinson 
married Sarah A. Stewart of Seneca, and they have one son, Stewart A., born Decem- 
ber 22, 1884. Mrs. Robinson's father, John E. Stewart of Penn Yan, Yates county, 
married Esther La Furge of Seneca, to whom, while living in Penn Yan, was born the 
one daughter, Sarah A. 

Wilson, Thomas B., Seneca, was born on the home farm, December 12, 1852. He 
was educated in the district schools and two years at Canandaigua Academy. His 
main occupation is farming. February 28, 1877, he married Margaret A. Scoon of 
Battle Creek, Mich , and they have three children : Charles S., John C, and Mary A. 
Mr. Wilson's father, John C, was born on the same farm, August 2, 1821. He was 
educated in the schools of his day, was also a practical farmer until he retired in 1885. 
He married Catherine A. Burrell of this town, and had three children : Thomas B. ; 
Margaret A., who married Joseph R. Fish ; and Sherwood, who died in 1876. Mr. 
Wilson's grandfather, Thomas Wilson, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1791, and 
came to the United States about 1805 with his parents, locating at Hall's Corners. 
He married Elizabeth Crosier of the town of Peneca, and had five children — two sons 
and three daughters. Mr. Wilson is one of the trustees of the Seneca Presbyterian 
church. Mrs. Wilson's father, Charles R. Scoon, was born in Newstead Mills, Scot- 
land, August 12, 1826, coming to the United States in 1850. He died May 18, 1893. 
He married Helen McKee, formerly of his native country, who died November 23, 
1864, and they had a daughter, Margaret A., on the 18th of September, 1865. He 
married Lucina F. Smith. The ancestry of the family is English and Scotch. 

Gage, Amasa, Gorham, was born in Wellstown in 1770, and in 1799 married Barbara 
Ann Overacker (born in 1782) of the same place, and moved to Johnstown, where he 
cleared a farm, upon which he resided until 1806, when he emigrated west and located 



242 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

in what is now the town of Gorham. His family consisted of himself, wife and three 
children: Cornelia, Elizabeth and Marvin. He purchased a farm of Phelps & Gorham, 
where he lived until his death in 1S42. After removing to Gorham ten children were 
added to his family as follows : Michael, Nancy, Lorain, Datus E., Amasa, Catharine, 
Lorenzo D., Orrin D., Hester Ann, and Ira B. Datus E and Catharine died at one and 
two years respectively; the others reached maturity. Amasa, sr., died at the age of 
sixty-eight and Barbara in 1846. When Amasa settled in Gorham it was a wilderness 
from Canandaigua to his place, a distance of seven miles; there were but two houses 
on the trail. Marvin Gage at the age of twenty-three married Hester Wager, and pur- 
chased eighty acres of land of Phelps & Gorham on the lake shore, adjoining his 
father's, on which he built a log house and where he lived until 1830, when he pur- 
chased another farm of Hezekiah Townsend, a little north of where he then resided, 
owned by one Cole at the time Amasa located his farm. Marvin resided upon this 
farm until 1843. then purchased of the heirs the old homestead, upon which he lived 
until the tmie of his death in 1872, having sold the homestead to the youngest son, 
Franklin B. Gage. Marvin and Hester raised a family of six children: Amasa, Byron, 
Anna B., Orrin D., Frank B., and Ida A., all of whom are living except Franklin B. 
Marvin during his life held the ofBce of commissioner two terms, was twice elected 
assessor, was justice of the peace twenty-one years, and was twice elected supervisor. 
Cornelia, the eldest daughter, married John Overacker, lived in Y^ates county until 
about 1840, and then moved to Kalamazoo, Mich. Nancy Gage married John Garri- 
son, lived near the old homestead until about 1840, raised a large family, and then 
moved to Kalamazoo. Both of these daughters died at the age of sixty- eight. Michael, 
second son of Amasa, sr., married a Miss Wright for his first wife, and was a farmer 
in Yates county. He marred his second wife about 1856, who bore him one son 
(deceased) ; she died and he married his third wife, who bore him two children. He 
died at the age of seventy-six. But three of his eleven children by his first wife sur- 
vive him. Amasa 2d, third son of the pioneer, married Harriet Wheeler of Catta- 
raugas county ; was a school teacher when a young man, and then engaged in farming; 
he died at the age of forty-six, leaving no children of his own, but had raised an adopted 
son. Lorain Gage married C. Vanness of Monroe county, was a farmer in Gorham, 
and died at the age of sixty-eight ; he left one son. Nancy Gage married John 
Saunders, who was a farmer in Yates county, and had two sons and four daughters; 
he died at the age of sixty-nine. Lorenzo D. Gage married Orphian Wager and raised 
three children : Marvin, Elizabeth, and Amasa. He has been an extensive farmer, 
owning at one time one thousand acres of land ; has held the office of assessor and 
supervisor several terms. He purchased of Frank B. Gage the old homestead and sold 
it to his oldest son, Marvin, who has been assessor and supervisor. Elizabeth married 
Frank G. Gage, and is engaged in agriculture. Lorenzo D. lives retired from business 
with his youngest son, Amasa, being now seventy-six years of age. Amasa is farming 
about five hundred acres. Hester Ann Gage married Myron F. Washburn, a farmer, 
and had one son, Ira G. Washburn. His mother is now living, aged seventy-three. 
Orrin D. Gage died at the age of twenty while engaged in school teaching. Ira B. 
Gage married Abigail Fisher, moved to St. Joseph county, Mich., in 1845, and engaged 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 243 

in farming and shipping stock to the eastern markets; he was also a heavy dealer in 
peppermint oil ; he died at the age of forty- six without issue. Amasa, the eldest son 
of Marvin and Hester Gage, has been engaged in farming and in breeding fine wool 
sheep, shipping largely to the Western States ; at present he is engaged in raising 
fruit. He was elected commissioner in 1853. He married Elizabeth F. Washburn 
in 1848, and had five children, three of whom are living: Richard M., Mary A., and 
Charles A. Richard M. married Mary E. Gage. Mary A. married Calvin Hall. Charles 
A. married Mary Morley ; all of whom are engaged in growing fruit and farming. 
Byron, second son of Marvin, married in 1855 Alida Washburn ; he has been engaged 
in farming, shipping stock, teaching school, and has held the office of assessor two 
terms. Anna B. married R. M. Washburn, a farmer, in 1856; they have had two 
children : Emma and Frank B. (deceased). Orrin D., son of Marvin, married in 1863 
Harriet Willson ; two sons and four daughters have been born to them : Adelbert, 
Marvin, Alida, Belle, Clara, and Elizabeth. The sons are both married and engaged in 
farming. Frank B. Gage, son of Marvin, married Jennie Roe in 1869, who died in 
1873. He bought the homestead of his father, sold it to L. D. Gage and went into 
mercantile business. He married his second wife and died at the age of thirty, leaving 
one son. Ida, youngest daughter of Marvin and Hester Gage, married Irving Take in 
18G9, and they have three sons and four daughters, all engaged in agriculture and 
fruit culture. 

Hutchinson, Jonathan, Seneca, was born in Cumberland county, England, January 18, 
1821, and went to the West Indies in his sixteenth year to learn the sugar cane plant- 
ing business, where he remamed eighteen years. He was overseer many years and 
manager of a sugar plantation six years. In 1854 he came to the United States and 
became a farmer. He resides with his brother, William, who was also born at the old 
home in England August 5, 1831, and came to the United States with his parents in 
1838. He is a farmer with his brother Jonathan. February 28, 1870, he married 
Jenette Rude, of this town, and they have four children: Fannie J., Frank H., Celia 
and J. Eugene. Mr. Hutchinson's father, Ralph was born at the old home, and mar- 
ried Jane Falowfield, of his native place. They had eleven children and came to the 
United States in 1838. The family spent a year in Indiana, where he died of an epi- 
demic in that locality. Mrs. Hutchinson's father, Jonathan Rude, was born in Steuben 
county in 1809. He married Harriet C. Storg, of Gorham, this county, and they had 
eight children. Her father died in 1882 and her mother in 1883. The Hutchinsons 
are of English descent and birth. The Rudes descended from the Scotch. 

Dunning, Wm. B., Geneva, was the founder of the New York Central Iron Works, 
one of the largest of the kind in the Empire State. He was born in Cayuga county, 
N. Y., in 1818, and spent his boyhood days in Auburn until 1833, when he took his 
departure for Dunkirk, where he learned the trade of an engineer and machinist. There 
he served an apprenticeship of four years and two months until he reached the age of 
twenty years. He was an earnest and faithful apprentice, bound to learn and be at 
the head in his business. From Dunkirk Mr. Dunning went to Syracuse, where he was 
employed in a large machine shop, and owing to his ability as a mechanic he was given 
the highest wages paid to journeymen in those days. It was in 1841 when Mr. Dun- 



244 SISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

ning came to Geneva through the advice of the late Thos. D. Burrell, and vs^as given a 
position which he held with efficiency at a large salary for five years. In 1845 he 
entered the employ of John R. Johnson, the owner of the Seneca Lake Foundry and 
Engine Works and also the Seneca Lake steamers. There he took full charge of the 
immense business. Mr. Dunning placed the machinery in the old Kaiiadesac/a and the 
famous Ben Loder, steamers that plied the waters of Seneca Lake years ago. He also 
put the machinery in the Maid of the Mist and ran her the first fall and did excellent 
service as an engineer. He built the first engine and boiler for the Woodbury Steam 
Engine Works of Rochester. The New York Central Iron Works, now owned by a 
stock company, of which Mr. Dunning is president, was built by him in 1853. He 
started on his own account with a cash capital of seventy-five dollars, and to-day he is 
among the wealthiest citizens in this beautiful and progressive village. Mr. Dunning 
is also manager of the Seneca Lake Steam Navigation Company, and tlirough his efforts 
the steamers on Seneca Lake have been put in excellent order and the company is 
doing an increasing business each year. Mr. Dunning is highly regarded by all who 
have the pleasure of his acquaintance. He has been in public life since 1867. He has 
been president of the village of Geneva several times, and is always interested in the 
welfare of the village, and no one is more deserving of a share of the credit for Geneva's 
"boom " to-day than is Mr. Dunning. 

Smith, Solomon E , Geneva, of the J. W. Smith Dry Goods Co., was born in Geneva 
N. Y"., Novembers, 1826. His parents were John Smith, jr., and Rachel (Williams) 
Smith, both born in Gloucester, Mass. They moved to Geneva about 1824. Their 
children were: Elizabeth, who died in 1848; Rachel, now Mrs. J. Pierson, of Stanton 
Mich.; John W., who died December 2, 1878; and Solomon. Mr. Smith has always 
lived in Geneva. He engaged as clerk in the dry goods business with H. G. Hughes 
in 1840, and remained with him until about 1847. The business of Hughes was then 
succeeded by S. S. Cobb and J. W. Smith under the firm name of Cobb & Smith. Three 
years later, about 1850, the latter firm was succeeded by J. W. and S. E. Smith, under 
the firm name of J. W. Smith & Co. As stated above, J. W. Smith died in 1878, but 
the firm name was continued as J. W. Smith & Co, until July 1, 1892, at which time a 
stock company was formed with S. E. Smith as president, Wm. Wihtwell as secretary 
and treasurer, and L. Canfield. E. S. Spendlove and Joseph Wagner, directors, and 
now known as the J. W. Smith Dry Goods Co. 

Whitney, Ami, Seneca, was born in Seneca, June 22, 1814, on the old homestead. 
He was educated in the common schools, by a private tutor in the family, and at Lima 
Seminary, and has always followed farming. Mr. Whitney has .served as assessor of 
the town four years, is railroad commissioner for the town of Seneca, and was one of 
the twelve api)ointed to divide the old town of Seneca. He was one of the officers to 
hold the first town meeting m the new town of Seneca. He has married twice, first, 
September 19, 1843, to Ann Shearman, of the town of Catlin, Chemung county, and 
had six children : Charlotte E., J. Shearman, Anna (who died at the age of six years), 
Thomas D., Charles W. and Frank A. Mrs. Whitney died March 23, 1864. For his 
second wife he married, December 27, 1864, Rebecca C. Rip|3ey, of this town, and they 
have one son, Eddy R., who was educated in the public schools, Canandaigua Academy, 



{"AMlLY SKETCHES. 24$ 

graduated from Clinton Grrammar School, also from Hamilton College with the degree 
of A. B. and afterward with the degree of M. S. He taught one vear at Mexico 
Academy, and is now a professor of science in Binghamton High School. Mr. Ami 
Whitney's father, Ami, was born in Conway, Hampshire county, Mass., January 18 
1781. He married Anna Amsden, of Hampshire county, born in Connecticut. They 
had fifteen children : Theodore was killed by a gate falling on him ; Jasper was a 
cripple, caused by a fever; Isaac A. died in 1876; William G-. resides in Michigan; a 
daughter who died in infancy ; Charles died at the age of fifteen; Ezra died at the age 
of four; Ami; Jonathan, who died July 12, 1892; a pair of twin girls who died in 
infancy ; Esther A., who died in 1821 ; Elizabeth A., Esther G. and Anna H. His 
grandfather, Jonathan, was born August 4, 1737, was a good soldier in the French and 
Indian wars, was in the siege of Fort Ticonderoga, and came to Geneva in 1789. He 
stayed four months, then returned for his family and started back in February, 1790, 
arriving here in March of the same year. They were seventeen days on the way. He 
died at the Old Castle in 1792. The first known of this family, one John Whitney, 
aged thirty-five, embarked in 1635 from England on ship Elizabeth Ann, and died in 
1673. Mrs. Whitney's father, William Rippey, was born November 10, 1793, and 
married Mary Hayes, October 20, 1821. They had nine children. There were two 
ministers in the family, William E. and John Newton. 

Bush, Osband T., Canandaigua, was born in Barrington, Yates county, February 1, 
1829. His father, Cornelius T., was a native of Ulster county, and when subject was 
but ten years of age his parents moved into Ontario county, locating in Canadice. He 
assisted on his father's farm until twenty-one years of age, when he took his father's 
farm to work on shares for a number of years. In 1857 he bought a farm in Canadice 
and has since owned different farms. In 1867 he moved to Grass Lake, Jackson 
county, Mich., where he bought a farm of 140 acres, and conducted it for thirteen 
years. While there he was a trustee of the Methodist church. He returned to Ontario 
county in April, 1879, and bought his present farm in Canandaigua. He has since sold 
thirty acres, and the balance has set out to grapes, peaches and pears. In 1892 he 
shipped sixty six tons of grapes. The most of Mr. Bush's immense crop is shipped to 
Boston, although a market can be found in almost any city. He married in 1850 
Phoebe Ann Jackman, of Canadice, and they had four children : Luva, wife of Scott 
Winfield, of Michigan; Esther, wife of Albert Lucas, of Canandaigua; Scott Bush of 
Canandaigua; and Carrie, wife of McClellan Townsend, of Canandaigua. Mrs. Bu h 
died in 1872, and he afterwards married Lucy, daughter of Edward Low of Yates 
county, and they have had two daughters, Janie E. and Sarah Addie, students in Lima 
Seminary. 

Adams, Herbert H., Victor, was born in Perrinton, Monroe county, June 30, 1852. 
He came with his parents to the town of Victor Avhen he was nine years old. He 
was educated in the common schools and followed farming. March 21, 1872, he mar- 
ried Florida I. Aldrich, of this town ; they had a son and daughter, Dora F. and Orrin 
F. Mrs. Adams died August 17, 1891, mourned by a bereaved family and many 
friends. Mr. Adams's father, William, was born at Barnstable, Mass., about the year 



246 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTS. 

1806, and came to this State at an early day. He married Matilda Austin, of Caze- 
novia, and they have seven children : David died at the age of nineteen years; Frances, 
Freeman E., William W., Sarah J., John A. and Herbert H. Mr. Adams's grandfather 
Adams was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His grandfather Austin left Canada 
in time of the vv^ar, espousing his native country's career, and all his property there was 
confiscated. Mr. Adams's late wife was the only daughter of Gilbert J. Aldrich, one of 
the oldest and much respected families of the town. 

Ferguson, Robert B., Geneva, was born in Phelps, August 27, 1S22, he being one of 
nine children of Robert and Mary (Baggerly) Ferguson, natives of Maryland. The 
grandfather, William, was of English descent. The father came to Phelps and settled 
in 1805. Robert B. married, December 5, 1855, Maria, daughter of Hiram and Mary 
(Knapp) Warner, of Phelps, and they have these children : Sumner J., Mrs. Mary Belle 
Otiley, Alice May, who died in September, 1892; Margaret Clay, a teacher of botany 
in Wellesley College ; Clara Ann, wife of Marshall King ; and Everett Warner. Mr. 
Ferguson has lived for fifty years upon his farm of 200 acres, where he is a large raiser 
of grain and has an apple orchard of about seventeen acres, producing about 500 barrels 
per year. 

Davis, Homer A., Canandaigua, Avas born on a farm about three miles west of Can- 
andaigua village, August 26, 1849, a son of Cornelius and Sabrina (Hawley) Davis. 
The grandfather, Mathew, was a native of Connecticut, born at Somers, February 5, 
1769, and married Salona Pixley, of Great Barrington, Mass., by whom he had eleven 
children, of whom Cornelius, father of our subject, was the second son. He was born 
June 19, 1799, in Sherburne, Chenango county, and came to this county when about 
twenty, locating first in Victor, where he lived a short time, then removed to Canan- 
daigua and married, March 16, 1826, Sabrina, daughter of Henry Hawley, a farmer of 
this town. They had eight children, two of whom survive : Henry M., a school teacher 
of Canandaigua, and Homer A. Cornelius was a man of good business management 
and accumulated a fair property. He died October 13, 1876. Mrs. Davis died October 
1, 1856, and he married second in 1858 Asenath Ferry, widow of Jonathan Lee, of Erie 
county, by whom he had one son, Henry Lee, who served in the army and died in 
Canandaigua in 1875. Mrs. Davis died February 4, 1877. Homer A. was educated in 
Canandaigua Academy and became a farmer. In 1878 he bought the old Ackley farm 
of ninety acres, where he has since made his home. He has always taken an active 
interest in politics, and in 1885 was elected highway commissioner. He married in 1873 
Hattie A., daughter of Seymour V. R. Johnson, of Centrefield, and they had one son. 
Lot G., now in his tenth year. 

Bartholomew, Joseph A., Naples, son of John, was born in Naples, July 21, 1851, 
and prepared for college at the Naples Academy. In 1871 he entered the University 
of Michigan at Ann Arbor and remained two years. He taught school a few years in 
Michigan, then went into business with his father at farming and stock breeding in 
Hillside, Mich. On the death of his father in 1891, he returned to Naples, where he 
has since resided. His mother wns Julia French, born in Naples, who died in 1890. 
Mr. Barlholomevv married February 24, 1883, Alice Seacord, daughter of Absalom and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 247 

Hannah Seacord, of Naples. In his business relations Mr. B. has always ranked 
"high," and was never asked, as he says, for an endorser till he began to deal with 
Presbyterians in Naples. 

Short, Fayette D., Richmond, was born June 15, 1842. His father was Hiram, a son 
of Philip. Hiram was born in 1816 and died in 1883. His wife was Elizabeth Hap- 
pough, of Canadice, daughter of Peter Happough, and they were the parents of six 
children, as follows: Persis E., Fayette D.. Peter A., John, Othello A., and Emma B. 
(Mrs. Othello H. Hamilton). He settled on the farm now owned by his son Othello A., 
and there his children were born. Fayette D. Short was educated at Lima Seminary. 
He married Adelaide E., daughter of Philip Reed 2d, and they have had these children: 
Myra B., born in 1866, wife of Arthur B. Newton, of Fairport; Clark Reed, born in 
1869, a clerk in Livonia; Bessie E., born in 1870 (deceased); and Richmond B., born 
in 1872, now at Lima Seminary. Wheeler Reed (brother of Philip 2d, father of Mrs. 
Fayette D. Short) was born in Vermont in 1788. He was twice married and had 
twenty children, fifteen of whom raised families, among whom are Mrs. Benjamin Coy, 
of Livonia, Mrs. Emily Longyear, of North Bloomfield, Fitch, of Kansas, and several 
in Michigan. 

Oaks, Nathan, Phelps, one of two children of Thaddeus and Fanny (Dickinson) Oaks, 
was born in Phelps at Oaks Corners November 9, 1821. His father, Thaddeus, was 
born in Conway, Mass., and came to Phelps when a boy with his father, Jonathan Oaks, 
in 1790, and lived and died here. His mother, Fanny Dickinson, was also born in Con- 
way, Mass. Nathan Oaks married, October 18, 1848, Susan Hemingway, of Palmyra, 
Wayne county, daughter of Truman and Mary (Aldrich) Hemingway. They have four 
children: Thaddeus, William A., Nathan, jr., and Edward P. Oaks. The farm com- 
prising 170 acres is devoted to general farming products and seven acres of hops. Mr. 
Oaks has always been an enterprising and representative citizen. 

Tichenor, Isaac M., Canandaigua, was born at Newark, N. J., February 23, 1789, a 
son of Moses Tichenor, of New Jersey. Isaac M. was one of two children. His sister 
Mary married a Mr. Sexton, who moved to Jamaica in the West Indies, and was never 
heard of afterward. The early life of our subject was spent in the town of his birth. 
He was of French descent and was educat«"d by a French tutor. After a few years 
spent on a farm he went into the shoe, business in Newark, N. J., which he followed 
until about 1837, when, on account of ill-health, he was ordered by his physician to 
find a quiet home in the country. He was an ardent student of nature, and after in- 
specting the country all about, permanently located on the west shore of Canandaigua 
Lake, where he bought the farm now occupied by F. 0. Chamberlain. He was there 
about twelve years, and then bought the farm where the rest of his life was spent. 
Tichenor's Point on the lake was named for him. He died August 17, 1803, and the 
church of which he was a member lost one of its firmest supporters. He was a strong 
Republican. He was also a soldier of the War of 1812, and at his death was one of the 
last survivors of this war. He married, when but seventeen years of age, Jemima 
Baldwin, of Newark, and they had eight children, three still living: Henrietta D., wife 
of S. C. White, of Augusta, Ga. ; Harriet P., wife of Rev. A. M, Stowe, of Canandaigua; 



248 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

and Almit-a B. Tichenor, who conducts the old homestead farm, a beautiful place of 175 
acres, which has become a very popular summer resort. Immediately in front of the 
old homestead is a camp of the Natural Science Club. 

Cooley, Orion J., Canandaigua, was born at his present residence November 18, 1856, 
a son of John B. and Catherine T. CBenson) Cooley. His grandfather, John, a native 
of Massacluisetts, was one of the first of the family to come here to this country. He 
had seven children, two sons and five daughters. John B.^ father of our subject, was 
the youngest son. He was born February 12, 1814, and always made his home in this 
town. He was educated at Lima Seminary, and when twenty-two years of age bought 
a farm of 200 acres on Lot 70 in Canandaigua, where he spent the balance of his life. 
In politics he was a Democrat. He was twice elected commissioner of highways, and 
was an influential member of the Methodist church. He died August 23, 1880. 
He was twice married; his first wife, Adelaide Cooley, was from Attica, and they had 
seven children, all but one now living: Francis M. and Lucian A., of Michigan ; Martha 
A. and Mary A., of Canandaigua; Frederick S., of Bloomfield; and Lucina J. Morse, of 
Canandaigua. Mrs. Cooley died about 1851, and he married second a daughter of 
Joshua Benson, of Cayuga county, and they had four children ; three survive: Eleanor 
D. wife of William Crowley, of Canandaigua; Catherine E., wife of George W. Rob- 
inson, of Ogdensburg; and Orion J., our subject, who has always lived on this, the 
homestead farm. He was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and became a farmer. 
Mr. Cooley and family are members of the Methodist church, and he is a staunch Dem- 
ocrat, also a member of E^st Bloomfield Grange. He married, December 21, 1876, 
Ella M., daughter of Levi Gifford, of Canandaigua, and they are the parents of one 
child, John, now in his tenth year. 

Case, Orestes, Bristol, was born in Bristol, March 27, 1817, and is a son of Jonathan 
J. Case, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Orestes Case received a common school 
education and has made farming his occupation. He owns seventy-five acres, one third 
of which is in hops. Mr. Case was one of the first hop- growers in the county, having 
been engaged in that business thirty-five year". October 7, 1841, he married Lucretia 
C. Fisher, of Bristol, daughter of Nathaniel Fisher. The children of Mr. Case and wife 
are: Lovice F, Herbert L., Henry O., Phoebe L., Frank 0. and Oliver. April 1, 1874, 
Mrs. Case died, and December 25, 1875, he married Mrs. Anna Rouse, by whom lie has 
one daughter, Essie L. Mr. Case is a member of the People's Party. He has been 
assessor five years in succession, and was once a member of the Good Templars, also of 
the Grange at Bristol. He is now a member of the Farmers' Alliance. He was reared 
a Baptist, but at present he and family attend the Universalist church at Bristol, which 
they assisted in building. 

Haskell, Rev. Eli, was born in Dudley, Mass., in 1783. He married in his native 
State, Elizabeth Tower, by whom he had eight children : Abel, a Baptist minister, died 
in Penfield, Monroe county, in 1860 ; Levi, a farmer, died in 1889 ; Eli, a cabinet- 
maker, died in Wisconsin in 18G6 ; Isaac and William, twins, both died in Michigan ; 
Jeremiah, ticket agent for the N. Y, C. R. R. Co., died in Batavia, 1870 ; Achsah mar- 
ried Samuel Shaw, cow of Mason, Mich., and Nancy died in 1844, aged sixteen years. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 219 

Rev. Eli removed to Bristol in 1816, and was ordained to the ministry June 1, 1824, 
and served the Bristol church three years, then he moved to Canandaigua and vi^as pas- 
tor of tlie First Baptist church twenty-eight years. During his pastorate he preached 
267 funeral sermons, baptized 145 persons, and married 113 couples. He was a well 
educated man for his time and did a great work in what was then a new country, act- 
ing as a missionary in the towns of Naples, South Bristol and Bristol. He died in 
Canandaigua in 1855. Levi, the second son, was born in Belchertown, Mass., in 1811, 
and moved with his father to this State when but eight years old. He was educated 
at Canandaigua Academy and taught school several terms. He married, September 
17, 1835, Catherine L. Wilcox, a native of Connecticut, who was born July 17, 1809, 
by whom he had six children: Edson, born August 11, 1836, he served three years in 
the army during the Eebellion, died July 8, 1877, aged forty-one ; Sarah E., born Au- 
gust 15, 1838, died October 31, 1852, aged fourteen years; Mary, born May 30, 1840, 
died April 4, 1886, aged forty- six ; Salem, born April 9, 1842; Abel, born March '16, 
1845 ; Gilbert E., born January 18, 1849. Levi, who always took an interest in public 
affairs, was identified with the First Baptist church of Canandaigua. He was a man of 
strong conviction and very decided in what he believed to be right. He died Decem- 
ber 16, 1889. Salem, the second son, attended school at Canandaigua Academy. He 
with his brother Gilbert S., now owns the old homestead and an adjoining farm. He 
is a Republican and interested in public affairs, and is now one of the assessors of the 
town. He married. May 26, 1880, Annett G, daughter of Kelly W. Green of South 
Bristol, and they have one child, Anna E., born November 2, 1883. Gilbert E. was 
also educated at Canandaigua Academy ; spent seven years as a teacher. He has 
always been active in Sunday-school work, is a member of Academy Grange No. 62, 
a member of the executive committee, is one of the directors of the Patrons' Fire Re- 
lief Association of Ontario county, and was for five years master of Ontario County 
Pomona Grange. He married, March 13, 1878 Carrie E., daughter of Kelly W. 
Green, formerly of South Bristol, and they have two children: Katherine A., born 
March 20, 1881, and Martin G., born January 4, 1890. 

Smith, Youngs W., Bristol, was born in Hopewell, March 20, 1839, one of the seventh 
generation of this family in America, the first being Rev. John Smith, a son of John, 
who, tradition say, was a son of Captain John Smith of Pocahontas fame. Rev. John 
Smith was the oldest of seven sons, and was born in Milford, England, June 18, 1664, 
and settled in Milford, Conn., named by him after his home in England. Here he lived 
and died. Dr. Ebenezer, his son, was born in Milford, England, in 1682, and died in 
1744. Dr. Ebenezer Smith 2d was born March 2, 1719, and died September 9, 1796. 
Dr. Ebenezer Smith 3d was born October 3, 1761, and died April 3, 1844. His wife 
was Elizabeth Bostwick, born March 19, 1770, died June 1, 1849. They had nine chil- 
dren. Rev. Benjamin B. Smith was born in Milford, Conn., February 3. 1792. He 
studied medicine, but soon gave up its practice and took a theological course at Yale 
College. He was ordained a minister of the Congregational church by the Rev. Ly- 
man Beecher, father of Henry Ward Beecher. He married Colisla Terrell, born in 
Milford, Conn., April 15, 1795, a daughter of Judge Terrell of Milford, Conn., and they 



250 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

had three sons and three daughters. His wife died June 30, 1830, and he married sec- 
ond Martha Babbitt of Pultiiey, born March 3, 18G1, died February 3, 1836. They 
had two sons. Dr. Smith married third Maria G. Vincent of Bristol, born June 17, 
1799, died November 1, 1862. She was a daughter of Dr. Thomas Vincent, son of 
Absalom Vincent of Orient, born in 1742, died in 1786, who married Hannah Youngs, 
daughter of Judge Thomas Youngs, and they had four sons and two daughters. Dr. 
Thomas Vincent was born in Orient, L. I., in 1753. His father died when he was 
thirteen years of age, and he was reared by Judge Thomas Youngs of Orient. He 
studied medicine and went to Caldwell, N. J., to practice his profession, and there 
married Johanna, daughter of Ebenezer Grover. Dr. Ebenezer Smith and third wife 
had three children : Maria V., born April 7, 1837, at Pultney, who married Chauncey 
0. Taylor, a farmer of Bristol, and they have an adopted daughter, the wife of H. 
W. Sears of Bristol ; Youngs W. and Quincy A., born in Bristol, March 26, 1843. He 
owns a farm of 114 acres. Quincy Smith married, January 28, 1874, Florence Rood 
of Ellicottville, N. Y., and they have one daughter, Guernie. Youngs W. Smith, 
the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm and educated in East Bloomfield 
Academy and Iron City Commercial College of Pittsburg, Pa. He engaged in farm- 
ing, and since 1867 has made a specialty of hop growing, starting with five acres, 
and to-day is second largest grower in New York, having 115 acres. He has also 
been an extensive hop dealer, and was a member of the firm of Youngs W. Smith 
& Company, Pearl street, New York. Mr, Smith is one of the largest farmers of the 
town, having 400 acres in Bristol Valley. He was a Democrat until 1892, since which 
time he has been identified with the People's Party. He was supervisor in 1888, and 
was nominated by the Democratic party for member of assembly in 1888, but the 
county being Republican, he was defeated. He is a member of Canandaigua Lodge, 
No. 294, F. & A. M., also is a member of the Farmers' Alliance. He and family attend 
the Congregational church of Bristol. November 19, 1867, Mr. Smith married Amelia 
Lee, born September 27, 1843, in Bristol, a daughter of Lester P. Lee, a son of Ben- 
jamin, an early settler of Ontario county. Mr. Smith and wife have one child, Lee 
B., who was educated in Canandaigua and East Bloomfield Academies, and is a 
graduate of Rochester Business University, and assists his father on the farm. 

Phillips, Benjamin F., Bristol, was born in Bristol, February 22, 1857. He is a 
son of Benjamin F. Phillips, a son of Jonathan Phillips. Benjamin F. Phillips, father 
of the subject, was born in Bristol, January 9, 1818. He married Louisa Gooding, 
September 21, 1840, born August 19, 1820. They had three sons and two daughters. 
Mr. Phillips lived on the farm now owned by his son, Benjamin F., for about seventy 
years, but died on Baptist Hill in 1892. He was a deacon in the Baptist church. 
Elnathan G. Phillips, son of Benjamin F., was born November 6, 1841, educated in 
Canandaigua Academy, and graduated from the classical course of Madison University 
in 1872, and from the theological course of the same university in 1875. He married 
Ella V. Howes of Hamilton, Madison county, and accompanied by his wife went to 
Assam, India, as a missionary for the Baptist church, where he remained for ten years. 
He returned home and at the end of eighteen months returned to India, where he re- 
mained until the fall of 1891, when he again returned home, and has since been engaged 



f AMILY SKKTCHES. 2ol 

in translating the Bible into the Garo language, to be used with the people he labored 
among. He will return to India in 1893. The subject of our sketch, Benjamin Phil- 
lips, jr., was reared on the farm he owns, educated in the common schools and Colgate 
Academy. October 9, 1876, he married Carrie Ogden of Richmond, daughter of Nel- 
son Ogden. They have had four children : Milton J., Elnathan G., Walter G., and 
Rolland O., who died in infancy. Mr. Phillips owns 160 acres of land in Bristol and 
eighty acres in Richmond, and follows general farming. He is a Democrat. He and 
family are Baptist, but attend the M. E. church. 

Carpenter, Piatt, Victor, was born in Dutchess county, August 10, 1802, and came 
with his parents to Victor in 1811. He was educated m the district schools and fol- 
lowed farming. In 1832 he married Jane Ellis of Victor, and they had four children: 
Mary J., Betsey, George W., and Fannie, who died in 1852, aged seventeen years. 
Mary J. married David Rainsford, a produce dealer, and had six children : Edgar, 
Frances, Piatt, Norman, Julia and Herbert. Betsey married William Camp of this 
town ; George W. married Jennett Ellis, and died in 1875. Mrs. Rainsford's grand- 
father, Increase Carpenter, was born July 14, 1766. He married Mary Kinny, and 
had nine children : Merritt, Rosewell, Henry, David, Piatt, Willett, Smith, Jane and 
Ann. At this writing, January 11, 1893, Mr. Carpenter is the oldest man in the town, 
being in his ninety-first year. 

Gooding, Chester A., Bristol Centre, was born in Canandaigua, February 22, 1840. 
At the age of ten years he moved with his parents to Bloomfield, where he lived un- 
til 1861, when in October of that year he enlisted in Company B, Eighty-fifth New 
York Volunteers, and served with them two years. He had been with them a short 
time when he was attacked with typhoid fever, and from that to rheumatism, until 
he was unfit for service, and was mustered out in August, 1863. He returned to Can- 
andaigua and engaged in farming, and has since followed that occupation. On Novem- 
ber 15, 1888, he married Emilie Kaufman of South Bristol 

Ladd, Hiram, Victor, was born in Victor, in the northeastern part, January 9, 1823. 
He receivied a common school and academic education, and has always been a 
farmer. October 1, 1846, he married Mary J., daughter of John and Sally Riddell of 
this town, and they had two children: John M., who married, September 20, 1875, 
Mary E., daughter of Philo B. and A. Maria (Henry) Chapman of Hopewell, and 
they have had four children : Howard, who died at the age of three and a half years ; 
Inez C, Jean P., and Fannie survive. The second son, Smith R., was well edu- 
cated, like his brother John M., and married Alida Carpenter of Titusville, Pa., and 
had two sons : Sylvester C. and Smi'h R., jr. Their father died December 27, 1881. 
Hiram Ladd's father, John, was born in Massachusetts, June 6, 1786, and came to 
this place in 1816. He married Betsey Olney, and had nine children who grew to 
to maturity : Alvira, Mahala, Cassandana, William, Hiram, Calista, Adeline E., 
Smith and Jannette. Mr. Ladd has always been an active temperance leader, and 
fearless writer of prohibition sentiment since the party organization in the State and 
United States. Mr. Ladd was honored by the Prohibition party of the State in 
being elected delegate to the National Convention at Pittsburg in 1884, and his 



252 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTr. 

district nominated him for member of assembly the same year. In 18SG he received 
the nomination of member of Congress from his district. He also was delegate to the 
National Convention of the Prohibition party at Indianapolis in 1888. Mrs. John 
M. Ladd's father, Philo B. Chapman, was born in Hopewell, Ontario county, Janu- 
ary 28, 1825, and was educated in the public school and Phelps Union School. In 
1850 he married A. Maria Henry of that town, and had one daughter, Mary E. 
Mr. John M. Ladd is an active farmer of Victor, he is also a noted Shropshiredown 
sheep breeder in company with W. B. Osborne, since about the year 1887. Their 
sales extend all over the country. 

Atwater, Joseph, Canandaigua, was born in Russel, Mass., August 3, 1820, a son of 
Joel, a native of Cheshire, Conn. The early life of Joseph was spent in the Eastern 
States. He was educated in the common schools and Westfield Academy, and his first 
occupation was as commercial trustee, which he followed about twenty years. In 1858 
he went to Springfield, Texas, where he took 220 acres of land and conducted a stock 
farm for three years. He then returned North and located in Canandaigua in 1861, 
buying a small farm. In 1802 he was willed by Mrs. Maria Atwater, widow of Dr. 
Jeremiah Atwater, for money loaned by him to his friends, considerable property, and 
December 29, 1868, they purchased part of the Thomas B. Lyon farm, west of the 
Sucker Brook, making them a fine farm of ninety-two acres. In 1879 Mr. Atwater 
erected on his farm a beautiful residence, which stands on the west shore of Canan- 
daigua Lake. Mr. Atwater has always been an ardent supporter of the Republican 
party, but has never been an office seeker. Mr. and Mrs. Atwater are members of the 
Presbyterian church. He married, March 14, 1858, at Willington, Loraine county, 0.. 
Almira M., daughter of Timothy Tiffany, a native of Connecticut. She was then resid- 
ing with her step- father, Capt. Henry Allen. They were married by Prof. Henry E. 
Peck, of Oberlin College, Ohio. They are the parents of four children : Lydia J., an 
artist; Emma B., a teacher of Victor; Anna L., teacher of the Union School of Can- 
andaigua; and George L., a commercial traveler with an Auburn firm. 

Reed, Charles B., Bristol, a native of Bristol, was born September 12, 1847. His 
father was William A., son of William, a native of Taunton, Mass., who came to Bristol 
in an early day. He was a shipbuilder, and had two sons and a daughter. William A. 
Reed was born March 22, 1822. His father died when he was eight years old, and 
William A. was left to make his own way. He first worked eight months for three 
dollars per month. He managed to get a common school education, and for several 
terms taught school. He was a great reader and a man well informed. He married 
Mary A., daughter of Gooding Packard, and had two sons and a daughter: Charles B., 
William A. (deceased), M. Helen, deceased wife of Samuel Moranda, of Bristol. She 
left two children : Howard and Thurston. During the last fifteen years of Mr. Reed's 
life he was engaged in mercantile business at Bristol Centre, and was very successful. 
He was justice of the peace one term, supervisor five years, and was notary public for 
many years, and did an extensive business. He died March 29, 1888, and his wife re- 
sides in Bristol. Charles B. was reared in Bristol Centre, and educated in the common 
schools. He clerked in Canandaigua for John S. McClure, and afterwards clerked for 
his father fourteen years. Mr. Reed is a natural artist, and although has but little 



t^AMtLY SKETCHES. 25.1 

time to give to that kind of work, has ornamented his home with very beautiful pictures. 
Mr. Reed is at present engaged in farming and hop growinsr, and has been a breeder of 
Shropshire sheep. He is a Republican, but not an aspirant to office. He is a member 
of the Rod and Gun Club of Canandaigua, and Lakeside Gun Club of Geneva, N. Y. 
October 22, 1876, Mr. Reed married Ella B. Brown, born in Oneida county, December 
17, 1852, daughter of Allen and Delilah (Mantors) Brown, of Oneida county, both de- 
ceased ; they had also one son, Harrison, who died April 13, 1881, leaving two children : 
Nelly B. and Sada. Mr. Reed and wife have three children : Clara M., Cora A. (de- 
ceased), and William A. 

Remington, Thadious B., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, near Centerfield, 
January 11, 1819. The first ancestor of this family was the .grandfather of subject,' 
Thadious Remington, who came to this section from Vermont about 1792. He settled 
on a farm on what is called Remington Hill, near Centerfield. He was a-very prominent 
man in the town, and was colonel of the militia regiment here and an active man in 
politics. He was also a prominent Mason. He married before coming here, Betsey 
Root, and they had eight children who reached adult age. The father of subject Avas 
the oldest son. His name was also Thadious, and he was born in 1794. He married 
in 1818 Rhoda, daughter of Roswell Root, a county judge who came to this section 
from Connecticut, and brought his parents with him ; his father, Abram Root, being 
one of the oldest men buried in the town. He and his son were both in the Revolution. 
Thadious Remington 2d had six sons, two now living: Thomas, of Michio-an. and 
Thadious B. The whole life of the latter has been spent in this town. He was edu- 
cated in the common schools, and has always followed farming. He married in 1852 
Maria Mack, and they had three children, two of Avhom are living: Alice C. wife of 
Bradford Hickox ; and Lydia M. Mrs. Remington died in 1862, and he married second 
Anna M. Henry, of Chester, Morris county, N. J., whose family dates back to Dr 
Robert Henry, of Revolutionary fame. Mr. Remington is still living at the age seventy- 
three years. Mr. Remington is one of the prominent men of this town, but has never 
taken an active interest in political life. 

Berry, John C, Farmington, was born in Ireland, October 25, 1840. He was edu- 
cated in the common schools and Canandaigua Academy, and was a farmer. January 
31, 1866, he married C. Maria, daughter of Jacob and Sophia Bower, of Victor Thev 
have two sons: Carlton J. and Leon R. September 4, 1862, Mr. Berry enlisted in 
Company G, One Hundred and Forty-eighth N. Y. S. Vols., was in sixteen general 
engagements: Clover Hill, May 8, 1864; Swift Creek, May 12, 1864; Drury's Bluff 
May 16, 1864; Port Walthall, May 26, 1864; Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864; Rowlto 
House, June 15, 1864; Petersburg, June 18, 1864; Mine Explosion, near Petersburg 
July 30, 1864; Siege of Petersburg, for several weeks up to August 25, 1864- Fort 
Harrison, September 29, 1864; Fort Gilmore, September 30, 1864 ; Fair Oaks, October 
27, 1864; Hatcher's Run, March 31, 1865; Fort Greig, April 2, 1865; Rice's Station 
April 6, 1865; Appomattox, April 9, 1865. He was honorably discharged June 22* 
1865. He received a wound by a fragment of shell at the battle of Fort Harrison and 
at the battle of Fair Oaks he was the only one that escaped out of forty from bein? 
taken prisoner. 



2o4 HTStORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Lewi«, James W., Gorham, a native of Gorham, was born October 10, 1852. His 
father, Eugene, was a son of Sylvester, a native of Northumberland, who married 
Catharine Dubois, by whom he had ten children. He served in the War of 1812, and 
was one of the first settlers of Gorham, where he died in 1873, and his wife in 1881. 
Eugene was born in Gorham, April 19, 1823. In 1849 lie married Rebecca Wilson, a 
native of Gorham and daughter of James and Hannah Wilson, of Gorham. Thpy had 
two sons and a daughter, James W. being the only one living. Eugene was a Repub- 
lican, and a member of Rushville Lodge No. 377 F. & A. M. He died August 12, 1891, 
and his wife survives him. James W. was educated in Rushville Union Schools. He 
and his mother own 160 acres of land. In 1875 he married Sarah Tuttle, of Canan- 
daio'ua, a daughter of Henry N. and Mary A. Tuttle, who had ten children. Mr. Tuttle 
was a soldier in the late war, and died August 23, 1891, and Mrs. Tuttle resides in 
Canandaigua. James W. and wife have one child, Harriet P. Mr. Lewis is a Repub- 
lican in politics. 

Hill, Wallace A., Victor, was born in Victor. He was educated in the public schools, 
Lima Seminary, and Poughkeepsie Business University, and is a farmer. He married 
Cassie Stull, of Victor, and they have two children : Maude L. and Lysander H. Mrs. 
Hill's father. Homer Stull, was born at Rouch Junction, Monroe county, in 1833. He 
married twice, first June 6, 1860, Hattie Murray, and had two children : Jessie, who 
died in infancy, and Cassie. In 1868 he married second, Mary Otto, of Rochester, and 
they had four children : Belle, Minna, Myra A. and Lelia E. Mr. Stull died at 
Mountain Home, Idaho, February 4, 1890. Mrs. Stull and part of the family reside in 
Kansas city. Mr. Hill's father, Lysander, was born on the old homestead in Victor 
November 3, 1832, and was educated in the public schools. March 25, 1861, he mar- 
ried Louisa Benson, of the town of Mendon, and they had three children : Willis G., 
Wallace A. (twins), and Maude L., who died February 9, 1875. Willis G. married 
Margaret Cline, and they have one daughter, Ruth W. Mr. Hill is a Republican in 
politics. 

Edmonston, John A., Farmington, father of Erastus H., was born in Maryland, x\pril 
23, 1795, and came with his parents to Manchester when ten years old. In 1818 he 
married Rebecca P. Baggarly, of that town, by whom he had six children : Erastus H., 
Hezekiah B., Eliza A., Mary J., Charlotte A. and William H. Hezekiah B. married 
Susan A. Warner, of the town of Orleans, and they had two daughters, Jessie F. and 
Lillie B. Eliza A. married Benjamin Parker, of Manchester, and they have three 
children : John C, Mary A. and Julia A. Mary J. married Hiram Knapp, of Walworth, 
Wayne county, and they have had two children : William H., and Edmonston H. who 
died aged twenty. Charlotte A. married Alexander Shekell, of Washington, D. C, and 
they had eight children : Eddie, R. P., Harriet A., Lee J., Daisey M., Percy, Clyde and 
Amy, and one who died in infancy. William H. married Alice A., only daughter of 
Aldin and Eliza Cole, of Antwerp, JelTerson county, and they have had three children, 
two of whom died in infancy, and one, R. Howard, survives. Erastus H. was born 
March 7, 1819, in Manchester, and was educated in the public schools, and has always 
been a farmer. He mel with an accident fifty-one years ago which has nearly deprived 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 255 

him of the use of one foot. He is one of Farmington's representative citizens, and has 
resided here sixty-one years. He has never married. 

Warner, Milton, Hopewell, was born in Hopewell, November 21, 1824. His father 
was Oliver, son of Elijah, a native of Conway, Mass., who had seven sons and one 
daughter. About 1800 he came to Phelps, where he spent the remainder of his life. 
Oliver Warner was born in Massachusetts, December 28, 1782. When a young man 
he came to Hopewell and located on 300 acres of land, where he lived and died. His 
wife was Lucinda Rice, a native of Conway, Mass., born October 7, 1783. To them 
were born seven sons and two daughters. Mr. Warner was drafted in the War of 1812. 
His death was caused by a stroke of lightning while on a visit to his native place. 
Milton Warner was four years old when his father died and he resided with his mother 
until twenty-four, when he married, after which his mother resided with him until her 
death in 1869. Mr. Warner was educated in common schools and Canandaigua Acad- 
emy. His wife is Margaret Knapp, a native of Hopewell, and daughter of Halstead 
Knapp, whose father, David Knapp, came from Harveston, Rockland county, and 
settled in Hopewell. Mr. Warner is a Democrat, and has been assessor one term, and 
inspector of elect'ions. He is a member of Hopewell Grange No. 79. 

Woodruff, Oliver M., Naples, was born in Starkey, Yates county, February 20, 1848, 
a son of Rev. William G. Woodruff, a Wesleyan Methodist clergyman. His parents 
removed to Watkins, Schuyler county, when Oliver was a child, and he attended 
the Commercial School there, and at Hammondsport, moving from the latter town 
when seventeen years of age, to Alpine, Schuyler county. He attended school two 
years. From there to Moreland, where he remained two years, and in the fall of 1870 
engaged in a mill, remaining till 1881, when, health failing, he worked on a farm at 
Blood's two years. Then two years in Veteran, Steuben county, when he returned 
to Naples to the same mill, remaining three years. He then came to the Ontario mill in 
the spring of 1888, where he is still located, having purchased the property. Mr. Wood- 
ruff married in July, 1873, Helen M. Simons of Naples, and they have two children 
living : Lena H., and Robert J. 

Newman, Algernon S., Canandaigua, was born in Bloomfield, May 1, 1837, a son of 
Willis, a native of New York, born at New Paltz on the Hudson, January 18, 1798. 
When he was about ten years of age his father, Elijah, moved to Gorham. Willis lived 
a number of years on the farm, and conducted a woolen mill until 1834, when he moved 
to East Bloomfield. He married in 1822 Sarah Sawtelle of Gorham, and they had 
four children ; Sidney A., a retired merchant of Rochester, and our subject being the 
only ones living. Willis died in 1876. The early life of Algernon was spent in East 
Bloomfield, where he lived on the farm till nineteen years of age. He spent one year 
in a dry goods store in Canandaigua, and two years in his brother's drug store in 
Rochester. December 2, 1859, he established a drug store in this town, which he has 
ever since conducted. This is, with one exception, the oldest drug store in Canan- 
daigua. Mr. Newman has never taken an active interest in politics, but has held a 
membership in the village council. He married in 1860 Augusta R. Denton of Havana, 
Schuyler county, and they had six children, five of whom survive; Willis D., manager 



25G HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

of the drug store ; Louisa, a distinguished musician of this town ; Horace B., an assist- 
ant in the drug store ; Frank S , and Gi-acia A. They are members of the Congrega- 
tional church. Mrs. Augusta Newman died January 17, 1893. After her death her 
husband, who had been ill since early in the fall of 1892, began to decline, and died 
April 2, 1893. Both died intestate. Horace B. Newman and 0. S. Bacon were ap- 
pointed administrators of the estate of Augusta R. Newman, and Louise M. Newman 
and Edward 0. Smith were appointed administrators of the estate of Algernon S. New- 
man. Both estates are in process of settlement. Horace B. Newman, on the 31st of 
July, entered the employ of James Hawl y of Kinderhook, Columbia county, N. Y., 
where he has charge of a drug and grocery store, as his employer is a traveling man. 

Noble, Levi, Richmond, was born where he now lives, on the west side of the lake, 
April 17, 1828. His father, Levi, was born in Blanford, Mass., in 1792, and came with 
his father, Medad, first to Pompey, N. Y., and in 1804 to this town. Medad died 
before his grandson Levi was born. He was a shoemaker, while his son Levi was a 
carpenter, but he early engaged in farming. The children of Medad were : Mercy D., 
Harriet, Pamelia, Levi, Clarissa, Bohan, Phinneas, Loren, and Jonathan F. Levi was 
educated in the district schools, and married in 18G5 Harriet Batcbellor, daughter of 
Perrin Batchellor. She died in 1891. Their children were : Horace, Lydia, John, 
Levi, Mary, George, and Harriet. Mr. Noble has been a farmer all his life, and has 
now about 420 acres, part of which is in Canadice. His grandfather, Medad, was a 
Revolutionary soldier for seven years. 

Simmons, Ralph M., Canandaigua, was born in West Bloomfield, February 9, 1868, 
was educated in the common and Union schools of East Bloomfield, and at Canandaigua 
Academy under Prof. George R. Smith. He assisted on his father's farm until reach- 
ing his majority, when he bought his present residence on lot eighty-three in the town 
of Canandaigua. Mr. Simmons is an ardent Republican, but has been no office seeker, 
February 29, 1888, he married Helen R., daughter of Seymour V. R. Johnson of Can- 
andaigua. They have one daughter, Esther Adeliza. 

Loomis, George, Farmington, was born in the town of Bloomfield, Hartford county. 
Conn., December 7, 1818, and came with his parents to Onondaga county when a 
child. At about the age of six years he came to Farmington. He was educated in the 
district schools, has always followed farming, and has been identified with the pros- 
perity of the town, of which he is one of the oldest inhabitants. Mr. Loomis has been 
supervisor of the town or.e term, and also highway commissioner. October 19, 1842, 
he married Hannah M., daughter of Benjamin and Lavina A. Ketchum of Farmington, 
and they had six children: Aurelia L., who married Le Grand L. Morse, who is a farmer 
and school commissioner ; Benjamin H., who is a farmer in Mertensia ; Ida M., who 
married George E. Lapham ; Georgiana, who died at the age of eighteen years ; Leslie 
G., a produce dealer of Victor ; and Charles P., who died of scarlet fever, only five days 
apart from his sister, who died of the same malady. Mrs. Loomis died suddenly Au- 
gust 25, 1892. Mr. Loomis's father, George, was born in Connecticut in 1784, and 
married Aurelia Palmer. They had four children: Eunice, Charlotte, George, and 
Jerome. One of his ancestors, Captain John Loomis, was a soldier in the Revolution- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 257 

ary War. The Loornis family came from England at an early day with the Rev. John 
Wareham, locating in the east. 

Mallison, Polly, Victor, was born in the town of Perrinton, Monroe county, October 
22, 1809. She has married twice, first to William H. Compton of Victor, and had two 
children : William and Julia A., both deceased. Mr. Compton is also deceased. For 
her second husband she married Amos Mallison of Akron, 0. They had no children. 
Mrs. Mallison's father, Alexander Cameron, was a Scotchman, and was born on the 
ocean on their way to the United States. He married Betsey Jackson, and had nine 
children : David, William, John, Catherine, Nancy, Polly, Ruth, Sally, and Rachael. 
Mrs. Mallison's grandson, Theodore Sidell, was brought up by Mrs. Mallison, and is now 
in charge of the farm. After her death it rever's to him, and to his children after him. 
He was born in Akron, 0., June 24, 1845. He was educated in the public schools, 
and came to this State in the fall of the year Mr. and Mrs. Mallison came here, viz., 
1870. He married twice, first on January 11, 1871, Mary E. Conover, and had one 
daughter, Jennie M. Mrs. Sidell died in July, 1876, and he married second on July 5, 
1878, Mrs. Mary W. (Risley) Budington of Kingston, Ulster county ; they have four 
children : Jessie I., George A., Ward E., and Amos F. They all reside on the home- 
stead farm that are living. Mr. Mallison died January 25, 1877. He was a soldier in 
the War of 1812. Mrs. Polly Mallison died May 1, 1893. 

Van Voorhies, Henry, Victor, father of Stephen, was born in the town of Allsburg, 
Grand Isle county, Vt., August 15, 1805, and moved with his parents to Dutchess 
county in the year of 1812. He was educated in the district schools of his day. After 
a residence of four years there he moved with his parents to Otsego county. Decem- 
ber 24, 1831, he married Margaret Daley of Decatur, of that county. They had seven 
children, five sons and two daughters: Menzo, Milton, Herman, Mary, Lyman, Stephen, 
and Alice. Milton married Angie Beeman of Livonia, Livingston county, and they 
had three children : Calista, who died in January, 1892 ; Homer, who died March, 
1873; and Stella. Herman married Kate Holmes of Marion, Wayne county. They 
have seven children ; four sons and one daughter are living : Herman and Henry 
(twins), Mary, Bert and Stephen. They now reside in the town of Hopewell. Mary 
married Rev. James H. Du Boi^, one of the preachers of the M. E. church, now of 
Steuben county. They have one daughter, Alice. Lyman married Libbie Field of 
Galesburg, Mich., and they have three children : George, Viola, and Howard. Stephen 
Van Voorhies was born January 16, 1846, was educated in the public schools and Lima 
Seminary, and is a farmer. October 18, 1876, he married Carrie, daughter of Gilbert 
and Diana (Goff) Porter of East Mendon, Monroe county. They have three ch'ldren : 
Madge, Menzo and Mabel. Mrs. Van Voohies's father, Gilbert Porter, was born at the 
old home in East Mendon, March 16, 1818. He married Diana DofF of his native town, 
and they have had five children, two died in infancy, three survive: Smith J., Eliza- 
beth, and Carrie I. Alice Van Voorhies married Horace Tillitson of Mendon. Henry 
Van Voorhies's father, Keort, was born in Vermont about the year 1769, and married 
Margaret Nelson. His grandfather, John, was a hotel-keeper in Dutchess county. 
Mrs. Henry Van Voorhies died September 9, 1876. 
eg 



258 HTSTOllV OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Cobb, Russell B , Phelps, only child of Nahum and Emeline (Bennett) Cobb, was born 
in Phelps, September 10, 1841. Nahum, the father, was born in Massachusetts, his 
father, George, moving to this State when his son was a boy. The great-grandfather 
of Russell B. was also named George Cobb. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
army, and his ancestors were Cape Cod people. Russell B. married, in January, 1862, 
Mary, daughter of Oliver and Lucy (Howard) Gerow of Phelps, and they have two 
children : George Gerow and Lula. Mr. Cobb is one of the representative citizens of 
the town. He has served as road commissioner for the past nine years. 

Young, James C, Gorham, was born in Orleans county, February 18, 1850, a son of Will- 
iam Young, whose father was a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, where he lived and died. 
William Young was born in Edinburgh in 1813, and was a man of more than ordinary 
intelligence and education. When young he came to Orleans county, N. Y., where he 
lived for a number of years. He married Elizabeth Ross, of Edinburgh, and they had 
three sons and three daughters. In 1858 Mr. Young and family came to Seneca, where 
he was justice of the peace three years, and died in 1888. James C. was reared as miller 
and worked with his father until 1874, when he came on the farm where he now lives. 
June 24, 1874, he married Nettie Fiero, daughter of Peter P. Fiero, who was born in 
Ulster county in 1809. The wife of Peter P. was Rachael Van Riper, by whom he had 
two daughters, Emeline, who died aged five years ; and wife of subject. Peter P. Fiero 
died in 1878, and his wife in 1887. He was a son of John C. and Mariah (Post) Fiero, 
who settled the farm where Mr. Young now resides. Here for a number of years he 
kept a tavern. He was in the War of 1812. James C. Young and wife have two chil- 
dren : Mabel A., and Oscar D. ; these children being the fourth generation now living on 
this farm. Mr. Young is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of Seneca 
Grange No. 284, also of Seneca Presbyterian church. 

Edmonston, William C, Phelps, one of four children of Milton and Joanna (Konkle) 
Edmonston, was born in the town of Phelps, January 15, 1802. His grandfather, Elijah 
Edmonston, was born in Maryland and came here and settled about the year of 1796 
where he lived and died. He was a soldier of the War of 1812. William C. married, 
September 19, 1883, Flora M., daughter of Joseph and Mary J. (Curtis) Spier, of Phelps, 
Mr. Edmonston was clerk in a grocery store for eleven years, when in 1890 he bought 
out the business and has since been engaged in the grocery and general merchandise 
business. He has served as foreman of the Redfield Hook and Ladder Company, has 
served as member of the Board of Education, and in March, 1892, was elected super- 
visor of the town, and was re-elected in March, 1893. 

Hocroft, Morris R., Gorham, was born in Sodus, March 10, 1862, one of two sons and 
a daughter of George and Lucy (Lund) Hocroft, he a native of Leeds, England, and she 
of Sodus. Mr. Hocroft has retired from active life. His father was Robert, a native 
of Leeds, England, who came to America in 1823 and settled at Lyons, Wayne county. 
He had five daughters and two sons and died in 1873, Subject was reared on a farm 
and educated in Sodus Academy. For some time he followed carpentry in Rochester. 
In 1877 he began evaporating apples in Wayne county, and followed that business un- 
til 1886, when he came to Gorham and purchased a farm of 130 acres, and continued in 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 259 

the same business, evaporating 10,000 bushels yearly. The concern has a capacity of 
300 bushels per day. In 1886 Mr. Hocroft married Sarah Welburn, a native of Sodus, 
born 1865, and a daughter of George and Mary Welburn, of Sodus. Mr. Hocroft is a 
Republican, and his vi^ife is a member of the Episcopal church. 

Bently, Orville, Bristol, was born in Richmond, Ontario county, July 24, 1830. He 
is the youngest son of Isaac Bently, a son of George Bently, a son of TiUinghast Bently, 
whose father, James Bently. was thfe first of the family in America. Isaac Bently, 
father of the subject, was born in Dutchess county in 1788, and went to Saratoga county 
with his parents. His wife was Hannah Dubois who bore him seven sons and five 
daucrhters. Mr. Bently served in the War of 1812. In 1816 he came to Richmond, 
and'^purchased sixty acres of land. He held minor town offices, and with his fam- 
ily attended the Universalist church. Mr. Bently died in 1863, and his wife in 1855. 
OrviUe Bently was reared on a farm, and January 1, 1850, married in Bristol MarciaS. 
Wheeler, born in Livonia, Livingston county, born October 31, 1831, daughter of Syl- 
vester Wheeler. They have had three children: Sidney A., born September 20, 1851, 
and educated in East Bloomfield and Canandaigua Academies, and died in 1869 ; Mur- 
ray S., born July 13, 1873, married May Wickham, daughter of Wilham and Jenett 
(Francis) Wickham, of Bristol, and is a farmer; Nettie M., born December 23, 1874, is 
the wife of Fred Buell. They have one son. Orville Bently, in 1856, came to Bristol 
and purchased 100 acres of land, where he has since resided and carried on general 
farming. He is a Republican, a member of Bristol Grange, and he and family attend 
the Universalist church. 

Johnson, George, Richmond, was born on the spot where he now resides in 1823. 
His father,' Sylvester, a native of Dighton, Mass., served as ship carpenter during the 
War of 1812, and afterwards came here with his wife, Ruth Chase, who died soon 
after, leaving'three children : James, Hiram, and Abbey. He married second Beulah 
Bush of East Bloomfield, by whom he had two children, Louise, deceased, and George. 
The latter was educated at the district schools and at Allen's Hill, under Prof. Rice, 
and married in 1853 Emeline D. Bailey, of Somerset, Niagara county, who was born at 
Baptist Hill, in Bristol, in 1830. They have had four children : Frank B., born in 1854, 
died in 1858- Carrie E., born in 1856, died in 1858; Jennie O., born April 11, 1859, 
wife of L A.' Mitchell ; and Emma C, born September 22, 1860, wife of A. N. Stewart, 
of Livonia. Mr. Johnson has a flock of 300 Merino sheep and is engaged in mixed 
farming. For the past fifteen years he has bought large quantities of wool, and has 
been industrious and energetic. 

Wilbur, Cyrus H., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, September 3, 1832, a son 
of Hiram Wilbur. Jeptha, the great-grandfather, was a resident of Dutchess county, 
and had ten children. Samuel married Elizabeth Hicks, and had eight children : 
Ephraim Hiram, George, Benjamin, Cynthia, Mary, Jeptha, and Phoebe. Four of their 
children are still living : Ephraim, a farmer of Naples ; Benjamin, of Dutchess county ; 
Phoebe widow of Dr. Losey, of Dutchess county , and Hiram, of Bufi^alo, who was 
born in' Dutchess county, October 3, 1808, and came to Ontario county. He married 
in Dutchess county, Margaret Couse, and had six children, four of whom are living : 



260 IJISTORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Samuel J., of Naples; Norman R., a hotel-keeper of Pleasantville, Pa. ; Marietta, wife 
of William H. Green, of Buffalo ; and Cyrus H. The early life of the latter was spent 
on the farm. He was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and in 1855 he moved 
to Cheshire, where he bought a small farm and kept a hotel. In 1862 he started a gen- 
eral store in Cheshire in which he has since been engaged. In 1892 he erected a new 
building for his busmess and has now a very fine store. Mr. Wilbur takes an active 
interest in politics and has been commissioner of highways. He married in 1853 
Hortensia M., daughter of Thomas J. Lucas, of Canandaigua, and they have one son 
Hiram Melvm, a clerk in his father's store. 

Davie, John, Geneva, was born at the old homestead in Geneva, November 14, 1839, 
was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. In October, 1863, he en- 
listed m Company E, First Veteran Cavalry N. Y. Vols., and was in the following en- 
gagements: New Market, Piedmont, Martinsburg, and was with the regiment taking 
fifteen hundred prisoners from Staunton across the mountains to Beverly, West Vir- 
ginia. He afterwards was in the battle of Monocacy Junction, where the Rebels were 
held twenty-four hours, thereby saving the city of Washington from capture by General 
Early. The regiment was on that occasion commanded by the intrepid General 
Milligan, of Lexmgton fame. Mr. Davie was in all the engagements that his company 
and regiment was in, and was always ready for dut3^ He was honorably mustered 
out July 20, 1865, and discharged at Rochester about August 3 of that year. After his 
return home he was a truckman in the village of Geneva fourteen years, and is now 
a farmer. October 14, 1863, he married Rosanna Hicks, of Geneva, and they have had 
six children : Mary C, George T., (John W., Elizabeth E., and James W., deceased), 
Robert A. George T. is chief clerk with the Skilton Bros, hardware concern in the 
village ; Mary C. is a dressmaker at home ; and Robert A. is a farmer with his father. 
Mr. Davie's father, George, was born in Suffolk, England, and came to the United 
States when a young man. He married Mary Sliney of this town and they had six 
children : John, Thomas, Catherine, William, George and James. Their father died in 
1866, and their mother November 2, 1888. 

Cammann, Oswald John, was born in New York in 1803. While yet a lad he found 
employment in the Merchants' Bank of that city, and by progressive steps was pro- 
moted until he became cashier of the bank, which position he held many years and 
retained until 1860, when he resigned and removed to Geneva, where he continued to 
reside until his death in 1873. The cashiership of so important a bank as was the old 
Merchants' was a very prominent position, its board of directors being composed of 
well known and prominent merchants, A. T. Stewart for a long time being chairman 
of the board. Mr. Cammann became one of the leading financiers of the city, and his 
management of the affairs of the bank was entirely satisfactory to the directors and 
won for him their esteem and hearty commendation. He married Catherine Navarre 
Macomb, May 1], 1829. She was a great-granddaughter of Philip Livingston. They 
had four children: Edward, married and died in 1867, leaving no children; Frances T. 
married Robert S. Rose, who was the son of Robert L. Rose, of Allen's Hill, in the 
town of Richmond, and a member of Congress 1847-51. They had six sons and one 



Family sketches. ^6i 

daughter. Mrs. Rose survives her husband and continues to reside on the old home- 
stead farm near Branchport, Yates county. One of her sons, 0. J. C. Rose, is a prom- 
inent citizen of G-eneva, has been a member of the village board of trustees, and for 
three consecutive years was elected a supervisor of the town ; is of the firm of Dor- 
chester & Rose, prominent hardware merchants, and identified with other prominent 
business enterprises. The two other children of Mr. Cammann, Misses Elizabeth 0. 
and C. Mary, continue to reside in Geneva, and are well known and dearly beloved for 
the many quiet and unostentatious acts of benevolence and charity in which they 
abound. 

Allen, M.D., Alexander D., Gorham, is a native of Gorham, born May 12, 1856. His 
father, James H. Allen, M.D., is a son of John, a native of Montgomery county, who 
came to Steuben county and there lived and died. James H. was born in Montgomery 
county, March 3, 1830, was educated in Albany Medical College, and in 1853 came to 
Gorham, where he has since had a very successful practice. Dr. Allen married in 
Steuben county, Phoebe E., daughter of David Stevenson. Dr. Allen and wife had 
two children, Alexander D., and Margaret E., wife of Lewis T. Ruf, a Presbyterian 
minister of Pittsford, Monroe county. Dr. Allen is a member of the Ontario Medical 
Society and New York State Medical Society. Dr. Alexander D. Allen was educated 
in Canandaigua Academy and in Syracuse Medical College, graduating from the latter 
in 1880, since which time he has practiced his profession in Gorham. He is a Democrat 
in politics, and has been supervisor of Gorham five years in succession, and was chair- 
man of the board in 1891-2. He is a member of Ontario County Medical Society, 
and is a member of E. K. 0. R. In 1883 Dr. Allen married Annie T., daughter of H. 
L. Suydam, an artist of Geneva. The children of Dr. Allen are: James S., Elizabeth 
H., William A. and Hiram L. 

Adams, George H., Canandaigua, was born in Henrietta, Munroe county, October 
28, 1836. His grandfather, George, was born in Connecticut about 1773, and had two 
sons and two daughters. He died in Victor, June 10, 1862. George A., the oldest son, 
was born in Connecticut January 4, 1803, and came to this State when about twenty- 
five years of age. He first settled in Henrietta, remaining until about 1845. He lived 
four years in Parma and Ogdan, and in 1850 bought a farm in Victor, where he died 
October 20, 1875. He married in Connecticut February 26, 1824, Ruth Loomis, by 
whom he had eleven children. Mrs. Adams died January 21, 1864, and he married 
second Asenath Todd, who died July 15, 1873. He again married in 1874 Catherine 
Weiborn, who survives him. Of the eleven children of George A., six are still living: 
Ansel, a farmer of Victor; Hannah, widow of William McHuron, of Honeoye Falls; 
Harriet, wife of Henry Bement, of Victor; Myron 0., a railroad man of Rochester; 
Alvira, wife of Andrew Lane, of Michigan ; and George H. The boyhood of the latter 
was spent in Monroe county. He was educated in the common schools, and for his 
first business venture he bought a farm in Victor in 1861, which he conducted three 
years, then traded in 1864 for a farm of 115 acres in Farmington, where he lived two 
years, and then for eight years conducted a plaster mill in Victor, where he lived until 
1875 ; he then bought 115 acres in Canandaigua on Lot 77, where he has ever since 



26^ HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

lived. He lias here a beautiful residence, good outbuildings, and all modern improve- 
ments. He married, December 10, 1863, Juniata, daughter of William Tucker, of 
Cleveland, 0. They have one daughter, Nellie May. Mr. Adams is a Republican, but 
has never been aspirant for political honors. 

Adams, Benjamin F., East Bloomfield, was born in Richmond, September 19, 1823, a 
son of Ephraim and Lavinia (Morey) Adams. The grandfather, John, was a native of 
Dutchess county, where he died. He was raised by General Livingston, and his chil- 
dren were; John, Bela, Richard. Sarah, James, Abigail, David, Noah, Thomas, Miriam, 
Elizabeth, Simeon, Ephraim, Abial, Miles. Ephraim was born at Seven Pines, Dutchess 
county, March 29, 1793, was drafted and went as far as Niagara Falls in the War of 
1812, when the war closed. He came to Fabius, Onondaga county, where he married 
in 1820, then settled in Ontario county, where he followed his trade ten years and then 
took up farming. About 1833 he moved to Livonia, where he purchased one of the 
first settled farms of the region, and died January 16, 1879. He was a Republican and 
was justice of the peace. He married a daughter of Samuel Morey. She was born 
July 31, 1797, and died May 26, 1884. Their children were as follows: Ma^y, Thomas, 
B. F., Jane, Lucy, James B., Oscar M. who enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and 
Forty- eighth Regiment, and was made second lieutenant at Cold Harbor, where he led 
his company and was three times wounded, in the mouth, right arm and left shoulder; 
he was a brave and fearless soldier, and died in hospital at Washington ; he was born 
in June, 1832 ; Ephrain, Samuel M. At the age of eight years Benjamin F. went on a 
farm, and received a common school education, supplemented by a course at Lima 
Seminary. At the age of twenty one he entered a store at East Bloomfield, where he 
remained nine years, then engaged in business for himself for four years. In 1855 he 
bought 198 acres where he now resides. Be has been an active Republican, and a lead- 
ing member of the Congregational church for thirty years. October 6, 1852, he married 
Lurinda, daughter of Taylor and Electa (Beebe) Gauss, and they have five children : 
Eva L., wife of E. D. Gibbs, of Michigan ; Jane A., wife of Dr. E. L. Pardee; Clara 
L., wife of Charles Stoddard, of Michigan; Mary E., wife of Heber E. Wheeler; and 
Frank M. 

Arnold, Lovel, Gorham, was born in Gorham, October 4, 1829, a son of Isaac A., a 
son of Abram, born August 6, 1767, who was an early settler of Montgomery county, 
also of Gorham, coming there about 1814. His wife was Lorain Sipperly, born June 
15, 1775, in Montgomery county. Her father, a Revolutionary soldier, was killed by 
the Indians while on his way to join his regiment. Abram Arnold had seven sons and 
five daughters, and died May 24, 1825. His wife died in September, 1859. Isaac A. 
was born January 15, 1795. He came to Gorham at the age of nmeteen, and married 
Sallie Hutchinson, whose father was one of the earliest settlers of the place. Isaac A. 
and wife had six sons and two daughters. He first settled in Yates county, then in 
Gorham. In 1829 he settled on the farm now occupied by his son Lovel, and here 
lived till 1865. He was a deacon in the Baptist church many years. In 1865 he moved 
to Reed's Corners, where he died January 15, 1866. Lovel Arnold was educated in 
Madi~!on University i<.nd at Rochester. His health failmg, he engaged in farming, which 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 203 

has siQce been his occupation. He makes a specialty of breeding Shropshiredown sheep, 
Durham cattle and Clydesdale horses. January 6, 1854, he married Caroline A., 
daughter of George and Ann Eliza (Hocum) Clark, natives of Potter, and they have 
one son, Frank Gr. Arnold, who resides with his parents. Mr. Arnold is one of the 
largest real estate owners in Grorham, also owning land in Yates county. Since 1872 
he has been a Democrat. 

Archer, Dr. W. W., Clifton Springs, was born in Hopewell, Ontario county, May 24, 
1846. He received an academic education and eventually graduated from the Geneva 
Medical College, January 27, 1867. He commenced practice in Phelps in connection 
with Dr. Carpenter. After two years there he removed to Clifton Springs, where he 
has since resided and been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. Dr. 
Archer is surgeon in the TJ. S. Pension Board, and is coroner of the county. His wife 
was Miss Hattie Younglove. 

Ansley, Marcus, Geneva, was born on the pre-emption hue at the old homestead, 
March 15, 1826. He was educated in the public schools and in early life was a farmer. 
He began the nursery business in 1870, and has 120 acres in nursery and fruit orchard, 
having 12,000 trees bearing fruit. He has married twice, first Mary J. Dorman of Sen- 
eca, by whom he had four children: Frank S.. Flora, Lucy A., and Marcus D. Mrs. 
Ansley died in 1864, and he married second, February 20, 1867, Mrs. Cornelia M. (At- 
water) Moore. They had three daughters: Mary L , who died aged twenty-one years • 
M. Belle, and Minnie C, both residing at home. Mrs. Ansley's first husband, William 
B. Moore, was born in the eastern part of this State. He was educated in the public 
schools and was a jeweler and farmer. February 20, 1867, he married Cornelia M. 
Atwater, of Lyons, Wayne county, and they had three children : William S., Fred H., 
and Clinton B. 

Adamy, D.D.S., W. Lynn, Geneva, was born in Broome county, and graduated from 
the University of Pennsylvania in 1891, commencing practice in Geneva the same year 
His father, S. W. Adamy, is a dentist in practice at Union, N. Y. 

Adams, Edwin A., Farmington, was born in Farmington, October 7, 1856, was edu- 
cated in the public schools and Macedon Academy, and has always followed farming. 
He married twice, first Mary Southworth, and had one daughter, Edith, who is attend- 
ing school, and residing at home. Mrs. Adams died July 16, 1886, and he married 
second, Jessie C, daughter of Marshall and Margaret McLouth, of Farmington, Feb- 
ruary 27, 1889. They have one son, Vernon P., born October 1, 1890. Mr. Adams's 
father, George A., was born in the town of Manchester, January 21, 1816. He was 
educated in the common schools, and was always a farmer until he retired in 1885. 
January 15, 1845, he married Cynthia, daughter of Calvin and Cynthia Parker, of the 
town of Manchester. They had four children : Mason, who married Nellie Petty ; 
Melvin and Manson (twins) both deceased, and Edwin A. Mrs. George A. Adams died 
July 18, 1882, mourned by a bereaved husband and many friends. 

Allen, William H., Canandaigua, was born in Bristol, March 7, 1825. The grand- 
father, Chauncey, was a native of Stratford county, Conn., who came with his family 



204 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

to Ontario county in 1792, locating on land in the town of in Bristol. Chauncev 
married Rhoda Shephard, of Connecticut, and they had five sons and two daughters. 
Howell, the father of William H., was born in Bristol in 1799. He had a common 
school education and followed farming in Bristol. When his father came to this coun- 
try he took up 320 acres, and Howell had the management of this u"^til his father's 
death, when the property was divided, and his share was his home until he died in 1864. 
He married Sophia Lewis, of Bristol, and they had eight children, five of whom are 
living: Austin, a coal dealer of Canandaigua ; Shephard, a farmer of Battle Creek, 
Mich.; Levi, of Wayne county; James, of Cheshire; and William H. The latter was 
educated in the common schools and Lima Seminary, and took up farming. For a num- 
ber of winters in his younger days he taught school. His first purchase of a farm was 
in 1853, when he bought fifty acres in Bristol. He gradually added to this until he had 
200 acres, and owned besides 300 acres in other farms. In the fall of 1882 he moved to 
Canandaigua, and the next year bought ten acres in Bristol street, where he has 
erected a beautiful residence. Mr. Allen is a Republican, and while in Bristol was 
superintendent of schools and assessor. He married in 1855 Sarah, daughter of Benja- 
min G-regg, of Bristol, and they had two children : Ida, wife of Eugene Simmons, of 
Canandaigua; and Nettie, wife of Alvin Highby, of Bufl'alo. Mrs. Allen died February 
17, 1888, and he married second, in November, 1889, Minnie, daughter of William W. 
Hadley, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and widow of Cyrus Briggs of Honeoye. 

Bailey, Franklin, East Bloomfield, a native of East Bloomfield, born March 25, 1812) 
is a son of Zadock, a son of William, a native of Leeds, England, who with three 
brothers came to Newport, R. I., and there owned a large tract of land where the city 
of Newport now stands. William Bailey afterwards went to Providence, where he 
died. He had three sons and a daughter, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. 
Zadock was born in Providence, R. I., in 1777, reared in Sheffield, Mass., by Rev. Jud- 
son, and in 1793 came to East Bloomfield. He married Hannah Merrills, a native of 
Gorham, Litchfield county, Conn., and a daughter of Sylvester Merrills. Mr. Bailey 
and wife had three daughters and a son. His death occurred in 1776. Franklin 
was educated in East Bloomfield school, and at the age of twelve years he started 
in life for himself working on a farm. After a short time he began working in a 
hotel at Lima, and remained three years, when he went to Chicago and engaged as 
stage driver from Niles, Mich., to Chicago for three years, and then returned to East 
Bloomfield. Soon after he located at Albany and formed a partnership with Hiram 
Brunley, Josh Maxwell & Co., and for five years engaged in transportation on what 
was known as the Buffalo & Ohio Line. Then for two years he ran a packet boat 
from Schenectady to Utica, and finally became general passenger agent for the New 
York Central and Great Western and Michigan Central Railroads, in which capacity he 
acted for twenty-eight years. In 1865 he purchased 200 acres of land in East Bloom- 
field, and has here since resided. He has increased his original purchase to 352 
acres, and made many improvements, so that he now owns one of the finest farms 
in the State. Mr. Bailey is a Democrat and an active politician. He has been twice 
married, first in 1844 to Elizabeth S. Reston, a native of Leeds, England, and daughter 
of John and Elizabeth Reston, of Leeds, who came to Poughkeepsie, where for nine 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 265 

years Mr. Reston was professor of lariguages. He afterwards went to Albany and 
there engaged as a teacher. He died in 1845, and his wife in 1855. Mrs. Bailey died 
April 25, 1882, at the age of sixty-eight years. In 1889 Mr, Bailey married second, 
Mrs. Caroline T. Linkfield Carroll, a native of Oneida county, and a daughter of Edward 
and Sophronia (Husted) Linkfield, the former a native of Rutland, Vt., and the latter 
of Oneida county. Mr. Bailey was one of the organizers, and for many years was 
warden of the Episcopal church of East Bloomfield. He was one of three men who 
contributed very largely to the building of the church, and also one of the build- 
ing committee. Mrs. Bailey was the widow of Gen. K. Carroll, by whom she had four 
daughters. Mr. Carroll was an attorney of Camden, N. Y., who was in 1872 a member 
of the Assembly. His children are : Ada E., wife of Frederick Wager, an attorney of 
Rome ; Theressa, wife of Arthur C. Woodruff, an attorney of Camden ; Genevieve, 
wife of Prof. Parsell, of Clinton Liberal Institute. Mrs. Parsell studied vocal music in 
Paris, and is now a teacher in the institute ; and Grace K., an expert stenographer, who 
is engaged in teaching at Fort Plain. 

Brocklebank, Benjamin S., was born at his present residence in Canandaigua, Decem- 
ber 18, 1835. The grandfather, Samuel, was a native of New England and one of the 
earliest settlers here. John B., the father of our subject, was born in this town in 
1797, and married Chloe Sanger. They had seven children, five of whom are living: 
Walter S., a farmer of Hopewell ; Electa Negas of Michigan ; Emily C. Anderson of 
Wyoming; John of Battle Creek, Mich.; and Benjamin S. John B. died in March, 
1858, and his wife died July, 1852. Benjamin S. was educated in Canandaigua Acad- 
emy, and assisted on the farm until twenty-two years of age. He then started for 
himself by renting the farm adjoining en the north. After spending one year there 
he bought a farm of 145 acres in school district No. 20, where he made his home until 
1880, when he returned to the old homestead, which he has ever since made his home. 
This is a good farm of 100 acres where Mr. Brocklebank does general farming. He 
has never taken any active interest in politics or public affairs, but is one of the repre- 
sentative farmers of this town. He married, March 18, 1868, Ellen, daughter of John 
S. Jones of Victor, and they have had two sons, Floyd B., who conducts the farm in 
the west part of the town, and L. Ray, who lives at home. Mrs. Brocklebank died 
July 3, 1892, aged fifty-three years. She left many friends to mourn her loss. She 
was a devoted wife and mother, and a member of the Presbyterian church of Victor. 

Blaine, Millard F., Geneva, son of John G. and Angeline (Gamber) Blaine, was 
born at Varick, Seneca county, March 4, 1849. He was educated at the Genesee Con- 
ference Seminary at Ovid, and graduated from the law department of the University 
of Michigan in 1879, and practiced one year at Rockford, 111. From 1880 to 1884 he 
was manager of the Union Needle Company of Middleboro', Mass., and was managing 
partner of the Kirkwood Hotel at Geneva six years. In 1891 he organized the Gen- 
esee Carriage Company, and is the largest stockholder. He is trustee of the village, is 
a Republican, and takes an active interest and part in political affairs. In 1872, he 
married Alice Gidding, daughter of William D. Gidding of Romulus. 



2G6 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

BeQtly, M.D., Francis E., Canandaigua, was born in Van Buren, Onondaga county, 
April 23, 1816, a son of Isaac Bently of that town. The earliest ancestors of this family 
came to this country from England in 1740. The father of our subject was born in 
Rhode Island, and came to Onondaga county in 1804, locating in Pompey, and in 1811 
moved to the homestead where Francis B. was born. Subject was educated at Caz- 
enovia Seminary, and attended Geneva Medical College two seasons, graduating Janu- 
ary 24, 1841. He then went with his preceptor. Dr. Root of ]\Iemphis, with whom he 
practiced for three years, and then moved to Cheshire, in the town of Canandaigua, 
where for the last fifty years he has had a very extensive practice. He has now re- 
tired from active work and is taking a well merited rest. He has been a member of 
the Ontario County Medical Society from its organization (about 1848) and has held 
all the offices in the society. He is also a member of the New York State Medical As- 
sociation. He married first June 25, 1843, Sophia Ball of Marcellus, Onondaga county. 
His second marriage, December 27, 1847, was with Almira, daughter of Squire War- 
ren Brown of South Bristol, and they have two sons: Frank, who conducts the farm 
in Canandaigua, and Victor, who is a musician. 

Brown, Charles L., Victor, was born in Lodi, Seneca county, March 25, 1852. He 
was educated in the public schools and Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College of Ro- 
chester. He is at present in the drug store of Frank E. Cobb. Mr. Brown has been 
treasurer of the village, collector of the town, and is serving his second term as town 
clerk. He has also been secretary of the American Legion of Honor. January 27, 
1880, he married Mary A., only child of Montgomery and Johanna Camp of Victor, and 
they have two children : Vera H. and Tuthill G. Rev. John M. Brown, father of 
Charles L., was born in 1818, and received an academic education. He married Eliza 
A. Graham of Orange county, and they had two sons and a daughter : William G., 
Charles L., and Alice G., who died aged twenty-four years. Mr. Brown was retired 
from active service in the church (M. E.) after fifty years of continuous ministry, with- 
out missing an appointment. He enlisted in the Eleventh New York Volunteers for 
three years and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. His position was 
such that he received very fine locations and churches, and in the conference served on 
several important committees. 

Brewster, the late Nathan P., was born May 9, 1820, and was by occupation a 
woolen manufacturer at Shortsville, N. Y. September 4, 1845, he married Harriet A., 
daughter of Allen and Sophronia (Compton) Payne of Farmington. They had two 
children : Anna A. and Mary E. Mr. Brewster died in 1859. Mrs. Brewster's father, 
Allen Payne, was born in Farmmgton, November 22, 1801, and married Sophronia 
Compton, by whom he had seven children, as follows: Amanda, born July 25, 1824; 
William, born June 4. 1826; Harriet A., born October 22, 1827 ; David, born July 13, 
1829: William J., born December 6, 1832; Marvin A., born June 19, 1834; and Han- 
nah M., born May 9, 1837. Allen Payne was one of the largest land owners in the 
town of Farmington. He died October 31, 1837, and his wife April 5, 1885. 

Barnes, Washington, Geneva, was born in the town of Seneca (now Geneva) April 
10, 1819. He was educated in the schools of his day. He afterward resided in Michi- 



f aMilY sketches. 26'r 

gan, where he also attended school. In early life he was a miller and farmer. In the 
year of 1872 he embarked in the nursery business with all the improved varieties of a 
first-class nursery conducted on first- c'ass honest business principles. He has married 
twice, first August 8, 1844, Jane A. Mead of Benton, Yates county, and they had 
seven children : Joshua M., Jane A., Catherine C, Frances and Sarah A. (twins), 
George W., and Charles F. Mrs. Barnes died in 1860, and he married second, October 
8, 1862, Mary A. Davies of the town of Milo, Yates county. Mr. Barnes's father, 
Thomas, was born in Ireland, and came to the United States with his parents when he 
was nine years old. He married Elizabeth Goundry of the town of Milo, Yates county, 
and they had twelve children. The ancestry of this family is Irish, English and Welsh. 

Barnes, James W., Canandaigua, was born in Seneca in 1830, a son of John R., a 
farmer of that town, who lived on the farm settled by his father, James. John R. mar- 
ried Maria Goundry of Seneca, wh^) bore him ten children, of whom four sons were in 
the War of the Rebellion. John R. died in 1863. aged about seventy two years. The 
early life of James W. was spent on the homestead. He was educated in the common 
schools, after leaving which he entered the dry goods store of P. A. Button at Geneva, 
with whom he remained, in Geneva and Canandaigua, about eight years. He then 
went with Richardson & Draper, and when in 1871 Mr. Draper established a bank here 
Mr. Barnes went with him as cashier, which position he filled until 1890. He then 
formed a copartnership with C. N. Williams, making the banking firm Williams & 
Barnes, which still exists. Mr. Barnes married in 1876 Martha, daughter of Stanton 
S. Cobb of Canandaigua. 

Barker, J. Albert, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, August 7, 1851, son of 
John, a gardener of this town, and a native of England, who came to this country in 
1850. He located in Canandaigua, where he lived until his death in 1881. Of his five 
children four are living. Our subject was educated at the common schools, then entered 
the store rf A. S. Newman, where he remained until 1885, spending fifteen years 
there, then opened a store in his present location on Main street, where he has built up 
a very successful business. He deals in all kinds of medicines, drugs, toilet articles, 
paints, varnishes, etc. Mr. Barker married in July, 1877, Julia, daughter of James 
Glass, a native of England, who was a gardener here, and they have one son, Willie 
Glass, now in his fifteenth year. Mr. Barker is a member of the K. of P., an honorary 
member of the Mutual Hook & Ladder Company, and both he and his wife are mem- 
bers of the St. John Episcopal church. 

Boyle, William, Canandaigua, was born in Phelps, December 7, 1858, a son of Joseph, 
a butcher of that town, who was a native of New York city. The early life of Will- 
iam was spent in Phelps and Clifton Springs. He was educated in the common schools 
and Canandaigua Academy, and after leaving school engaged with Price the baker in 
this village, with whom he remained three years. In 1875 he went into the butchering 
business. In September, 1887, he in company with John Gartland established a mar- 
ket here, which they conducted until August 8, 1892, when Mr. Boyle sold his interest 
to his partner and moved to his present location at 157 Main street, where he has a 
large commodious market, and always carries a good stock of meat, poultry and game. 



26^ HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Mr. Boyle married in June, 1886, Car'tline Senglamb of Canandaigua, and they have 
one child, William, in his fifth year. Mr. Boyle is a member of the Catholic church. 

Babb, Ira P., West Bloomfield, was born in Livonia, Livingston county, July 28, 
1825. His parents, Hosea and Polly (Witherill) Babb, came early in the century, he 
from Massachusetts and she from Vermont, to Livonia. His father died in We^t Bloom- 
field in 1882, aged nearly eighty-five years. Ira P., w^hen eleven years of age, worked 
on a farm and then four years in Lima at a trade, carpentering and wagon making. 
He came to West Bloomfield and settled at Factory Hollow nearly forty years ago, 
engaged principally in building houses. In 1848 he married Louisa A. Matteson of 
Minden. They had six children, of whom these survive : Araminda (Mrs. Skellinger 
of Honeoye Falls) ; Jennie (Mrs. Tack of Batavia) ; William A., at home; and Frank 
E., a house builder in New York, and a graduate from Cooper Union, in architecture. 

Boardman, H. M., Gorham, was born in Gorham, March 4, 1829, a son of Jesse C, 
a son of Jesse, who was a native of Connecticut and an early settler of Cayuga county. 
Jesse C. was born in Cayuga county in 1778 and came to Gorham when a young man, 
and married first Mary Bunyan, a native of Seneca, by whom he had nine children. 
His second wife was Betsey French of Middlesex, a daughter of Ozias French, a major 
in the War of 1812. Mr. French was one of the first settlers of Middlesex. By his sec- 
ond wife Mr. Boardman had two sons and four daughters, and died in Gorham in 1845, 
and his wife in 1853. Subject was educated in the common schools and Genesee Col- 
lege, which afterwards became Syracuse University. He graduated from that college, 
and then entered the Methodist ministry, which he followed seven years. His health 
failing, he engaged in farming, which he has since followed. He owns 150 acres of 
land on which he erected good buildings, and also has one of the finest orchards in the 
town. He is a Republican, but never desired public office. For twenty-one years he 
has been superintendent of the Rushville Sunday-school, and was president of the 
County Sunday-school Association for many years. March 3, 1853, Mr. Boardman 
married Christine Rapalee of Yates county, by whom he had eight children : Myrtie 
M., Myron R., Lemuel D., Kittie S., Mary C, Willie F., Ellen E., and HenrietteM., all 
living. 

Allen, EUery G., Farmington, was born in the town of Oppenheim, Fulton county, 
November 12, 1843, and came to Farmington with his parents July 5, 1848. He was 
educated in the public schools and Lima Seminary. April 14, 1870, he married Jennie 
M., daughter of Ichabod W. Briggs of Macedon, Wayne county, and they have six 
children : Jennie M., George S., Lewis F., Charles E., Willard H., and Carrie B. Mr. 
Allen has been supervisor of his town six years and chairman of the board one year, 
justice of the peace eight years, and has had charge and settled up nineteen different 
estates. Mr. Allen's father, George S., was born in Greenfield, Saratoga county, Au- 
gust 28, 1802. He was educated in the public schools and is a farmer. September 14, 
182G, he married Sally Bowen of that county, and had five children: one died in infancy . 
Lydia J., who married Orlando White ; Phoebe B., who married Joseph H. Reynolds; 
Lewis F., who married December 19, 1873, and Ellery G. His father died February 
16, 1874, and his mother June 8, 1885. His grandfather, Daniel L. Allen, was born in 



Family sketches. 260 

Massachusetts, July 31, 1753, and married Lydia Smith, who was born Seplembfr 29, 
1762, and had five children. For his second wife he married her sister, Mary 
Smith, and had six children. Mrs. Allen's father, Ichabod W. Brigo^s, was born in 

Schoharie county, March 24, 1809, and married Sara 0. , and had nine children : 

Albert H., Lottie M., Jennie M., Jeremiah B., Cliarles M., Kit tie S., George 0., I<,-ha- 
bod and Margaret (twins). This family is the fifth generation from George Allen, who 
came from England in 1635, locating at Weymouth. 

Boyce, Chester A., of Boyce Bros., Canandaigua, was born in Rensselaer county. 
His first business venture was as a butcher in his native county. He has also worked 
at carpentry, and in 1876 came to Canandaigua, where he engaged in the grain and 
produce business. He was for five years on the corner of Railroad avenue and Pleasant 
street, and occupied the Star building for three years. In the spring of 1891 he in 
company with his brother Henry, leased the Canandaigua elevator and store-house of 
H. C. Lucas, erected by him in 1880, with a storage capacity of about 18,000 bushels, 
and they are the leading grain and produce shippers of this section. They have handled 
during the last year about 75,000 bushels of grain, besides handling 1,500 tons of hay, 
and large quantities of potatoes and apples. Mr. Boyce is a member of the M. E. 
church, as is also his family. He married in 1878 Anna Mellions, of Rensselaer county. 

Barnes, Hurdman, Canandaigua, was born in England, April 14, 1814, and came to 
this country when seventeen years of age, where he worked two or three years for 
William Gorham on the farm. He married, in England, Martha Shaw, who died June 
16, 1862, aged fifty-three years, leaving no children. Mr. Barnes married second, in 
June, 1864, Elizabeth Mitchell, widow of William Meeks, of Canandaigua, and they 
have had five children : Martha, Mary, Jesse, Frederick and Ellen, all of whom live at 
home. Airs. Barnes died April 14, 1884. He took little iriterest in public affairs, but 
devoted his time and attention to his farm interests. The homestead consists of ninety- 
four acres, in good condition, on which the principal crops are grain and fruit, with 
four acres of vineyard. The home and residence of this pleasant family was erected 
about 1860 by Mr. Barnes, for whose memory the above is written. 

Beam, Smith A., East Bloomfield, a native of Sodus, Wayne county, was born in 
1835. He is one of eight children of John and Margaret (Belong) Beam, natives of 
Connecticut, w.ho in an early day settled on a farm in Sodus, Wayne county, where 
Mr. Beam died in 1885, while on a visit to his son. Smith A. The latter was reared on 
a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1861 he married Hester A. Black, a 
native of Smithfield, and daughter of Loring Black, and they have one child, Loring J., 
born August 5, 1872, in Canandaigua. He received a common school education, and is 
engaged in farming. Mr. Beam also has an adopted daughter, Louise Setz, whose par- 
ents were John and Barbara Setz, of Churchville. She is a milliner. In 1865 Mr. Beam 
went to Canandaigua, where he resided six years, then moved to East Bloomfield and 
purchased sixty-four acres. This he afterwards sold, and in 1880 bought the farm now 
owned by the family, where Mr. Beam remained until his death, November 12 1892. 
He was a Democrat, and he and his wife were members of the Baptist church of Can- 
andaigua. 



270 TlTSfORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Bowdy, James T., Victor, was born in Canandaigua, was educated in the district 
schools, and followed farming. He was a soldier in the war of the great Rebellion, 
serving in Company E, One Hundred and Fifty- ninth N. Y. S. Vols., was with General 
Banks in the Red River expedition m Louisiana, and with General Sheridan in the 
Shenandoah Valley, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. July 
19, 1887, he married Emma J., daughter of the late Stephen H. Blood, of Victor, and 
they have two children : James L., born October 30, 1889, and Clara L., born May 14, 
1892. Mrs. Bowdy's father, Stephen H. Blood, was one of the reliable pioneers of the 
town was born February 26, 1807, and educated in the district schools, also a farmer. 
December 4, 1801, he married Louisa J., daughter of Orrin R. and Ruby (Hotchkin) 
Knapp, of Minden. They had two children : William H., who married Constance 
Clark, of Kansas City, where they reside, and Emma J. Mrs. Blood's husband's father 
Israel M., was born August 19, 1762, in New Bedford, Mass., and came to Western 
when a young man. December 11, 1796, he married Sarah, daughter of James Upton 
of Victor, and they had nine children ; Rosell L., Norman B., Nathaniel, Stephen H., 
James M., Anna, Lucy N., Jemima B. and Daniel D. Mrs. Blood's father, Orrin R. 
Knapp, was born at Mount Washington, Berkshire county, Mass., November 18, 1795. 
October 19, 1817, he married Ruby Hotchkin, and they had three children and were 
born in Cornwell, Litchfield county, Conn. They came to this State when Mrs. Blood 
was eii^ht months old. She was an excellent school teacher. Her mother's uncle 
Joseph, was in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Blood's father, Israel M., was in the War 
of 1812, at Buffalo. Mrs. Blood's father, Orrin R. Knapp, was in the War of 1812, at 
Boston, Mass. Mr. Bowdy's father, Ambrose, is a pensioner of the Mexican war. 
Stephen H. Blood died January 31, 1884, on the homestead that the family have owned 
and resided upon forty years. He was an earnest worker and member of the M. E. 
church. 

Barron, William J., Geneva, son of William and Ellen (Booth) Barron, was born in 
Caledonia, May 6, 1856. He received a common school education, and at the age of 
sixteen years came to Geneva and learned the blacksmith's trade. He carried on this 
business four years in Caledonia, four years in Geneva, and in the spring of 1890 bought 
the pubhc sheds in Geneva. In 1877 he married Ann Thornton, of Geneva, and they 
have one son, David, born in 1878. Mr. Barron takes an active part in politics and is 
a staunch Republican. 

Booth, George S., Canandaigua, chief of police, was born in Farmington, March 31, 
1840, a son of John, who died in 1843. The boyhood of our subject was spent in 
Farmington, where be lived until twelve years old, when his mother moved into Can- 
andaigua, where he was educated in the common school ; after leaving which he followed 
varied occupations until 1864, when he bought a farm, which he conducted for seven 
years, and in 1872 moved into the village, where he has ever since lived. In 1878 he 
was elected constable of the town, and in 1882, at the organization of the village police, 
Mr. Booth was appointed to the force, and was made chief of police. Mr. Booth marr 
ried in 1863, Jane, daughter of B. F. Waring, a farmer of Bloom field, and they have 
two children: Effie, wife of William Bridgman, of Canandaigua, and Mary. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 271 

Becker, John Franklin, Canadice, was born in 1830 in Richmond. His father, John, 
born in 1800, died in 1850, and was a native of Scoharie county, thence coming to 
Canadice, and from there to Richmond. In 1820 he married Lurana Allen, and of their 
nine children, W. D. and Allen live in Richmond, and John F. in Canadice. He was 
always a farmer. John F. married in 1851 Mary Adaline, daughter of Daniel Short 2d, 
of Richmond, and settled in Canadice on the Middle Road in 1864. He had eight chil- 
dren : Clara E., Marion J., Hattie M.. Lana L., Speedy S., Fremont H., Spencer U. and 
Adda M., all deceased except Spencer U. and Marion J. He married second in 1877 
Lucinda Jane Butler, daughter of William Butler, of Canadice, and they have had eight 
children, six now living: Herbert E., born in 1879; May A., born in 1880; Grove F., 
born in 1882 ; Jay F., born in 1883 ; Belle, born in 1888; Reid H., born in 1892. Mr. 
Becker has always been a farmer, and is a Republican in politics. 

Blaine, M.D., Myron De Pue, Geneva, is a son of James Blaine who was born in 
Northumberland county, Pa. His father died when he was four years of age, and five 
years later his mother moved to the town of Romulus, where he now resides, one of 
the leading farmers in Seneca county. Our subject was born August 6, 1859. He 
attended the common and select schools of Romulus, and in 1874 graduated from the 
State Normal School of Valparaiso, Ind., and the same year began the study of medi- 
cine with Dr. Evarts, of Romulus. He spent three years at the Detroit Medical Col- 
lege, from which he graduated in 1883. He was for six years one of the staff of the 
Willard Asylum, and in 1889 located at Geneva, where he has a large practice, making 
a specialty of nervous diseases; was president of the Seneca County Medical Society 
two years. In 1889 he married Zoa May Covert, of Ovid, N. Y. 

Butler, W. K., Geneva, son of William M., was born in Covert, Seneca county, June 
26, 1850. He received a common school education, and when fifteen years old went to 
learn the carpenter's trade. In 1878 he commenced contracting and building, drawing 
his own plans. He now employs twenty- five hands, and has a sash and blind and plan- 
ing factory. He built the Western Hose Company's building, and has done some of 
the building at Willard Asylum. He has taught sixteen terms of school. In 1872 he 
married Cornelia, daughter of Theodore Swan, and has four children. 

Burtis, Charles B., Phelps, was born in New York city, February 17, 1825, a son of 
Arthur and Elizabeth (Palmer) Burtis. The grandfather was John Burtis of Long 
Island. He was for twelve years superintendent at Bellevue Hospital, and drew the 
plans and superintended the work on the first building on Blackwell's Island. Charles 
B. married, October 6, 1846, Catharine Grange, si.-ter of General Gordon Grange. They 
had four children : Arthur B., Emma J., Henry B., and Clara T., wife of Rev. C. F. Por- 
ter. Henry B. was born at Oaks' Corners, July 29, 1860. He is the managing partner 
of the A. B. Curtis & Bro. fruit and stock farm at Oaks' Corners. The buildings were 
erected in 1887, and are a credit to the town as well as to the proprietors. They have 
about thirty head of horses and colts, and their enterprise is in a flourishing con- 
dition. 

Barlow, Jesse, Phelps, was born at Amenia, Dutchess county, January 19, 1832, was 
a son of Elisha and Lucy (Darrow) Barlow, natives of Dutchess county. The grand- 



272 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

father, Hon. Elisha Barlow, was a native of Sandwich, Mass., who came with his father, 
Moses, and his grandfather, Peleg Barlow, to Poughkeepsie in 1756, when a boy. The 
Hon. Elisha Barlow was a member of assembly during 1800 and 1802, and was also a 
member of the Constitutional Convention of 1821. The ancestors were Cape Cod 
fisherman for several generations. Jesse Barlow married, March 9, 18G9, Lavinia, 
daughter of Newton Carter, of Connecticut. They have one son, Howard Carter. In 
1858 Mr. Barlow bought a half interest in the Swift Mills in Phelps, and in 1870 bought 
out the remaining interest, and has been sole proprietor since that time; it going 
under the name of the Barlow Roller Mills, having a capacity of fifty barrels of flour 
per day. The house of Deacon Moses Barlow, in which Jesse was born, was built prior 
to the Revolutionary War. 

Bostwir'k, Daniel R., East Bloomfield, is a native of East Bloomfield, born March 16, 
1816. His father. Major Elijah Bostwick, a soldier in the War of 1812, was a son of 
Elijah, an Episcopal minister of Great Barrington, Mass., who founded many churches 
in that State and Eastern New York. The father of subject was born in Great Bar- 
rington, Mass., October 28, 1786, and came to East Bloomfield when about ten years 
of age, and was reared by a Mr. Sprague. He held the office of assessor, collector and 
justice of the peace, and married Diantha Rice, born July 4, 1791, a daughter of Daniel 
of East Bloomfield. They had five sons and five daughters, seven of whom grew to 
maturity. He died August 28, 1870. Daniel R. was educated in Canandaigua Acad- 
emy and when twenty-one years of age went to Michigan and spent one year. Re- 
turning home he purchased a farm, which he now owns, and afterwards owned 100 
acres in Bristol, and seventy acres in West Bloomfield. March 16, 1858, he married 
Amanda Reed of Richmond, a daughter of Major John Reed of the War of 1812, and 
one of the early settlers in Richmond. Subject and wife have had three children : John, 
a hardware merchant of Clifton Springs; H. Wheeler, a farmer, who was educated in 
Canandaigua Academy, and married, December 21, 1887, Christina, daughter of Chris- 
topher Bellinger, and had one child, Christine A., who was born March 25, 1892. The 
third child of subject is Annie A., who resides with her brother at Clifton Springs. 
Daniel R. for the last thirty- five years has been a Democrat. He was the first super- 
intendent of the West Bloomfield schools, and served four years. He was also justice 
of the peace there for four years, and held the same office in East Bloomfield for sixteen 
successive years. He was supervisor one year and justice of sessions one term. He 
was twice candidate for assemblj^man, but the county being largely Republican he was 
defeated. Mr. Bostwick is a member of the East Bloomfield Grange. He was form- 
erly a member of the Congregational church of East Bloomfield. 

Bean, John E., Geneva. — This widely known and esteemed attorney was born in 
Yorkshire, England, in 1824. At the age of twelve he came to this country and became 
a resident of Sodus, in Wayne county. There he lived for four years, and in 1841 was 
in the Union School at Geneva. In 1846 he graduated from the Geneva College. He 
read law with B. Slosson, and was admitted to all New York State courts in 1849, and 
has practiced at Geneva since. In 1864 he was admitted to practice in the United 
States District and Circuit courts. He has held the office of justice of the peace several 
terras and acted as police justice in Geneva. In 1846 he joined the Geneva fire depart- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 273 

ment. In 1851 he received his commission as captain from Governor Hunt in the 
Fifty-fifth Regiment of the New York militia, and in 1853 another commission from 
Governor Seymour. In 1856 he was elected major of Fifty-ninth Regiment, Seventh 
Division of the New York State militia, receiving his commission from Governor 
Clark. At the beginning of the war he was inspector of troops at Geneva. In his early 
life he taught school several terms under a State certificate. In 1849 he married Miss 
Van Vorhis. Shunning the life of a politician, he has devoted himself with great suc- 
cess to his profession. 

Baldwin, Charles H., Canandaigua, was born in Sanford, Dutchess county, October 
2, 1853, and was educated in the common schools and Pelham Institute at Poughkeepsie, 
and has since been enaaged in farming. In 1885 he came to Ontario county, where he 
remained but a short time, when he moved into Yates county and bought a farm, en- 
gaging in the cultivation of grapes, from which he has raised for over two years over 
fifteen tons per year. He also leased a farm adjoining, from which he raised about the 
same quantity. Mr. Baldwin has been for the last four years a dealer in coal, and in 
1892 opened a yard and office in Canandaigua, where he is prepared to furnish any 
quantity the trade demands. Mr. Baldwin married in 1874 Frances, daughter of Mer- 
ritt'Mallory, a farmer groceryman of this town, and they have four children : Charles 
I., George E., Willis H., and Franklin S. Mr and Mrs. Baldwin are members of the 
Vine Valley M. E. church, of which he is trustee. He is also a member of Canandai- 
gua Lodge, No. 294, F. & A. M. 

Bland, the late George .!., Geneva, was born in Geneva in 1818. He was educated 
in the public schools and by occupation a kalsominer. March 18, 1845, he married 
Mary J. Adams, who was born in Troy. They have an adopted daughter, Mary A., 
who was born in Geneva. She married, February 17, 1887, George W. Watkins, who 
was born in Baltimore, Md. Mr. Bland died September 15, 1886. He was a member 
of the Baptist church and the present family are members of Trinity church. Mrs. 
Bland was a coworker with Frederick Douglass in the anti-slavery cause, and is much 
interested in the elevation of her people, the colored race. 

Burrell, Edward, Seneca, was born on his grandfather's homestead, upon which he 
resides, near Hall's Corners, April 29, 1825. He was educated in the schools of his day 
and has followed farming. June 7, 1869, he married Elizabeth Parker of Oswego, 
Kendall county, 111., and they have two sons : Edward P. and Thomas W., both well 
educated and farmers with their father. Mr. Burrell's father, Thomas, was born in 
Northumberland, England, in 1796, and came to the United States with his father 
when he was four years old, locating here in September, 1800. His mother was dead. 
He was educated in the schools of that early day, was a farmer, and married Mary 
Hall, formerly of England, coming here in 1801. They had seven children, five now 
living: Elizabeth, who married Alexander Turnbull ; Edward, Catherine A., who mar- 
John C. Wilson; Margaret, died; Roger H., who married Barbara Kennedy and resides 
in Monroe county ; and Thomas D., who married Violet A. Dixon, also resides in Mon- 
roe county, and Mary Jane, dead. Mr. Burrell's grandfather, Edward, was born at the 
old homestead in England, September 15, 1763. He has married twice, first Elizabeth 



274 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Dixon, by whom he had two children, Thomas and Margaret. She died in England and 
he married second, Deborah Wood of Hall's Corners, and had three children : Jane, 
Dorothy and Catherine. Mr. Bnrrell's father was one of the elders in the Presbyterian 
church at Seneca. Both himself and wife are members of the same church. 

Church, E. Chapin, Canandaigua, was born in Antwerp, Jefferson county, August 
15, 1848. The boyhood of our subject was spent on the farm at Antwerp, where he 
received an education in the seminary. When he was nineteen he went to New Hamp- 
shire where he learned the machinist's trade, when, his father dying, he returned to hig 
home. He spent two and one half years in New York in the mercantile business, and 
in the spring of 1873 came to Canandaigua, where he engaged in the insurance and real 
estate business, and is now the leading insurance man of the town. He has always 
been prominently identified with the Republican party here and was president of the 
Young Men's Club in 1884-85. In 1885 he was elected county treasurer by a majority 
of over 800, and in 1888 was re-elected, his term expiring January 1, 1892. Mr. 
Church was president of the Mosher Hook & Ladder Company from 1876 to 1881, 
and a director of the Canandaigua Gaslight Company for the last five years. He is 
also president of the Western Improvement Company of Dubuque, la. He married, 
November 18, 1875, Mary A., daughter of Captain George Chalmers of Oswego, and 
they have one son and one daughter, E. Raymond and Julia C. Mr. Church is a 
supporter of the Congregational church, of which his family are members, and he is also a 
member of Canandaigua Lodge F. & A. M., No. 264. 

Cleggett, Benjamin F., Geneva, was born in Dutchess county, July 30, 1828, and 
came to Rochester with his parents when but a child. In 1836 they went to Canada, 
where Mr. Cleggett was educated. The family returned to Rochester in 1847. Mr. 
Cleggett has nearly always followed the trade of barber, and has been a resident of 
Geneva thirty-five years. He enlisted in the navy in 1S64 and was honorably dis- 
charged in 1865, when Charles J. Folger was secretary of the treasury at Washington. 
Mr. Cleggett was messenger there, returning home at the death of Mr, Folger. He 
was married twice, first in Rochester on Septembers, 1849, Frances Nell, whose brother 
was assistant editor of the North Star, under the management of Hon. Frederick 
Douglass. They had eleven children, six of whom are living : Benjamin F., jr., who 
resides in Boston ; Fannie J., who married Stephen F. Jasper of Boston ; Mary, who 
married William F. Kinney of Geneva ; Ira (residence not known), and Lucretia, who 
married John Jones of Le Roy, N. Y. ; Mrs. Cleggett died March 27, 1875. For his 
second wife, on November 27, 1877, he married Letitia A. Haley of Canandaigua, and 
they have had two daughters : Alice L., and Laura B., who died in infancy. Mr. 
Cleggett's father, David, was born in Maryland a slave. He escaped and gained his 
liberty. Mrs. Cleggett's father, Aldred Haley, was born in Martinsburg, Va., a slave. 
He, too, escaped, but he returned, was recaptured, and again remanded to slavery for 
a short time. He again came to Canandaigua and married Elizabeth Brooks, by whom 
he had seven children: Emily, Letitia A., Alice J., Laura A., Charles A., and Helen L. 

Creighton, James, Geneva, was born in County Fermenaugh, Ireland, about 1835, 
and came to the United States in 1872, locating in Geneva. December 7, 1857, he 



t'AMlLY SKETCHES. 275 

married Mrs. Mary (Wiggins) Reynolds. They had six children : Eliza, Elizabeth A., 
James, Susan, Mary E. and Jennie. Mrs. Creighton had three children by her first 
marriage: John, Margaret and Thomas. Elizabeth married Edward Pendle, of 
Geneva, and they have one daughter, Mersible L. Susan married Charles H. Pendle, of 
Geneva. 

Curlin, Mrs. Nancy T. P., Geneva, was born in Geneva, where she was educated in 
the public schools and taught with the Rev. H. H. Garnet, D.D., two years. She was 
the second daughter of Aaron Lucas and was married in 1854 to Robert H. Curlin, a 
classical teacher. She taught school in the West Indies twenty-five years, and returned 
to the United States in 1878. Mrs. Curlin's father was born a slave in Virginia. He 
gained his freedom by the underground railway in 1825, and married Flora Duncan, of 
the Mohawk Valley, who was a New York State slave. They had three children ; 
Esther, who married John Grant; Nancy T. P., and Charles R. who died at the age of 
twenty-five years. Her father died in 1884 and her mother in 1850, both in Geneva. 

Colmey, John, Canandaigua, was born in Stillwater, Saratoga county, August 2, 1858, 
and when very young moved with his parents to Victor. He attended Victor Union 
School, after leaving which he taught school for several terms, and in 1877 went into 
the law office of E. L. Morse and H. 0. Chesebro at Canandaigua, where he read law 
and was admitted to the bar in October, 1881. He acted as clerk for Mr. Morse while 
he was in New York city for one year, and the next year opened a law office for him- 
self. The same year he was elected on the Democratic ticket justice of peace, and at 
the expiration of his term in 1887 he was re-elected without opposition. In 1889 he 
was elected supervisor, and re-elected the next year by an increased majority. January 
19, 1892, he was appointed by Governor Flower to the office of surrogate of Ontario 
county, to fill the vacancy by the death of A. C. Armstrong. In 1886 Mr. Colmey was 
justice of sessions for the county. He has been secretary of the Democratic committee 
several years and is now chairman. He married in August, 1889, Mary B. Widman, of 
Canandaigua, and they had two sons, Augustine and John. 

Cooley, H. Seymour, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, December 25, 1862, a 
son of Albert B., a farmer of this town, who was the first to introduce the Hampshire- 
down sheep in this country, which were imported from England. The whole life of 
our subject has been spent in this town. He was educated in the Canandaigua Acad- 
emy, and on leaving school in November, 1879, entered the store of his uncle, James S. 
Cooley, where he has ever since remained. In 1892 Mr. Cooley was elected trustee of 
the village. He is a member of the Mutual Hook and Ladder Company, and of Can- 
andaigua Lodge No. 245, Knights of Pythias, of which he was one of the organizers 
and a charter member. Mr. Cooley married in 1883 Carrie A., daughter of W. S. 
Townsend, of Canandaigua. He is a supporter and Mrs. Cooley is a member of the 
Methodist church. 

Crowley, Daniel, Manchester, was born in Ireland, September 10, 1843. He came to 
this country in 1855. After a time, through hard work and economical efforts, he was 
enabled to purchase the farm upon which he now lives. Mr. Crowley married Mar- 
garet Chancey, and they have eight children. Mr. Crowley has served as pathmaster, 
and is a staunch Democrat. 



276 filSTORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Catchpole, Daniel, Geneva, son of George and Martha Catchpole, was born October 
27, 1833, in England. His parents came to America when he was young, and he re- 
ceived a common school education. When a mere boy he worked in his father's machine 
shop and learned the machinist's trade. At the age of sixteen he entered the lumber 
yard of P. H. Fields, Avhere he remained, also with their successors, Conger and Mac- 
Kay, and was foreman of the yard for twenty-one years. He did much towards build, 
ing up their business. In 1870 he was employed by T. Smith & Co., and was their 
superintendent three years. He has been a member of the firm since 1867. He mar- 
ried Lucy A., daughter of L. Bodle, and they have three children: Lizzie S., Edward 
A. and Llewellyn G. The sons are now partners with their father. Mr. Catchpole was 
connected with the Geneva Fire Department thirty-nine years, retiring in 1889. The 
family are members of St, Peter's Episcopal church. 

Cotton, Edward J., Farmington, is a son of Jeremiah B., who was born August 17, 
1814, in Farmington. He was educated in the common schools of his day and was a 
farmer until he retired. His son, Edward J., now has charge of the farm. February 
19, 1845, he married Sally M. Cheeseboro, of this town. They had ten children, of 
whom seven survive: Mary J., William, Edward J. and Edwin B. (twins), Eliza 
A. and Louisa (twins), and Charles T. Almira, Jeremiah and a son who died in infancy. 
Mr. Cotton's father, Isaac, was born in New Jersey about the year of 1785, and married 
Charity B. Bennett, of his native State, and came to this State about the year 181 1_ 
They had seven children : Nathaniel, Susan, Jeremiah B., Ann, Matilda, Isaac, Leonard. 
Edward J. was born on the old homestead January 8, 1845. He was educated in the 
common schools and Macedon Academy, January 17, 1863, he enlisted in Company 
M, Sixteenth Heavy Artillery N. Y. S. Vols., and was honorably discharged at the close 
of the war. Jeremiah B. Cotton will be seventy-nine years old if he lives until August 
17, 1893. His wife died March 12, 1881. His grandfather, Jeremiah Bennett, on the 
maternal side, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Edward J. Cotton's great- 
grandfather on the paternal side came from England. 

Carson, George, Gorham, a native of Gorham, was born January 8, 1850. His father, 
William A., is a son of Robert, a native of Ireland, who came to America when twelve 
years of age. He died at the home of his son Robert. William A. was born in Seneca 
in 1813, and married Margaret E. Disbrow, a native of New Jersey, by whom he had 
three sons and two daughters. In 1847 he came to Gorham and purchased the farm 
now owned by subject. He died October, 1888, and his wife a month later. George 
Carson was educated in Rushville Union Schools. He is a farmer and has bought and 
sold wool and produce for eighteen years. He also represents Bowks Fertilizer Com- 
pany of Boston. December 4, 1873, Mr. Carson married Annie Fountain, born Decem- 
ber 3, 1850, in Middlesex, a daughter of Levi and Harriet Fountain, of Hamilton county, 
and she of Middlesex respectively. Mr. Fountain and wife have had two sons and one 
daughter. Mr. Fountain is a farmer and grape grower and resides in Middlesex. Mrs. 
Fountain died in 1877. Subject and wife have had four children : Nellie E. (deceased), 
Theodore R., Emma (deceased), and G. Alonzo. Mr. Carson is a Republican and is a 
member of Stanley Lodge No. 434 T. 0. O. F. 



f AMiLY SKETCHES. 277 

Caskey, Willard Doolittle, Canadice, was born in Eichmond, May 12, 1843. His 
father, Henry, was born in Starkey, Yates county, in 1813, and died in 1874. His 
father, Joseph, came from New Jersey. Henry married Margaret Cratsley in 1837. She 
was born in 1818, and died in 1885. They had seven children, one of whom died young. 
The others were : Alva J., Willard D., John H., Mary Elizabeth, Catharine A., and 
Sarah A. He died in Canadice in 1874. Willard D. was educated in the district 
schools. He enlisted in 1864 in the First N. Y. Mounted Rifles, and was on detached 
service much of the time as sharpshooter under a roving commission. He was dis- 
charged at the close of the war. In 1868 he married Clara Knowles, who died in 1876, 
leaving a daughter, Minnie, born in January, 1869. He married second, Theodosia, 
sister of his first wife (in 1878) and they have one son, Floyd H., born in 1885. For 
three years after marriage he resided in Richmond as a farmer, and since then lived in 
Canadice. Since 1879 he has lived on the Knowles homestead. Mrs Knowles's grand- 
father, Seth Knowles, was the first settler in the town of Springwater, and named that 
town. He came from Massachusetts. His son, Daniel, born in 1793, died in 1824, 
came with his father and married Sally Ann Spring, by whom he had four children ; 
Sally Ann, Daniel, jr., Phoebe and Henry. Daniel, jr., was born in 1818 in this town, 
and married Cynthia, daughter of Nathan and Matilda (Spencer) Beers, of this town. 
He had five children : Franklin G., a retired farmer of Michigan ; Ezra S., a farmer and 
speculator of Michigan ; Horace S. (deceased) ; Sarah Theodisia, and Clara, first wife of 
Mr. Caskey. Samuel Spencer, Mrs. Beers's father, was an early settler in the town. 
Mr. Caskey is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Christian church. 

Connelly, the late John H., Victor, was born in County Kerry, Ireland, June 2.5, 1842, 
and came with his aunt to the United States to his parents who had preceded him 
here. This event took place when he was nine years old; he was a produce dealer and 
commission merchant. March 10, 1869, he married Sarah J. Murphy, of Fishers, and 
they had three children : Ida M., Adeline B., who married George P. Fowler, of Fish- 
ers ; and Frederick J. The oldest daughter and the son reside at home with their 
mother. Mr. Connelly died November 30, 1887. from injuries received on the New 
York Central & Hudson River Railway. Mrs. Connelly carries on the old business in 
a thriving intelligent manner. She is also the postmistress at Fishers. 

Chapin, Harry G., East Bloomfield, was born where he now resides July 18, 1849, a 
son of Oliver C. and Frances W. (Smith) Chapin. The grandfather, Heman, son of 
Charles, came from Salisbury, Conn., to Bloomfield in 1796, and settled north of the 
village, where he owned and improved 400 acre.s. His brothf^r Oliver came in 1790 
and located where the subject now resides. Heman was assemblyman one term. 
He married Electa Humphrey, and had three sons and five daughters. Oliver C. was 
born in 1811 (April 26) in Bloomfield, and died April 3, 1881. He was the owner of 
an orchard of 135 acres, and has taken from it as high as 10,000 barrels, and his father 
was the originator of the Northern Spy apple and the Early Joe. He had four chil- 
dren : Frank S., Harry G., Julia E., and Charles. " Harry G. was educated in the dis- 
trict schools in early youth, and graduated at Yale College, class of '72. He has been 
serving his second te m as justice, and his first as supervisor, being a Republican in poli- 



^7^ HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

tics. He married Adaline, daughter of Joseph W. and Nancy (Loorais) Hopson. His 
father was one of the organizers of Bloom field Academy. 

Keeley Institute, Canandaigua. This is a branch of the original Keeley Institute of 
Dwight, HI. When Dr. Keeley's remedies for the drinking and morphine habit were 
acknowledged, the town of Dwight was found to be too small for the accommodation 
of crowds that flocked there for its benefits, and it wa« found necessary to estab- 
lish branches of that institution throughout the country for the accommodation of 
these patients. Five of these branches are located in New York State: White Plains, 
Babylo"^, Binghamton, Westfield, and Canandaigua. This branch was opened in April, 
1892, in Geneseo, and was removed to Canandaigua October 1, 1892, on account of the 
poor railroad facilities of that town. Since its removal they have had about thirty- 
five patients, and since the establishment of the branch it has had about ninety. It is 
under the charge of R. N. Tannabill, who is superintendent, and Stanley C. Bab- 
cock, M. D. 

Coe, William W., Canandaigua, was born in Galen, Wayne county, February 28, 1841, 
a son of William W., a farmer of that town, and a native of Berkshire county. Mass., 
where he was born April 30, 1810. He moved into New York State while a young 
man and located in Galen, where he followed farming until his death, November 9, 1840. 
He married Catherine Vosburgh (who survives him, aged eighty- three years), and five 
children, four of whom still live. William W. spent his eaily life in the town of his 
birth. He was educated in Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, and his first occupa- 
tion was as clerk in J. 0. Atkins's grocery at Clyde. He was with him three years, then 
spent three years with P. G. Dennison in his dry goods store. January 1, 1862, Mr. 
Coe came to Canandaigua and engaged in the insurance business, which has been very 
successful by dint of hard work, and careful attention. He represented three of the 
best companies in the country in fire insurance, besides his life and accident company. 
He IS also notary public and agent for steamship tickets. Mr. Coe married March 23, 
1865, Emma P. Clarke, of Clyde, who lived but five months. He married second in 
November, 1869, Caroline, daughter of Albert Sheldon, the merchant, and they have 
two children : Iva May, and Charles Albert, now in his fifteenth year. Mr. Coe is a 
member of Canandaigua Lodge No. 294, of which he is junior deacon. 

Crandall, W. D., Canandaigua, was born in West Bloomfield, March 10, 1845, a son 
of Nelson, formerly a mechanic of that town, now of Delaware county. Nelson was 
born in 1809, and at the age of twenty-one moved into Ontario county. He married 
Melissa A. Wood, of this county, by whom he had six children, four of whom are liv- 
ing : Mrs. Rush Crandall. of Delaware county; Sheridan, of the Eighty-fifth Regiment 
N. Y. Volunteers, who was wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks, taken prisoner, and died 
in prison; C. E. Crandall, a lawyer of Muncie, Ind. ; Fred D. Crandall, of Crandall 
Bros. W. D. Crandall was educated at West Bloomfield and at Lima Seminary, and 
after leaving school came to Canandaigua, where he went into the photographing es- 
tablishment of Marshal M. Finley & Son to learn tho arf. lie was wi'h them for fif- 
teen years. He spent two ypRrs in Jamestown, then returned to Canandaigua and 
bought a half interest in the Finley gallery, which he retained about three years, and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 279 

then, in partnership with his brother Fred, opened an establishment for himself. Their 
gallery is now located in the Hubbell block, where they make a specialty of crayon 
work. He married in 1887 Julia E. Johnson, of Canandaigua. Mr. and Mrs. Crandall 
are attendants of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Crandall was in 1888 elected as one of 
the village council. 

Clement, Maynard N., Canandaigua, was born in Bristol, Ontario county, October 12. 
1856, a son of Isaac, a farmer of Bristol. The grandfather, Garrett, came from Scho- 
harie county among the first settlers. The early life of our subject was spent on the 
farm where he worked for seven years by the month. His first education was in the 
common schools, and from there he came to Canandaigua Academy, after leaving 
which he taught school for three years. In 1877 he entered the law office of Hon. Ed- 
win Hicks, of Canandaigua, Avhere he read law until admitted to practice at the bar in 
January, 1880. He first bought a law library and continued an office m Victor until 
the fall of the same year, when he removed the library to Canandaigua, where he has 
since conducted an office. In November, 1887, he was elected on the Republican ticket 
to the office of district attorney, and during his term had three very important murder 
cases, all of which were convicted. First the People vs. John Kelly, second People vs. 
Frank Lamont, and People vs. Frank Fish. In the latter case Mr. Clement was opposed 
to some of the most able counsel of the county. He was re-elected in 1890 by a ma- 
jority of about 1,200, leading his party ticket by about 200. His second term his most 
important case has been the People vs. Cameron, a Greneva murder trial. He was chair- 
man of the Republican County Committee in 1885-86, and has always taken an active 
interest in the Republican party. Mr. Clement married in 1883 Clara Fitch, of Canan- 
daigua, and they have five children : Clara Tony, Emory Fitch, Holden Metcalf, Louise 
Field, and Mary Florence. 

Carmody, John, Geneva, was born in Penn Yan, May 7, 1855, and attended the 
common schools and Penn Yan Academy. He graduated from the New York Vet- 
erinary College in 1878, and practiced in Yates county until 1886, when he settled in 
Geneva, and now has a large practice. In 1886 he married Jennie Romaine, and has 
two children, John and Mary. 

Cochran, James, Bristol, was born in County Down, Ireland, July 17, 1820, one of 
nine children of James and Ann (McClure) Cochran, natives of County Down, Ireland, 
where James Cochran, sr., died. Mrs. Cochran came to America, and died in the town 
of Canandaigua in 1855. The subject was reared on a farm and educated in the common 
schools of Ireland. At the age of twenty-two he came to America, and starting in 
life working by the month, is to-day one of the leading farmers of Bristol. In 1870 he 
came to Bristol and purchased a farm of 118 acres, Avhere he has since resided. In 1851 
he married in Vermont Bridget Denver, a native of County Down, Ireland, and daughter 
of William and Margaret (McMilleii) Denver. Mr. Cochran and wife have had the fol- 
lowing children : John, a farmer of Bristol, who married Mary A. Gracy, by whom he 
had nine children; William (deceased) ; his wife was Arm Murphy, of Ireland, by whom 
he had three children : Nettie (deceased), Margaret, wife of James Bohon. She died, 
leaving one child, Mary, who resides with her grandparent.'^. Mr. Cochran has always 
been a Republican. Mrs. Cochran is a member of the Catholic church. 



280 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Ooyle, Charles M., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, December 11, 1847, where 
he has always lived, except three years (1865-68) spent in Rochester. In 1870 he en- 
gaged in the grocery and liquor business here under the firm name of C. & P. Coyle, 
the latter being a cousin, who in 1877 withdrew from the firm, and Charles conducted 
the business alone for three years. He was then joined by Thomas P., making the firm 
Coyle Bros., which it still remains. In 1887 they added to their business the wholesale 
and retail dealing in tobacco and smokers' articles. In 1877 Mr. Coyle was elected 
village treasurer, and in 1890 trustee, which office he still holds. 

Cain, William, East Bloomfield, is a native of Ontario county, born April 19, 1845, 
and a son of Gideon, whose father, Thomas, was a captain in the War of 1812. Gideon 
was a native of Canajoharie, born January 24, 1819. He was young when his father 
died and was obliged to assist in supporting his mother, starting in life for himself at 
the early age of twelve. When a young man he settled in Camden, Oneida county, 
and after twenty years went to Orleans county. His present home is in Genesee county. 
He married Wealthy Tiff'any, a native of Montgomery county, and they have had a son 
and a daughter. Mr. Cain is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the M. E. 
church of East Bloomfield. William was reared as a farmer and sawyer. He was edu- 
cated in the common and select schools, and at the age of eighteen started in life 
for himself, working first in a saw-mill and afterwards at farming. For eight years he 
kept a general store at Miller's Corners, West Bloomfield. He went to Orleans county 
when a young man, and afterwards to Genesee county, where he remained until 1881, 
then went to West Bloomfield, Ontario county, and in 1890 came to East Bloomfield, 
where he has since resided. In 1892 he bought the V. G. Sears farm of forty acres, 
and has since repaired buildings and made other improvements. Mr. Cain has been 
twice married, first, November, 1869, to Hannah Smith, of Shelby, Orleans county, a 
daughter of William Smith. They had one son, Glenn, a student of East Bloomfield. 
November 1, 1891, Mrs. Cain died, and in 1892 Mr. Cain married Emily (Mason) Mur- 
rel, widow of Charles P. Murrel, and they have had two daughters, Grace and Edith. 
Grace is the wife of W. H. Whittemer, a cigar packer of Binghamton, N. Y. Edith is 
a student of East Bloomfield. Mr. Cain is a Prohibitionist, but not an aspirant to 
office. He and wife are members of East Bloomfield Grange No. 94, also of Monu- 
mental Lodge No. 109, I. 0. G. T. 

Chapin, Thaddeus, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, January 21, 1803, a son 
of Thaddeus, a native of Worcester, Mass, where he was born September 6, 1761. He 
was a son of General Israel Chapin, the first Indian agent appointed by General Wash- 
ington for the Six Nations. He was a general in the War of the Revolution. He 
was the father of four sons and three daughters. About the time of the Phelps and 
Gorham purchase General Chapin and his four sons: Thaddeus, Israel, Henry, and 
George, came to this town and took up land. Thaddeus. father of our subject, held a 
patent for 600 acres where the village of Canandaigua west of Main street is now 
built. In 1821 he erected the large dwelling which has ever been the homestead of this 
family. Mr. Chapin remembers the Indian chief. Red Jacket, and he and Farmer's 
Brother, the white man's friend, often visited his father's house. Thaddeus Chapin 
street, where stands the residence of our subject, was laid out by Thaddeus Chapin about 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 281 

1815 on his own property, and named in his honor at the incorporation of the village. 
Thaddeiis Chapin, sr., had seven children, of whom two are now living: Eliza Chapin, 
of this village, and Thaddeus, our subject. The latter was educated at Canandaigua 
Academy, and in 1830 he was elected trustee of the academy, and at the death of Judge 
Phelps was elected president, which position he has held until 1891, when he resigned. 
Mr. Chapin has never taken any active interest in politics, but in early life was a sup- 
porter of the Federalist party and of late years has been a Democrat. He married in 
1832 Rebecca, daughter of James D. Bemis, one of fhe early settlers of this town, and 
they had six children, three of whom are Hving : Anna M., widow of Capt. T. E. Mun- 
son, who fought in the Rebellion and died in 1884 ; Laura B., wife of Frank G. Clark, a 
merchant of Oxford, Chenango county ; and George B., a bookkeeper of Canandaigua. 
There is but one grandchild of this family, Walter C. Munson, now in his seventeenth 
year, a student of Canandaigua Academy. Mr. and Mrs. Chapin celebrated their golden 
wedding in 1882, and Mrs. Chapin died December 27, 1888. 

Cassort, James, Canandaigua, was born on a farm in Canandaigua, May 26, 1820, 
the eldest son of David and Sarah (Phelps) Cassort. The early life of James was 
spent in this town. He was educated in the academy under Prof. Henry Howe, and 
assisted on his father's farm until twenty-five years of age. He then bought a farm of 
100 acres in the west part of Hopewell, where he lived until 1876. In this time he 
increased the size of the farm by purchase until it now comprises 166 acres. He still 
ownes and conducts this place, but considers he has done his share of the active farm- 
ing and now makes his home on Washington street in the village. He married in 1843 
Emily Jane, daughter of Ishmael Gardner, a farmer of Canandaigua, and they have 
had one daughter, Julia P., who married Dr. Watson W. Archer of Clifton Springs. 
She died in August, 1869. Mr. Cassort has never taken any active interest in politics, 
but his ambition has been to become a successful farmer. 

Catchpole, George, Geneva, was born in England in 1804, and learned the cabinet- 
maker's trade. In 1834 he came to America and located at Geneva, where he worked 
at carpentry. He was a skilled workman and was employed on special work. He 
built the columns in the old Presbyterian church, and was the inventor of a clover seed 
shelter and separator, which is still in use, and he made improvements in grain thresh- 
ers. In 1842 he received a silver medal from the American Institute for a corn stalk 
cutter which had a large sale and is still in use. He was the inventor of many other 
machines, and died January 2, 1889. His wife was Mary A. Hinkelton, and they had 
six children, four of whom are now living. Alfred, son of George and Martha Catch- 
pole, was born in England in 1829, and when five years old his parents came to America 
and settled in Geneva. He learned the machinist's trade and went to Waterloo and 
worked in a machine shop and assisted in the invention of stove machinery. He next 
went to Syracuse and helped put in the machinery in a large stove mill, then went to 
Susquehanna and was employed in the railroad shops there for several years. Then he 
went to Rochester and was employed in the N. Y. C. R. R. six years. In 1860 he re- 
turned to Geneva and established a small machine shop, which he carried on for a 
time. In 1864 he entered the navy as engineer and was there until the close of the 



282 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

war. He participated in several engagements. Returning to Geneva he commenced 
the manufacture of boilers and other machinery, and in 1884 invented the celebrated 
Florida boiler, and his inventions and improvements have thoroughly revolutionized 
the system of steam heating. In 1887 a stock company was formed with Pierce, But- 
ler & Pierce Manufacturing Company, and Mr. Catchpole as manager, which position 
he filled for five years. His inventions led to the establishment of one of the largest 
manufactories in Geneva. He has several new inventions which will soon be on the 
market. 

Codding, Myron Hart, West Bloomfield, was born in Bristol, February 29, 1837. 
His great-grandfather, George, came from Dighton, Mass., and was one of the first 
settlers in Bristol. The grandfather, William Thayer Codding, was twelve years of age 
when his father came to Bristol. He married successively two sisters, by whom he had 
five sons and five daughters, of whom William Grover Codding, the father of Myron 
H., was the oldest, and was born in 1803. He was a farmer and spent his life in Bris- 
tol. In 1830 he married Orpha Gillett, of Connecticut ancestry. She died in 1850 and he 
jn 1871. Myron H. obtained his early education at the district schools. When twenty- 
two years of age he engaged in farming in Illinois, but after five years returned to 
Bristol and came to this town in 1865, and on Christmas Day of that year married 
Adelaide, daughter of Burton Ham. Her grandfather came from New Hampshire and 
her grandmother from Massachusetts, and settled in East Bloomfield in an early day. 
Mr. and Mrs. Codding have five children: Burton Ham, William Grover, Ellen Emeline, 
Moses F. H., and Edith G. 

Chisholm, Colin D., Canandaigua, was born in Nova Scotia, August 5, 1842, and came 
to Ontario county in 1868, locating first at Victor, where he followed mining for plaster 
stone for a year. He then came to Canandaigua, where he has ever since been a con- 
tractor for building and repairing sidewalk, putting in sewers and drain pipes, etc. In 
1890 Mr. Chisholm was elected street superintendent, and re-elected in 1891. He 
usually employs from eighteen to twenty men. Though a Republican Mr. Chisholm 
has never been an aspirant for political office, save the one he holds, and which he fills 
in an experienced and able manner. The substantial stone sidewalks of the village have 
been almost entirely laid by Mr. Chisholm. He married in 1872 Nora Mahoney, of 
Victor, by whom he has four children : Frederick E., Jennie May, Ada Belle and Colin 
Blaine. They are members of the Catholic church here. 

Church, Gillman, Geneva, was born in Lower Canada, June 24, 1826, and came with 
his parents to this country when six years old, where he was educated in the common 
schools. He was a farmer, and was twice married, first in November, 1847, to Electa 
Woodin, of Geneva, by whom he had two children : Henrietta, who died in infancy, 
and Warren B., who married Mary Soule, ^^f Waterloo, and has two children, Roscoe 
A. and Kittie E. Mrs. Church died in 1853, and Mr. Church married second, September 
24, 1854, Mrs. Sarah J. Clice, of Phelps. She was married first to George Clice on 
February 5, 1848. He died November 9, 1851. Mr. Church's father, James, was born 
in Connecticut and came to this State in 1839. He married Ruth Bliss, and they had 
three children : Eben D., Gillman and James C. Mrs. Church's father, Edward Mc- 



J^AMlLTf SKETCHliS. 283 

Dowell, was born in Orange county, August 10, 1788, and came here with his parents 
when thirteen years old. He married Margaret Cook, of Phelps, and they had three 
children, two sons and a daughter : Francis C, David and Sarah J. Mrs. Church's 
grandfather, James McDowell, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. 

Coursey, Patrick, Geneva, was born in Ireland, about twenty miles from Dublin, in 
1815 In 1847 he emigrated to this country and settled at Geneva, where he engaged 
in the produce business and afterward in the grocery business. In 1864 he built a large 
tannery on Exchange street and carried on that business until his death, February 24, . 
1879. He married Mary Laughran, and they had six children, of whom but two are 
living : Thomas and Stephen. The latter was born September 28, 1846, and attended 
the village school. He graduated from the Walnut Hill School, then engaged in busi- 
ness with his father. He built the Geneva Flouring Mills in 1877 and has operated 
them ever since. He deals largely in wool, buying as high as 200,000 lbs. per year. 
He has been village and town assessor, is a Democrat, and takes an active part in 
political affairs. He is owner of the celebrated Geneva Spring. 

Conroy, James J., Canandaigua, was born in Ireland in July, 1848, and came to this 
country in 1867. He first located in New York city, and in 1875 came to Canandaigua, 
where he engaged as cutter for D. Shafer & Co., of this town, remaining until 1880, 
when he established a business for himself on Niagara street. In 1890 he was joined 
in partnership by Joseph B. O'Brien, who was with him about a year. At that time he 
moved into his present fine store in the new Flannigan block, where he carries a fine 
stock of clothes for his merchant tailoring department, and a fine stock of men's fur- 
nishing goods. The merchant tailoring department in the rear of the store employs 
from four to six hands. He married in 1882 Mary E. Harrigan, of East Bloomfield. 
Mr. Conroy and wife are members of the Catholic church. Of the merchant tailors of 
this town none is more prominent or bears a reputation for better work than Mr. Con- 
roy. He was for a year and a half in Pennsylvania and Kentucky. 

Crawford, Joseph S., Canandaigua, was born in Yates county in 1842, a son of Cap- 
tain Samuel, a native of Massachusetts, where he was born in 1808. He followed the 
sea for a number of years, then married Rachel Plaisted, of English descent, and they 
settled first in New York, where they remained a few years, then came to Yates county, 
where Mr. Crawford died in 1850, leaving five children, of whom Joseph S. was the 
only son. His early life was spent in Yates county, where he was educated in a private 
school under Prof. Robert Murray, and his first occupation was as clerk in a shoe store 
in Penn Yan. In 1863 he came to Canandaigua and was a clerk in the War Office, 
provost marshal's department, until the close of the war. He then spent two years as 
bookkeeper in the Canandaigua First National Bank, after which he purchased an inter- 
est in the clothing business, forming a partnership with D. Shafer, which lasted until 
1886, when Mr. Shafer retired and Mr. Crawford became sole proprietor. The store 
has been located at No. 4 Bank block ever since the erection of the block in 1858. Mr. 
Crawford married in 1865 Mary K., daughter of John S. Gibson. Mrs. Crawford died 
in February, 1866. Mr. Crawford is a Republican, and a member of St. John's Epis- 
copal church. 



2Hi filSTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Couch, Charles, Hopewell, was born in Hopewell, January 10, 1834, a son of George 
Couch, who was born in Connecticut, February 24, 1793, a native of Connecticut, who 
came in 1815 to Hopewell, where he died. He went to Ovid, Seneca county, when a 
young man. He owned a boat on Cayuga Lake at one time, transporting goods to var- 
ious towns along the lake and Mohawk River. In the War of 1812 he was a volunteer, 
afterwards serving as a substitute in the artillery. At the close of the war he took a 
boat load of salt on the Oswego River and Great Lakes to Grand River, Mich., trans- 
porting in wagons around Niagara Falls. The Indians took his cargo up the Grand 
River, where he disposed of it and returned to Ovid. Returning to Michigan the next 
summer, he was taken ill and was cured by a squaw, who told him if he would accom- 
pany her to Pennsylvania she would show him a silver mine there. This he refused to 
do, but afterwards found that such a mine did really exist. Mr. Couch married Mahala 
Nichols, of Ballston, Dutchess county, by whom he had these children : Lucinda, born 
August 15, 1818; Stephen, born October 19, 1819; Amanda, born November 1, 1821; 
George, born December 21, 1823 ; EHza, born October 23, 1829; Maria, born March 6, 
1831, died October 18, 1888; and Charles, born June 10, 1834. In 1819 Mr. Couch 
came to Hopewell. He was a carpenter by trade, following same most of his life. He 
gave the land on which the church at Emery Chapel was built. He died July 23, 1880, 
and his wife April 27, 1873. Charles Couch married, March 4, 1867, Harriet Woods, 
born at Flint Creek, Seneca county, by whom he had two daughters, Lulu M., born 
December 18, 1868, died March 24, 1886, and Carrie E., born May 15, 1870. His wife 
died April 20, 1877, and he married second Annie (Case) Shoemaker, daughter of Nel- 
son S. and Sarah (Chapin) Case, of Canandaigua. Mrs. Couch has one son, Ray C, by 
her first husband. Mr. Couch is a Democrat. 

Childs, Elijah A., Hopewell, was born in Hopewell, September 24, 1816, a son of 
Enos, who was a son of Lebbeus, a native of Conway, Mass., who came to Seneca in 
1812. His wife was Sarah Childs, and they had three sons and five daughters. Enos 
Childs was born in Conway, Mass., in 1789, and when a young man came to Seneca. 
He married Dimmis Allis of Hopewell. Her father died when she was very young, 
and she was reared by her grandfather, Lucius Allis, a prominent man of his time, and 
once a member of the Legislature. Mr. Childs had three sons and two daughters. He 
was a successful business man and apromment farmer, owning 250 acres. He was a 
poormaster and school commissioner a number of years. Subject was educated in 
Canandaigua Academy and has always been a farmer, early taking charge of his 
father's business. In 1845 he married Mary A. Pollock, a native of Arcadia, Wayne 
county, born November 26, 1824. Her father, James Pollock, was a native of Scot- 
land, and came to Wayne in 1816. His wife, Mary Riggs, was a native of New Jer- 
sey. Subject has three daughters : Dimmis A., wife of Lyman E. R. RockAvell, M. D., 
of Amemo; Sarah L., wife of Charles Post, of Seneca, she died November 28, 1892; 
and Mary E., who resides at home. Mr. Childs is a Republican and has been assessor 
nine years in succession, also poormaster. He is a member of Stanley Grange. 

Cottrell, Wiliam N., West Bloomfield, was born in 1832. His father, George, r-ame 
to this town from Rhode Island about 1817, and married Betsey Shepard, also of West 
Bloomfield. Of their four children only George Henry, born in 1829, and William N. 



f AMtLY SKETCHES. 28o 

are living. George H. married Mary A. Plympton, whose father, Mo.«!es, was born in 
Medway, Mass., in 1786, and came here with his wife and ten children in 1812, and was 
fife-major in the war of that time. William N. was educated at Lima Seminary and 
has followed farming. He was born where his brother George now resides, and mar- 
ried in IStJl Rut h N. Millington, who died nine years later, leaving two children, Nellie 
S. and George D. Mr. Cottrell married again in 1872 Maria E. Chapin, daughter of 
Rev. Asa Chapin. He is a Republican. 

Crothers, Oliver G., Phelps, was born in Phelps, January 12, 1819. His father, 
William, was born in Orange county, and came to Phelps when fourteen years of age, 
where he lived and died. His wife, Eunice (Dunham) Crother, was born in Massa- 
chusetts. Oliver G. married December 11, 1861, Mary Ridley of Phelps, and they had 
three children : Wilham L. (Mrs. Dr. J. H. Haslett) and Mary (Mrs. William K. Mc- 
Coy). The mother died in July, 1870. In 1873 he married Eunice Nye of Newark, 
N. Y., and they have one child, Nellie E. Mr. Crothers has been in the malting busi- 
ness for over twenty-five years and has been very successful. He is one of the infiu- 
entiai men of the town, has served several terms as president of the corporation, and 
also as trustee. In 1883 he built the Crothers block, which is a credit to the village. 

Chapman, Charles G., Gorham, was born in Windsor, Mass., June 20, 1820. His 
father was Ezra, son of Ezra, who lived and died in Massachusetts. Ezra, jr., was born 
in Massachusetts and reared on a farm. He married Bessie Taft, and had ten children. 
Mr. Chapman died in Massachusetts in 1804. Charles G. was educated in the common 
schools, and married Selinda Pierce, by whom he had three sons and one daughter : 
George W., who married Miss Dinister and had one child; Edward at home; and 
Frank P. in Rochester. In 1860 Mr. Chapman came to Gorham and bought a farm of 
144 acres to which he afterwards, added twenty-five acres. He is a Republican and 
has been highway commissioner, and is a member of the Congregational church at 
Rushville. 

Davidson, Alexander, Canandaigua, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1846, and 
came to this country in 1870. He located in Canandaigua, and with the exception of 
one year has always made this his home. He was for two years on a farm, and then 
engaged with J. L. Sherwood in his lumber yard, remaining with him six years, then 
formed a partnership with his son, S. A. Sherwood, and made the firm of Sherwood & 
Davidson. In 1882 Mr. Sherwood died and Mr. Davidson became the sole proprietor. 
In 1888 he bought his present property. He has added to the lumber business the 
dealing in hardware, sash, doors and blinds, and everything used in building, and has 
also added the handling of coal, which has grown to be quite extensive. He has the 
best accommodations for the handling of coal and lumber of any yard in this section, 
and sells about 3,200 tons of Plymouth coal per year. Mr. Davidson married in 1886 
Catherine McKenzie of Aberdeen, and they have two children. Mr. Davidson is a 
member of the Chapter and Commandery F. & A. M. In 1884 and 1885 he was master 
of Canandaigua Lodge No. 294. He and family are members of the Presbyterian 
church. 



286 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Doubleday, Harvey M., Farraington, was born in the town of Kingsley, Washington 
county, April 10, 1822. He was educated in the common schools, has been a clerk, 
general merchant, commercial traveler, and now a farmer in Farmington. He married 
twice, first on May 21, 1850, Mary G. Carey of Stillwater, Saratoga county, and had 
four children : William C, Florence, Carey, and Ruth E. For his second wife he 
married Mrs. Melvina (Humphrey) Wright, formerly of Delaware county, on May 15, 
1884. He has resided in this town since 1866. The Doubledays can be traced from 
one Elisha Doubleday, who came from England in 1676, locating in Massachusetts. 
Mr. Doubleday had seven great uncles in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Doubleday has 
married three times, first on May 28, 1849, Cyrus Baldridge of Seneca county, and had 
four children : Alexander, Anna, Cyrus, and William. Mr. Baldridge died in 1866. 
January 9, 1878, she married second Charles Humphrey of Phelps, who died in 1879, 
and third Mr. Doubleday. Her father, the late Augustus Wright, was born in the 
town of Danbury, Conn., in January, 1786, and came to this State with his mother and 
stepfather when he was two years old. In 1810 he married Margaret Fowler, formerly 
of Schoharie county, and had eleven children ; eight survived : Aaron, Olivia, Mary. 
John, Martin, Hulda, Melvina, and Harvey. Mrs. Doubleday's mother's father was a 
colonel in the Revolutionary War. 

Denton, George H., Canandaigua, was born on his present farm in May, 1851, a son 
of Michael, a native of this State, who was born in Orange county in 1809, and came 
here about 1850. He then bought the farm now occupied by George H., where he 
lived and died in 1883. Of his four children three are living: Emily J., wife of Byron 
G. Mapes of Canandaigua; Ann E. of Rochester, widow of Egbert Denton, a manu- 
facturer of Fitchburg, Mass., and George H. The latter has always lived on this farm 
and was educated in the common schools and in Canandaigua Academy under Prof. 
U. N. Clarke. He married in 1877 Hattie C. Miles of Hopewell, and after his marriage 
took charge of the farm on his own behalf. Since then he had added many improve- 
ments in new buildings, etc., and has set out about twenty acres of fruit, comprising 
peaches, grapes, apples, pears, etc. He has two children : Edith A. and Lois. Mr. 
Denton is a member of Canandaigua Grange No. 138. He has never taken an active 
interest in politics, but devotes his time and energy to farming. 

De Zeng History, The. Frederick Augustus, Baron De Zeng, the ancestor of the 
only family of this name in America, was a Saxon nobleman, born in Dresden, the capi- 
tal of Saxony, in 1756. He was the second son of Baron De Zeng of Ruckerswalde- 
Wolkenstein, near Marienberg, in Saxony, lord chamberlain to the Duchess of Saxe- 
Weissenfels, and high forest-officer to the king of Saxony, by his wife, Lady Johanna 
Phillipina von Ponickau, of Altenberg. He received a military education, and at the 
age of eighteen (February 11, 1774) was commissioned as " Lieutenant of the Guard" 
in .seryice of the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel. He was a close and intimate friend of the 
celebrated Baron de Steuben, a friendship which lasted until the death of the latter, 
after both had become American citizens. The latter, a Prussian, was much the elder 
of the two, and had held at one time the command of the " Regiment Von Salmuth," 
afterwards styled " Hesse-Cassel." At this period, however, De Steuben was in the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 287 

service of the Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen. De Zeng was a captain'in the regi- 
ment of the " Hereditary Prince." This was one of the regiments ordered to America 
by the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassell, under the convention entered into by the British 
government with him, the Duke of Brunswick, and two or three other minor German 
princes, for troops to aid in suppressing the American Revolution. He, however, did 
not come to America until quite late in the war, at the close of 1780. He exchanged 
from this regiment into that of the " Regiment du Corps," his commission in which 
bears date January 30, 178L Stationed in the city of New York and its neighborhood, 
it was his lot never to have been engaged in conflict with the Americans; in fact 
after his arrival active hostilities were comparatively limited north of the Chesapeake. 
Baron De Zeng was exceedingly pleased with America and Americans, owing perhaps 
to his having fallen in love with a charming Quakeress of Long Island, and determined 
at the close of the war to make America his home. He found some difficulty in getting 
his resignation accepted, but finally succeeded, and on the 8th of November, 1783, re- 
ceived, at his own request, an honorable discharge from the Grerman service. In the 
following year, 1784, he was married in Trinity church. New York, to Mary, daughter 
of Caleb Lawrence and Sarah Burling, his wife, of Flushing, L. I. She was a lady 
gifted with extraordinary beauty and grace, united with a commanding presence and 
great good sense and decision of character. After their marriage they lived at Red 
Hook, Dutchess county, where the baron purchased an estate. He became a joint 
owner with his neighbor and friend. Chancellor Livingston, of a very large tract of land 
in Ulster county. On the 3d of November, 1789, he was naturalized as an American 
citizen, and dropped the use of his hereditary title, simply signing himself Frederick A. 
de Zeng. Of an active, enterprising spirit, Major de Zeng was one of the earliest pro- 
moters of internal improvements in this State. He was connected with General 
Schuyler in establishing and carrying on the " Western Inland Lock Navigation Com- 
pany," subscribing largely for the stock and taking a personal interest in the construc- 
tion of the works. He resided for many years at Kingston, Ulster county, and subse- 
quently at Bainbridge, Chenango county. His long, active life closed at Clyde, Wayne 
county, where two of his married children resided, on the 26th of April, 1838, at the 
age of eighty- two years, and he was buried at that place, his wife having died about 
two years previously, at Oswego, N. Y., where she is interred. The fine natural abil- 
ities of Baron deZ'^ng were highly cultivated. He had in his youth all the advantages 
that rank and wealth could give, and profited well by them. He was noted for the 
elegance and manly beauty of his person, and his graceful manner and mien. The po- 
liteness and suavity of his address were remarked by all with whom he came in con- 
tact. In society, of which he was fond, he was noted for his agreeableness and his 
grace in dancing, and he was a great favorite with both sexes. His children were as 
follows : I. George Scriba, who married Eliza Smith, and died at Grand Gulf, Miss., 
leaving no issue ; II. Ernestine, who married James Houghtaling, M. D., of Kingston, 
Ulster county, and left issue; III. Richard Lawrence, of Skaneateles, who married 
Sarah Lawrence, his first cousin, daughter of Richard Lawrence, of New York. He 
died at Oswego, N. Y., leaving two children, first, Rev. Edward de Zeng, of Oswpiro, 
an Episcopal clergyman, the present head of the family, who married Mary Russell, of 
Middleton, Conn., and has one son. Richard Lawrence ; and second, Emmehne, who 



288 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

married Jarftes Stokes, captain United States army ; IV. Philip Mark, who married 
Luoretia Sears, of Bainbridge, N. Y., and died at Clyde in 18G1, leaving issue: Charles, 
Lawrence, John C, Clark, Philip, Eliza, Mary; V. William Steuben, who married Caro- 
line C. Rees, daughter of Major James Rees, of Philadelphia, afterwards of Geneva, and 
had issue: James Rees, of New York; Josephine Matilda, married Edward F. De- 
Lancey, of New York, died June 5, 1865, leaving issue : William, died at Panama in 
1849, unmarried ; Carohne, married Clarence A. Seward, of New York ; Henry Law- 
rence, of Geneva, married Olivia Peyton ; Edward Cutbush, of New York ; Mary Anne, 
of Geneva, unmarried; Evelina Throop, of Geneva, unmarried; VI. Arthur Noble, 
married, but left no issue ; he died in 1829 ; VII. Sarah M., married Richard L. Law- 
rence, of New York, and has issue ; VIII. Amelia Clarissa, married Addison Griswold, 
of Syracuse, and has issue ; IX. Maria, who married William S. Stow, of Clyde, and 
has issue. 

Douglass, Fred G., Canandaigua, was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer county, February 
14, 1853, the oldest son of Samuel and Waity (Gilford) Douglass. He moved with his 
parents to Gorham on the east shore of the lake, and in 1858 they bought a farm on the 
west shore of the lake in this town, where the boyhood of our subject was spent. In 
1867 they moved to the farm in the north part of the town where Mr. Douglass still 
resides. Fred was educated at Canandaigua Academy, and when he left school at 
twenty took up teaching, which he followed two years in Farmington, one winter in 
the fifteenth district, and three winters in district No. 8, Canandaigua. He married in 
March, 1879, and conducted his father's farm until April, 1889, when he bought the old 
Kelsey farm of 100 acres in Canandaigua. Mr. Douglass does a general farming, mak- 
ing hay the principal product. He is also agent for the American Road Machine Com- 
pany, and the Lester Phosphate Company. He has always taken an active interest in 
politics and is a Democrat. He was selected in 1888 commissioner of highways, serv- 
ing three years. His wife, Sarah R., was the daughter of George C. Mather, of Canan- 
daigua. They h&ve six children: Emma M., born February 3, 1880; Samuel M., Sep- 
tember 11, 1881 ; Ray, September 9, 1883 ; Waity E., September 18, 1884; Fred M., 
March 21, 1886; Ira P. Cribb Douglass, December 26, 1890. 

Davis, Fred H., Gorham, was born in Thurston, Steuben county, in 1867. His father 
was H. C. Davis, a native of Little Falls, who married a Miss MofBtt, of Utica. They 
had two sons and four daughters. The father of H. C. was Josiah H., a native of 
Norway, Herkimer county, born July 18, 1807, and he was a son of Joseph, a native of 
Long Island, born in 1774, who married Betsey Halleck, and had seven sons and seven 
daughters. He came to Norway in 1800, and in 1859 moved to Cortland, where he 
died in 1867. He was drafted in the War of 1812. Josiah K. Davis married, August 
29, 1832, Hopeful Jefferds, a native of Ohio, N. Y., born October 2, 1811. Her father 
was Obadiah, who married Rebecca Fox and had three sons and four daughters. Mr. 
Jefferds was in the War of 1812, and died in Ohio. Josiah H. and wife had twelve 
children, of whom ten survive. In 1868 he came to Gorham. He is a Republican, and 
for many years has been a deacon in the Congregational church at Reed's Corners. 
Fred H. Davis is a }'Oung man of more than ordmary ability. He was reared on a 
farm, and when a boy attended the district schools. He has been very industrious and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 289 

given himself a thorough education, first taking a course in Canandaigua Academy, and 
graduating from Hamilton College in June, 1891. He is now assistant principal of the 
school at Lyons, Wayne county. 

DixoK, Mrs. J. B., Geneva, married first, June 2, 1853, William C. Tyler, of Geneva. 
He was born in Berk-hire county, Mass., in 1831, and came to this country at an early 
day. They had three daughters : Mary, who died aged four years and six months; 
Amanda J., wife of William H. Frautz of this place; and Nellie, who married John H. 
Beard, of Geneva. Mr. Tyler was mustered into Company D, One Hundred and Forty- 
eighth N. Y. Vols., September 14, 1862. This regiment was in many important bat- 
tles. Mr. Tyler was killed in the battle of Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. For her second 
husband on July 3, 1867, she married John B. Dixon, who was born in Yorkshire, 
England, and came to the United States in 1851, locating in Geneva. They had four 
children : John B., who died aged thirteen months ; Catherine E., A. Clark, and James 
B., all living at home. Mr. Dixon died March 4, 1890. He was a veteran tile manu- 
facturer. Mrs. Dixon's father, Sidney Slarrow, was born in Dutchess county, and came 
here when a young man. He married Ann Taylor, of Seneca, and they had two chil- 
dren : Abram, who resides in the West, and Nancy S. Mr. Slarrow died in 1841, and 
Mrs. Slarrow in 1851. 

Dannahe, William B., Geneva, was born in Geneva, January 31, 1867. He was ed- 
ucated in the public schools, and in early life was a farmer. Being of a mechanical 
frame of mind he learned the blacksmith's trade until he became a first-class mechanic. 
He began business on his own account at Billsborough in April, 1891, and is doing a 
successful business among the intelligent farmers and business men of that entire local- 
ity. Mr. Dannahe's father, Daniel, was born in the old country about 1830, came to 
the United States in 1852, and married Catherine McCune of Geneva. They have 
seven living children: John, James. Daniel, jr., William B., Catherine, Jeremiah and 
Mary. 

Dewey, John J., Clifton Springs, was born in the town of Manchester, December 1, 
1832. He received a hberal education in the schools of Ontario county, and at Clinton, 
Oneida county, after which he taught school for two years. Then after being engaged 
in agricultural pursuits for a few years, he accepted a position as cashier of the Sanita- 
rium, which position he has held for over twenty years. Mr. Dewey was appointed 
postmaster of Clifton Springs, by President Harrison about three years ago. At pres- 
ent he is most acceptably filling both offices. He married Mary Butler, and they have 
three children, all girls. Mr. Dewey is identified with the Masonic brotherhood, K. of 
P., and other benevolent and social institutions; and is a prominent member of the 
Methodist church here. 

Deyo, George C, Naples, is a son of Ira Deyo, a descendant of the Huguenots who 
first settled on the Hudson River, having left France during the religious wars and 
persecutions of the sixteenth century. He died in 1836, leaving six sons, of whom 
George C. is the third. They were a remarkable family, celebrated for their musical 
ability as well as for their patriotism, Four of them were in the war of the Rebellion, 
kk 



290 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

two of whom died from the efiects of the service. S. L., the oldest of the brothers, 
was graduated from the Geneva (now^ Hobart) College, and edited the Naples Record 
many years. Their mother was Betsey Lyon, daughter of Simeon Lyon, one of the 
original settlers of Naples. George C. was educated at the select school of Naples, and 
married in 1870 Emily J. Dunham, of Philadelphia. Mr. Deyo was in the dry goods 
business in New York about twenty years, but returned to Naples in 1881, and has 
conducted a general store in the village since. 

Dewey, Col. Edmund B., Clifton Springs, was born at Clifton Springs June 2, 1801. 
His father participated in the War of 1812, and his grandfathers on both sides went to 
the Revolution. Colonel Dewey, has passed his life in agricultural pursuits. His first 
wife whom he married in 1821 was Sarah Cooper, and they had twelve children, four 
of whom are living. His second wife was Fanny Vanderhoof. They have no family. 
Colonel Dewey commanded an independent rifle company prior to the late war. He 
has served as assessor, commissioner of highways and in other town offices. He is one 
of the oldest Masons in New York State; and the oldest member of the Universalist 
church of Clifton Springs. Colonel Dewey has worn the white flower of a blameless 
life and has worn it well, and enjoys the respect and esieem of the entire community. 

Dimock, B. 0., Phelps, was born in Phelps March 17, 1843, one of three children of 
WiUiam P. and Lydia (Ottley) Dimock. The others being WiUiam 0. and F. J. The 
grandfather was Rev. Solomon Dimock, a Baptist clergyman of Ohio. The grandfather 
on the mother's side was William Ottley, born in Yorkshire, England, who came to 
this country when a young man and was one of the early settlers here. G. 0. Dimock, 
married January 18, 1865, Mary H. Holbrook, of Phelps, daughter of Lewis and 
Christine (Hartman) Holbrook, and they have two daughters, Kate (Mrs. E. S. Kreg- 
loh), and Annie (Mrs. Chas. C. Pardee). Mr. Dimock was born and brought up on a 
farm, but for many years has given much time and attention to conducting public sales, 
in which he has been uniformly successful, not only in New York but several of the 
Western States. 

Davis, Fayette W., Gorham, was born in Little Falls June 4, 1852, son of J. H. Davis 
mentioned elsewhere in this work. He was reared on a farm and educated in the com- 
mon schools and Canandaigua Academy. At the age of seventeen he came to Ontario 
county with his parents. His wife is Eliza Lookup, a native of Marion, Wayne county, 
born June 5, 1837. Their children are : Clara H., Arthur G., Josiah H., Ethel M., and 
Myrtle H. Mr. Davis was traveling salesman for nursery stock and also for the 
Singer Sewing Machine Company for several years. In 1886 he purchased the farm 
he now owns and of later years has been a farmer. He is a Republican in politics and 
is a Free Mason. Tiie parents of Mrs. Davis were William and Eliza (Garlock) Look- 
up, natives of Marion, Wayne county, who had two sons and two daughters. Mr. 
Lookup was a farmer by occupation. Mrs. Lookup died in 1857. 

Douglass, Bainbridge, Gorham, was born in Gorham January 4, 1841, a son of 
Henry, son of Caleb, a native of Connecticut. When a young man Caleb went to 
"Whitesborough, and married Sarah Roberts, by whom he had six sons and three 
daughters. He was one of the founders of the First Baptist church at Whitesborough, 



t*AMiLY StCETCHES. 291 

and was its first minister. In 1824 he came to Gorham where he died in 1836. Henry 
was born in Whitesborough in 1808, and came to Gorham with his parents. He was 
thrice married, first to Amanda Blodgett by whom he had two children; second to 
Angehne Bainbridge of Romulus born in 1810, by whom he had two sons and three 
daughters. Mrs. Douglass died March 15, 1861, and he married Mrs. Martha Newman. 
In 1857 he moved to Penn Tan where he resided six years, then went to Southern 
Kansas. He was a deacon in the Baptist church at Gorham for forty years. Bain- 
bridge Douglass was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and followed teaching for 
some time, and then attended Eastman's Business College, graduating in 1861. Octo- 
ber of the same year he enlisted in Company G, Eighth N. Y. Cavalry, and was in the 
following engagements : The retreat of Banks from "Winchester to Haiper's Ferry ; 
battle of Harper's Ferry ; and of Antietam. He was injured by being thrown from a 
horse at Barber's Cross Roads, when he was conveyed to the regimental hospital and 
afterwards to the hospital at Washington. Here he remained a few days and was 
taken to Philadelphia where he remained two months, and received a furlough for 
thirty days. On his return to join the regiment he was taken sick at Elmira, and was 
discharged February 19, 1863. In 1864 he married Caroline Stone, a native of Phelps, 
born June, 1841, and a daughter of Harvey, son of Harvey H. Stone, a native of Con- 
necticut, who came to Gorham in 1809. Harvey H. married Dolly Lake by whom he 
had three sons and two daughters. He died in 1856, and his wife in 1851. Harvey 
Stone was born in Gorham in 1811 on the farm he now owns. June 20, 1838, he mar- 
rie4 Caroline Ottley, born in Phelps October 6, 1818. Her father was William Ottley 
who emigrated from England to Phelps in 1806, and married Lydia Peck by whom he 
had five daughters and three sons. Mr. Harvey Stone and wife have had six daughters. 
Mr. Douglass and wife have had two daughters : Alice A., wife of Fortis Gates of 
Gorham ; and Lilian L., who married Levi Lincoln, and had one daughter, Gertrude 
N., who died aged twenty-two months. Mr. Lincoln died September 3, 1891. 

Elton, Jabez, West Bloomfield, came from Bristol, Conn., to Canandaigua about 1816, 
He was a farmer, and married in Connecticut Olive Holcomb. Their children were : 
Sarah, James, Norah, Eliza, Luther, Lovina, Nathaniel, Hiram, Nancy and John. Na- 
thaniel moved to Richmond about 1833. He married in 1871, Mary J. Paul. They 
subsequently lived in Farmington and Perrington, and came to this town in 1854. 
Nathaniel was a farmer and produce dealer. Their children were : John P. who mar- 
ried Jennie C. Leach and died in 1890 ; James, and Mary E., wife of John M. Baker 
of Bristol. Nathaniel died April 1, 1883. James was born October 27, 1845. He is a 
farmer and hay dealer and was supervisor of the town in 1886. His fine farm is on the 
State road midway between the village and East Bloomfield line, and his residence is 
among the best in town. He married m 1877, Alida E. Shepard, and they have three 
children : Raymond J., Carlotta A., and Leila J. Mr. Elton was formerly a Democrat 
but some years ago he was a member of the grand jury when seventy-seven were 
found indicted, over seventy of which were liquor cases. He and some others of the 
jury have since this been Prohibitionists. Mrs. Nathaniel Elton now makes her home 
with her son. Her father and grandfather were both named William Paul and came 
from Massachusetts at an early day to this town. Her father returned to Massachu- 



292 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

setts and married in 1811, Prudence Case. They lived in the south part of the town 
on the line of Richmond, and had seven children. 

Elwell, Gilbert W., Gorham, was born in Middlesex, November 28, 1852. His 
father, Stewart, was a son of Luther, a son of Jabe, who was a native of Massachu- 
setts, and in an early day went to Vermont, where he died. He was a Revolutionary 
soldier and was at the battle of Bennington, Vt. His wife was Rosanna Moss, a 
native of Hoosick, N. Y., and they had nine children. The family came to Middle- 
sex, and there he and his wife died. He was a farmer by occupation. Stewart was 
born in Bennington, Vt., and at twenty-one came to Yates county. He married Han- 
nah Wood of Gorham, born June 25, 1818, a daughter of Gilbert Wood, son of James, 
who was born in Massachusetts, and came to Gorham in 1789. Gilbert Wood was 
born in Massachusetts in 1788, and came with his parents to Gorham and settled at 
Reed's Corners. The wife of Gilbert Wood was Peggie Coif, by whom he had one 
son and nine daughters. He died January 4, 1841, and his wife July 31, 1848. Mr, 
Elwell and wife have three children : Gilbert W. ; Helen, wife of Thomas Conklin of 
Gorham ; and Mary, wife of Adelbert Powell. In 1866 Mr. Elwell came to Gorham. 
He is a Democrat in politics. Gilbert W. was educated in the common schools and 
Canandaigua Academy. November 26, 1878, he married Mary Humphrey, and they 
have one child, Marion. November 25, 1883, Mrs. Elwell died, and in 1886 he mar- 
ried Mary J. Mathort of Berrytown. He is a Democrat and at present is justice of 
the peace. Mrs. Elwell is an Episcopalian. 

Elwell, Irving D., Canandaigua, was born on his present farm in Canandaigua, Feb- 
ruary 10, 1863, a son of Dyre and Harriet (Johnson) Elwell. Dyre_Elwell was born 
near Bennington, Vt., September 16, 1822, was educated in the common schools, and 
when twenty-two years of age settled in Middlesex, l^'ates county, where he followed 
farming about ten years. In 1856 he moved to Phelps, where he spent two years, 
and then came to Canandaigua, buying a farm of ninety-eight acres near Cheshire. 
He was a man of more than usual ability, and was a leader in all good works. He 
married in 1846 Elinor Reynolds of Middlesex, by whom he had one child, who died 
February 14, 1878, thirty-one years of age. Mr. Elwell married again February 
19, 1857, Harriet, daughter of Buskirk Johnson of Rockland county, and they had 
three children, but one of whom is living, Irving D. Dyre Elwell died January 16, 
1890. Mrs. Elwell still lives on the old homestead. Irving D. was educated in the 
common schools, and is following farming on a scientific plan. His principal crops are 
hops and fruit, having now six acres of the former. He married in 1883 Iva, daughter 
of Oscar and Paulina (Mitchell) Phillips. They have one daughter, Ina Elizabeth, now 
in her ninth year. 

Emerson, Benjamin K., Canandaigua, was born m Chester, Rockingham county, N. 
H., August 26, 1826. His father was born in New Hampshire in 1786, and resided 
there until 1852, when he moved into this State and settled in Tyrone, Schuyler coun- 
ty, dying there in February, 1862. He married Mary Porter, widow of David Emory, 
and they had six children, two of whom survive : William P. of New Hampshire, and 
Benjamin K. The early boyhood of our subject was spent in the town of his birth. 



Family sketches. 2&^ 

He came to. Steuben county when thirteen years of age, and working on a farm, studied 
medicine and became a practicing veterinary surgeon. He moved from Schuyler coun- 
ty to Yates, where he spent three years, and in 1870 moved to Ontario county, settled 
in Canandaigua, and bought the Harris Andrews farm of 102 acres, where he lived 
but three years, then bought the David Gardner farm of 100 acres, which now belongs 
to his son. He bought 100 acres on lot Gl, and 108 acres on lot 84. He made his 
home on the Gardner farm until 1892, when he bought the farm of ninety acres, where 
he now makes his home. He also owns the Parmele farm of seventy-eight acres, 
making the total amount 476 acres. Besides attending to his farms Mr. Emerson con- 
tinued his practice as veterinary surgeon, in which he has been very successful, losing 
but few patients. He also conducts a milk route in Canandaigua, and for seven years 
was the milkman of Shortsville. While in Yates count)' Mr. Emerson was justice of 
the peace. In 1850 he married Adelia C. Prescott of Orange county, by whom he had 
five children, four now living : George M., who lives on the Gardner farm ; Arnold J., 
who lives on the Couch farm ; Mary, wife of John Crook, who lives on the Parmele 
farm ; and Hattie L., who married Frank Steimbaugh and lives in Nebraska. Mrs. 
Emerson died in November, 1872, and he married second in 1873, Mary F. Sutton, 
widow of Thomas Sproul, and they have one child, Carrie H., now in her thirteenth 
year. 

Eddy, M.D., Herbert M., Geneva, was born in Seneca county, November 22, 1845, 
and graduated from Hobart College in 1866. He graduated from Geneva Medical 
College and practiced m Seneca Falls eight months. He graduated from the College 
of Physicians and Surgeons in 1870, then settled at Geneva. He is a member of the 
County Medical Society. In 1873 he married Hattie H. Higbie of Geneva, and has 
two children : Kathie M. and William H. Hiram L., father of our subject, was a native 
of Wayne county. He graduated from the Pittsfield (Mass.) Medi'-al College and 
practiced twenty years in Seneca county. In 1858 he settled in Geneva and practiced 
until 1876. He died March 9, 1885. His wife was Hetty Peterson, and they had two 
children, Herbert M. and Lawrence P., the latter a lawyer at Grand Rapids, Mich. 

Esty, John B., Seneca, was born in Seneca, December 15, 1827. He was educated 
in the public schools and has always followed farming. December 25, 1849, he mar- 
ried Rachael C. Brizzee of the town of Hopewell, and they had seven children : Charles, 
who died at the age of thirty-nine; Ida A., Frederick D., Ada, who died at the age 
of eight years; Frank J., Alexander and Elizabeth. Mr. Esty's father, Aaron B., was 
born in Seneca in 1802. He, too, was a farmer and married Mary Gilbert, formerly of 
the town of Benton, Yates county. They had eight children : John B., William P., 
Cynthia A., Norton, who died at the age of two years, Joseph, Sibley, Elizabeth and 
Edmund. His father died in September, 1882, and his mother February 12, 1S92. His 
grandfather, William Esty, came to Seneca about 1795 from New England. Mrs. 
Esty's father, Cornelius Brizzee, was born in Columbia county, N. Y., in 1793, and 
married Sarah Van Benscoten of Ulster county. They had seven children : Peter S., 
Maria, Sarah A., Cornelius C, Rachel C, John and Andrew. Her father died in 1879 
at the age of eighty-six years, and her mother died in 1879 at the age of eighty-three 
years. 



2()4 HtSTORV Ot' ONTAftIO COUNtY. 

Ellis, Daniel, Victor, was born on the Ellis homestead, September 30, 1837. He was 
educated in the public schools and East Bloomfield Academy, and is a farmer. The 
house on the home farm was built in the year of 1826, fifty acres of land has been 
owned bv the family since the same date. Mr. Ellis is a member of Milnor Lodge No. 
139, F. &: A. M. of Canandaigua. February 8, 1856, he married Alice Turner, who was 
born in Salem, Wis. She died March 8, 1892. Mr. Ellis's grandfather's brother, Dr. 
Eleazer Ellis, was born June 20, 1760, was the first physician in West Bloomfield, and 
his grandfather, Samuel Ellis, was born May 28, 1762. Mr. Ellis has in his possession 
a paper recommending his grandfather, Samuel, to any Masonic Lodge in the United 
States. 

Foster, John G., Canandaigua, was born in Victory, Cayuga county, August 22, 
1836, a son of George W. of that town. The family on both sides were natives of 
Rhode Island. George W. was born in that State in 1793, and married in Rhode 
Island, Maria Estes, daughter of a sea captain. Soon after his marriage he came to this 
State and engaged in mercantile business in and about Auburn, later conducting a farm 
in Cayuga, where he died in 1882. lie had ten children, four of whom are living. John 
G. spent his boyhood on the farm, and when sixteen years of age he learned the trade 
of carriage making, in which he has always been engaged. He went to Buffalo when 
about eighteen and lived there until the breaking out of the war. December 16, 1863, 
he enlisted in the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, and saw service in seven of the 
greatest battles of the war : Spottsylvania, North Ann River, Weldon Railroad, 
Wilderness, Gaines Farm, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, etc. At Petersburg, June 18, 
1865 he was severely wounded and spent eleven months in the hospital. He was 
mustered out June 20, 1865, and returned to Batavia, from whence he went to Le Roy 
where he spent seven years. In 1872 he came to Canandaigua and worked as ajour- 
neyman for seven years, and then -established a business for himself, and has since been 
a manufacturer of carriages, wagons, sleighs, and does general repairing. Mr. Foster 
married. May 20, 1857, Cordelia Ryan of Buffalo, and they have four children : Charles 
H., a commercial traveler ; Bert M., one of the inventors and proprietors of the Foster 
Paint Company ; Jennie L., wife of D. F. Thurston, a commercial traveler of Chicago ; 
and John S. of Geneseo, a dealer in carriages. 

Frautz, William H., Geneva, was born in Geneva, November 25, 1855. He was 
educated in the public schools and learned the trade of a mason. For some years he 
has been a contractor and buildej-, with his business enlarging continually. March 15, 
1875, he married Amanda J. Tyler of Geneva, formerly of Lenox, Mass., and they have 
had six children. Charles died when three months old, five survive : N. Elizabeth, 
Nancy D., Mary A., William H., jr., and Catherine. Mr. Frautz's father, David, was 
born in Germany in the year of 1822, and came to the United States when a young 
man. He married Elizabeth Dove of Geneva, and they had three children : Charles, 
who resides in this village ; William, who died when a month old ; and William H. 
His father died in 1857, and his mother in 1869. 

Freer, Hiram W., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, near Cheshire, August 20, 
1860, the youngest son of Henry Freer. His present residence was bought by his 



FAMILY SKETCriES. 295 

father about twenty-five years ago, and is a fine farm of 100 acres on the west shore of 
Canandaigua Lake, considered one of the best in this section. Hiram was educated in 
the common schools, and his first business venture was in 1890, when he bought all 
that part of the homestead farm lying between the highway and Canandaigua Lake. 
Here he has set out fifteen acres of vineyard, five acres of pears, plums and quinces, 
and an acre of peaches. He has also erected a commodious horse barn and a summer 
cottage on the lake shore. Mr. Freer is a Republican, but not a politician, his interests 
being centered in his farm. He married, February 17, 1886, Emma, daughter of Will- 
iam H. Bennett, a native of Orleans county, by whom he had one child, Louis B., born 
September 14, 1887. Mrs. Freer is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church. 

Francisco, Job, Canadice, was born in Canadice, November 21, 1831. His father, 
Jacob, was born in Manlius, Onondaga county, about 1808, and died at the age of 
seventy-seven. He came to this town when thirteen years old, and on arriving at 
Cayuga bridge, where the toll was located, a man invited him into his wagon, covering 
him with a blanket, thus passing the boy free. He returned to Onondaga county, and 
came again permanently when nineteen years of age. He was a blacksmith by trade, 
and worked at the business until disabled by infirmity. He married Lovisa Goodfellow 
a native of Onondaga county, who bore him eight children : John, who died in Portage 
in 1891, aged sixty-four years; Sophronia, Cordelia, Solomon, Job, Emeline, Francis 
Marion, who enlisted in the late war and died in the Florence prison pen; Harrison 
Eugene Avas in the army and died in 1891 in Parma, Monroe county; and Mary Persis 
wife of Alonzo Holmes. Later in life Jacob purchased a sixty-six acre farm, which he 
worked. Job learned the blacksmith's trade. He married Maria Trowbridge, of West 
Bloomfield, whose grandfather, Cruger, came from Massachusetts. Of their four chil- 
dren, one son, Henry, died at the age of twenty-two. The others are Stella, wife of 
Charles Caldwell, of Richmond ; Nellie, wife of Harry Thomas, of Steuben county ; and 
Ida, who is also at home. Mr. Francisco has always lived in this town. He has sixty- 
five acres on the homestead and forty-six acres on the Lake Road. He has lived on 
his present place twenty-three years. In politics he is a Republican, as are also his 
sons. His great-grandfather emigrated to this country from France and settled in the 
East, and it is claimed that he lived to attain the great age of 133 years, as appears by 
a pamphlet published long ago. 

Fox, Joseph, Geneva, was born in Troy, N. Y., in August, 1850. He was educated 
in the public schools, and learned the trade of stove mounting. March 27, 1883, he 
married Catherine O'Connor, of Troy, and they have six children, four sons and two 
daughters: Joseph T., William and Mary K. (twins), John, Winefred A. and George. 
Mr. Fox's father, Joseph F., was born in County Caven, Ireland, in 1801, and came to 
the United States when a young man. He married Bridget McMahon, formerly of his 
native place, and they had two children, Joseph and Mary. His father's brother was 
killed by Indians in the West. Mrs. Fox's father, Thomas O'Connor, was born in Ros- 
common, Ireland, and married Margaret Tanney, of his native place. They had nine 
children ; five were born in Ireland. 

Finley, Horace M., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua in 1839, a son of Marshall, 
a native of Vermont, born in 1815. He came to Ontario county and was a teacher for 



29G HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

a number of years, then established a daguerreotype gallery in Canandaigua, which he 
conducted until his age prevented hira from active business, and it has since been con- 
ducted by his son, Horace M. The latter was educated in common schools and at 
Canandaigua Academy, and on leaving school he went into his father's gallery to learn 
photography. In the early sixties he joined his father as a partner, and has ever since 
had an interest in the business. In 1888 he was joined in partnership by William N. 
Freeman, and their gallery is now located in the Finley block on Main street, where 
they are prepared to do first-class work either in photographs, crayons or out-door 
work. Mr. Finley married in 1866 Louisa H., daughter of Alfred B Field, a former 
merchant of this town, and they have one child, Mrs. M. C. Beard, of Canandaigua. 

Freshour, George W., Hopewell, was born in Hopewell, N. Y., June 6, 1823, on the 
farm he now owns, a son of John, whose father was a native of Germany and came to 
America previous to the French and Indian war, in which he took part. He also par- 
ticipated in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Freshour had ihree sons and three daughters, 
and settled in Frederick, Md., 1789. He had a common school education in both Eng- 
lish and German, and in 1810 married Mary Angleberger, of Frederick county, Md. 
He settled in Hopewell and purchased 150 acres of the Phelps and Gorham purchase, 
and added to it until he owned about 500 acres. They had four sons and two daughters, 
two of whom are living, George W., and Alexander, a resident of Gorham. Mr. Fresh- 
our was a Whig, and a commissioner of highways. He died in 1859 and his wife in 
1869. Subject was educated in common schools and in Canandaigua Academy, and in 
1849 married Leonora, daughter of Abraham I. Failing, of Montgomery county, whose 
fa*her was Captain Failing. To subject and wife Avas born one son Byron, who mar- 
ried Alice Warner, an adopted daughter of Milton Warner, of Hopewell. Mr. Freshour 
is a Democrat, and has been justice of peace twelve years, overseer of the poor six 
years, justice of sessions two terms, and in 1891 he was nominated for assemblyman. 
He is a member of Canandaigua Lodge No. 292 and of Hopewell Centre Grange No. 
454. 

Frankish, Dales F., was born in Gorham, October 12, 1863. His father was Thomas, 
a native of England, born October 11, 1830, who came to America about 1843 and in 
1863 purchased a farm of 110 acres. He now owns 288 acres. In 1856 he married 
Rebecca Pearson, a native of England and a daughter of John Pearson, of England, 
who came to America in 1844. To Mr. Frankish and wife were born six children, two 
of whom are living, George, a farmer of Gorham, and Dales F. Mr. Frankish is a Re- 
publican and a member of Reed's Corners Grange. Mrs. Frankish died December 16, 
1892. Dales F. was educated in the common schools and Canandaigua Academy. 
December 18, 1889, he married Mary Smith, a native of Geneva, and daughter of Virgil 
and Fannie (Mitchell) Smith, he a native of Gorham and she of New Jersey. Subject 
and wife have one child, Maud. 

Gooding, Spencer, Canandaigua, was born in Bristol, January 22, 1830, a son of 
Ephraim, a native of Massachusetts, born in 1793. He came to Ontario county in 1819 
and taught school in Bristol several years. He married, about 1820, Corinthia Spencer, 
of Bristol, said to be the first white female child born in the town of Bristol; she was 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 297 

born in 1797. They had seven children, six of whom are living, all but one in this 
county. Spencer was the second sou. His early days were spent working on the farm 
until he was twenty-three years of age. He was educated in the common schools, 
Canandaigua Academy and Lima Seminary. In 1853 he began the reading of law in 
the office of M. O. Wilder, at Bristol, and in the spring of 1855 he went into the office 
of Hon. E. G. Lapham and Judge J. 0. Smith, with whom he remained until admitted 
to the bar in September, 1855. He was afterwards admitted to the United States and 
circuit courts. He has ever since practiced his profession in Canandaigua. Mr. Good- 
ing has always taken an active interest in politics, and has held several political offices. 
In 1858 he was elected county treasurer, and re-elected in 1861, and in 1880 he was 
elected police justice and re-elected in 1884. Mr. Gooding is a member of Canandaigua 
Lodge No. 294, Excelsior Chapter 164, and Zenobia Commandery of Palmyra No. 42. 
He married in 1856 Ann Pitts, of Bristol, and they have two children : M. S. Gooding, 
a dentist of Le Roy, and Edith A., a teacher. 

Gifford, Levi, Canandaigua, was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer county, December 22, 
1818, a son of Nathaniel, a farmer of that county. The early life of Levi was spent in 
Pittstown, and he was educated in the common schools. After leaving school he taught 
about eleven j'ears. When twenty-two years of age he came to Ontario county, teach- 
ing in Gorham until 1845, when he bought a farm there. This he sold in 1858 and 
bought the farm on the west shore of the lake where he has since made his home, Mr. 
Gifford never gave any attention to politics or anything that would detract from his 
interest in his farm. He died November 19, 1889. He was three tinges married, and 
by his first wife, Alida Van Dercook, had two children, but one now living, Mary 
Frances, wife of John Douglas, of Troy. Mrs. Gifford died September 29, 1849, and he 
married second Olive Weatherwax, of Schenectady county, who died December 21, 
1853. Hia present wife, Mary Jane Weatherwax, he married February 1, 1855, and 
they have had eight children, seven of whom are living : 0. Alida, wife of John P. San- 
ford, of Gorham ; Ella M., wife of 0. J. Cooley, of Canandaigua; Minnie E., wife of 
S. G. Bates, of Syracuse; Matilda, wife of E. D. Spangler, jeweler of Canandaigua; 
Puaala, wife of M. S. Elden, an electric'an of Williamsport, Pa.; Nathaniel J., who con- 
ducts the home farm ; and David Dayton, an electrician of Syracuse. The Gifford farm 
consists of 120 acres, on which the principal products are fruit and grain. Nathaniel, 
manager of the farm, was born here March 29, 1867, and was educated at Canandaigua 
Academy under Prof. Clarke, and Cook Academy of Schuyler county. He married, 
March 13, 1890, Eva Gignac, of Troy, and they have two children, Ruth L. and Rachel. 

Gregg, George, Bristol, was born in Bristol, May 24, 1842. He is a son of John 
Gregg, a son of George Gregg, whose father, John Gregg, was a native of Ireland, and 
the first of the family who came to America. John Gregg was born in Bristol in 1820, 
and married Lucy, daughter of Isaiah Case. They had two children : Betsey, wife of 
Edward Wilder, of Canandaigua, and George. Mr Gregg lived on the farm owned by 
subject until 1881, when he went to Canandaigua, where he died in February, 1892. 
He and family attended the Universalist church. Subject of sketch was educaied in 
Poughkeepsie Business College. He is a farmer and hop grower, and owns 280 acres 
u 



298 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

of land in Bristol, and also a residence in Canandaigua. In 1863 he married Lovisa, 
daughter of Orestes Case. They have had six children : Minnie L. (deceased), John B., 
Lutie L. (deceased), George W., Orestes J., Oliver C. Mr. Gregg and son, John B., 
are members of the People's party. The family attends the Universalist church. John 
B. was born in 1870, and educated in Canandaigua Academy, from which he graduated 
in 1887. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and has been secretary of that 
organization. George W. was born May 15, 1876, and was educated in the Canan- 
daigua Academy. Orestes J. was born June 26, 1882. Oliver 0. was born May 9, 
1886. 

Goodale, Charles S., Canandaigua, was born in Bristol, March 4, 1844, a son of Solo- 
mon, jr., and Samantha (Buckley) Goodale. Solomon was a native and farmer of Bris- 
tol, and was the father of three children : George S., of St. Louis, Mo. ; Leonard C, 
a farmer and lumber merchant of Bristol ; and Charles S. The boyhood of the latter 
was spent on the farm in Bristol, and he had an education in the common schools. 
He was but seventeen years of age when the Civil War broke out, and he enlisted in 
the Fourth N. Y. Heavy Artillery, February 10, 1864, serving in the Wilderness, Spott- 
sylvania, Cold Harbor, North Anna, before Petersburg, and many smaller engagements, 
being with the Second Corps in their service. He was mustered out September 7, 1865, 
and returned home. He engaged in farming in different places until 1871, when he 
bought a farm of 125 acres in Canandaigua, near Cheshire, since which he has added 
265 acres, making now 390 acres, which is cultivated to grain and hay. Mr. Goodale 
also deals in sheep, for which he finds a market in New York city. He has been as- 
sessor six consecutive years, and is a supporter of the Union church of Cheshire. 
He married, December 15, 1868, Estella, daughter of Stephen and Samantha (Sawyer) 
Stiles, by whom he had one daughter, Lilian, a student of Granger Place School in 
Canandaigua. 

Gunnison, George L., Canandaigua, was born on his present farm February 14, 1830. 
The ancestry of this family is Swedish. The grandfather, Nathaniel, was a native of 
New Hampshire, and was the father of six children, all now deceased. Levi B., the 
father of George, was born in Goshen, Sullivan county, N. H., February 22, 1800, where 
he lived until sixteen years of age. In 1816 he came to Ontario county, spending one 
year in Farmington, and then returned to Nevv Hampshire where he remained a year, 
and then came to Canandaigua. He bought different farms in this town, owning at 
one time over 200 acres. He was always a leadmg spirit in the Methodist church, and 
died December 11, 1883. He married in 1827 Rhoda H. Hurd, of Lempster, N. H., and 
they had seven children, four now living : John 0., a retired farmer of Jackson, Mich. ; 
Pliny H., a retired farmer of North Freedom, Sauk county, Wis. ; Frances L., a gen- 
eral merchant of Marengo, Calhoun county, Mich. ; and George L. Mrs. Gunnison, 
mother of our subject, still lives in her eighty-sixth year. George L. was educated in 
Canandaigua Academy, and assisted on his father's farm until of age, then took up his 
residence on the farm north where he lived three years. He spent two years on the 
Tiffany farm, and in April, 1856, bought 100 acres adjoining the old homestead on the 
north side, where he lived until 1865, returning and spending three years on the home- 



f'AMlLY SKETCHES. 299 

stead, and then lived eight years in Canandaigua village, to give his children better 
school facilities. In 1876 he settled on the old homestead where he has ever since lived. 
Mr. Gunnison is a Eepublican, but has never been an aspirant for public office. He 
is a member and officer of the Methodist church. December 15, 1853, he married 
Jane Alvira, daughter of Emund Tiffany, and they have three sons: Frank N., shipping 
clerk in the New York Central freight office at Canandaigua : Alfred M., who conducts 
the homestead farm ; and George H., who is fitting for a teacher. 

Green, Miles H., Canandaigua, was born in Jerusalem, Yates county, March 14, 1834, 
a son of Henry Green, a native of Rushville, born in 1797, who moved to Canandaigua 
and bought a farm on the Academy tract, where he lived until his death, March 28) 
1836. He had seven children now living. Our subject is a twin, and he and his 
youngest brother are the youngest of the family. He has always made his home in this 
town, and was educated in the common schools and a select school in Naples. After 
leaving school he took up farming, and in 1880 bought his present farm of WiUiam S. 
Durand. This is a fine place of 135 acres, and Mr. Green has set out about thirty acres 
of grapes and twenty acres of peach and apple orchard. In politics he is an ardent 
Republican, but has never been an office seeker. He married in 1856 Louisa A., daugh. 
ter of William S. Durand, of Canandaigua, and they have had six children, four now- 
living: Henry, bookkeeper and overseer of one department of Eastman's Kodak Works 
at Rochester ; Frank, with the same company ; Charles, a farmer of Canandaigua; and 
William, who lives at home. 

Gates, Preston L., West Bloomfield, son of Alfred, was born September 30, 1842. 
His grandfather, Daniel, who, with his brother Marvin, was a pioneer in that part of 
the town (then known as Smith's Mill's), came from Colchester, near New London, 
Conn., in May, 1789. He was the first comer by one year. The old homestead was 
built in 1802, and is one of the few ancient landmarks of the locality. Of his family 
Alfred was born January 25, 1807, and married Catharine Pratt of this town, by whom 
he had two children, Preston L. and Catharine, the latter dying at the age of twenty- 
one years. His wife died in 1844, and he married second Sarah Emehne Pratt, sister 
of his 'first wife, who now resides on the old homestead. Alfred died in April, 1890, 
at the age of eighty-six. Preston L. was educated at the district schools and has al- 
ways followed farming. For the past twenty years he has had charge of the old farm. 
He married in 1866 Helen R., daughter of George Davis, of Honeoye Falls, and they 
have two sons: Lewis E., born in 1867, married and resides on the old homestead; 
and Alfred D., born in 1871, lives with his parents. Mr. Gates is a Prohibitionist in 
politics. He lives on the old place onwhich he has erected a fine modern house. He 
is increasing his dairy interests, introducing Jersey stock, and is the owner of many 
fine animals of that breed. He is also interested in the culture of bees and fancy 
poultry. 

Griffin, Elias, West Bloomfield, was born in 1816. His father, Wheeler Griffin, was 
from Jefl^erson county, and came here just previous to the War of 1812, locating in the 
village, where he established a pottery, which he continued till about 1826, when he 
bought the farm now owned by Elias and located there. He was a member of Cap- 



300 HISTORY Ot ONTARIO COtTNTY. 

tain Peck's Company in the War of 1812. He married Mary Klice, who came from 
Maryland, and their children were: Orson, Gustavus, Blias, Charles, and Mary Ann. 
Only Elias and Charles survive, the latter being a dairyman in Michigan. Wheeler 
Griffin was justice of the peace and assessor. Elias spent his minority at the district 
schools and the academy here, working with his father oa the farm. He was cap- 
tain of the Independent Bloomfield Rifle Company at the time Governor Bouck was 
executive. He married in I860 Adeline Fitch, whose parents were early settlers in 
Lima, N. T. They had two children: Preston W., born in 1861, and Belle, both living 
at home. Mr. Griffin has been a hop grower and has now the second largest apple or- 
chard in the town. 

Gillis, John S., Victor, was born in Argyle, Washington county, July 17, 1823, and 
came with his parents to Victor in 1820. He was educated in the public schools and 
was always a farmer. December 30, 1847, he married Sarah, daughter of William and 
Catherine (McKinley) Wells, and they had five children : William W., who is editor 
and proprietor of the Victor Herald, and married Harriet S. Bundy, of Rochester ; Mary 
v., died in the year 1870, aged nineteen years ; Martha, who married Joseph N. Brace, 
of Shelby, Orleans county; Alexander P., who is a farmer with his father; and John 
D., who married Margaret Cline, they also live on the farm. Mrs. Gillis's father, Will- 
iam Wells, was born at Coxsackie, Greene county, April 16, 1797, and married Cath- 
erine McKinley, who was born June 3, 1799. They had six children : Catherine, Peter, 
Sarah, Amelia, John, and William Alexander. They came to Victor in 1835. Mrs. 
Gillis is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Gillis is a Democrat. 

Gillis, Jerome Bonaparte, Victor, was born in Victor, April 23, 1853. He was edu- 
cated in the district schools and Victor Union School, and is a farmer. April 13, 1886, 
he married Lucy, daughter of Edward and Sarah Williams, of Victor, and they have 
had three children : Edward R., born January 18, 1887 ; Harry J., who died in infancy ; 
and Cora B., who died when she was nineteen months old. Mr. Gillis's father, Robert 
R., was born in the town of Argyle, Washington county, October 22, 1812. and came 
with his parents to Victor when he was ten years old. He was a farmer. He mar- 
ried Martha Hart, of Victor, and had six children : Julia A., Maryette, Helen, Jerome 
B., James L., and Hart R. Mrs. Gillis's father, Edward Williams, was born in Eng- 
land, and came to the United States when a young man. After a period of time 
he returned to England and married Sarah Kailsley, then returned to his adopted 
country. They had seven children, four survive : Phoebe, Emma, William, and Lucy. 
In politics Mr. Gillis is a Republican. The ancestry of the family are Scotch, English, 
and Welsh. 

Galusha, George S., Phelps, was born in Yates county, July 14, 1857, one of four 
children of Clark and Eunice (Burnett) Galusha. The father, Clark Galusha, was born 
in Otsego county, his wife being a native of Phelps. Simeon, the grandfather, was a 
native of Otsego county. George S. married, September 26, 1877. Mary Isabel Thatcher, 
one of four children of Jesse and Cyntha (Estey) Thatcher, of Hopewell. Mr. Galusha 
has lived in the town of Phelps since he was four years of age. His farm is used for 
the production of the variety of crops common to this section. 



{'AMILY SKETCHES. 301 

Gambee, William H., Geneva, was born in Varick, Seneca county, February 4, 1833. 
He was educated in the public schools and graduated from Lima Seminary. He has 
always been a produce dealer and farmer. January 4, 1860, he married S. Elizabeth 
Boyd, who was born on the place on which they reside, north of Geneva, her father's 
homestead. They have one daughter, Nellie E., who was married on February 5, 1893 
to Edward Hooper, of Newark, Wayne county. Mr. Gambee's father, William, was 
born in Pennsylvania about 1792, and married Agnes Armstrong. They had six chil- 
dren : John Y., Mary E., Isaac T"., WiUiam H., Annie and Lavina. Mrs. Gambee's 
father, David Boyd, was born in Pennsylvania about 1796, and married Ann Ringer, 
by whom he had eight children : John, Isabella, Robert, Sarah E., Elvira, Charles, 
Elizabeth and David. David Boyd served in the War of 1812, and Mr. Gambee's 
father, William, was also in that war. Mr. Gambee was a sutler in the Army of the 
Potomac in the late war. 

Haskill, Abel, Oanandaigua, was born on the homestead farm March 16, 1845, and 
educated in Canandaigua Academy and Lima Seminary. In 1871 he went to Missouri 
and bought a farm, which he conducted until the financial panic of 1872-73. In 1880 
he bought the Alvin Pennoyer farm of 112 acres, which is his present home. He has 
added many improvements to this farm in the way of new buildings, and has cleared it 
of every debt. He has also moved his family to Canandaigua village to give his chil- 
dren better educational facilities. Mr. Haskill married in 1872 Fanny, daughter of John 
McGee, a farmer of Missouri, and they have three children : J. Earl, born in Missouri, 
July 16, 1873; William P., born in Canandaigua, December 16, 1874; and Nellie F., 
born in Canandaigua, January 6, 1876. Mr. Haskill is a member of Academy Grange, 
in which he has held many offices, the last year secretary. Mr. Haskill makes the cul- 
ture of hops his principal crop. 

Herendeen, James, Farmington, father of Amy A. Herendeen, was born in the town 
of Danby, Rutland county, Vt., September 1, 1788, and came with his parents here 
when he was two years old. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Mary 
Shotwell, and was born in Springfield, Essex county. They had six children: Vania, 
born November 30, 1816; Mary, born September 10, 1819; Richard H., born April 20, 
1822; Ehzabeth, born January 10, 1824; Amy A., born March 19, 1829; and James 
W., born April 18, 1831. Gideon 0. Herendeen, who is a farmer for Amy A., was 
born in Palmyra, Wayne county, November 27, 1830, and went to Michigan with his 
parents when he was thirteen years old. December 7, 1854, he married Caroline N. 
Kidder, of that State, and they have two sons, William W. and Clarence N.; both are 
good business men in Michigan. Mr. Herendeen's father, Welcome, was the first white 
child born in Farmington. He married twice, the second time to Elizabeth Burchard, 
and had three children : Phoebe E., who married Isaac H. Kellogg, of Michigan ; David 
B. who married Ann Palmer, of that State; and Gideon 0. 

Hulbert, Mark, Victor, was born in the town of Barrington, Berkshire county, Mass., 
May 30, 1819, and came with his parents in 1832 to this town. He came with his 
father and a team, the balance of the family on a canal packet, starting May 30, 1832, 
and arriving June 6, 1832. He was educated in the pioneer schools and is a farmer. 



302 TtTSl^ORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

He married twice, first Mehetabel A Crandall, of this place, and had six children : Rus- 
sell H., Sheldon H., Marcus D., Euphinia M., Amanda and Henry S. Mrs. Hulbert died 
December 6, 1857, and he married second, February 10, 1859, Mrs. Kliza (Ford) 
Mathewson. They had five children. She had one daughter by her first marriage, 
Lottie, now Mrs. Charles Sisco, of Shortsville, this county. The other five were : 
George A., who married April 8, 1882, Mettie Lane; Frank W., who married Mrs. 
Elsie Quayle, November 8, 1888; Ford, Lena and Lechard (twins). Three boys died 
in infancy. Mr. Hulbert had two sons in the late war. Russell served in Company A, 
First N. Y. Mounted Rifles, and died of consumption ; had his funeral at home. Mr. 
Hulberl's father, Russell, was born December 12, 1779, in Middle Adams, Conn., and 
married Anna IngersoU. They had seven children : John, Anson, Betsey, Silas, Rus- 
sell, Mary A. and Mark. Mrs. Hulbert was born near Manchester, England, January 
1, 1829, and came to the United States August 15, 1848, locating in Victor in 1853. 

Herendeen, Lemuel, Geneva, son of Gideon and Bersheba Herendeen, was born in 
Farmington at the old homestead, May 15, 1833. He was educated in the public school 
and in the Friends' Boarding School at Providence, R. I. He has married twice, first, 
November 9, 1861, Eliza, daughter of Benjamin and Margaret Newman, of Victor, and 
they had three children, two of whom are living: Albert H. and Florence. Mrs. Her- 
endeen died December 7, 1885. Mr. Herendeen came to Geneva in 1869 and went into 
the nursery business with Eli A Bronson, and continued this for three years, under the 
firm name of Bronson & Herendeen. At the expiration of this time Mr. Herendeen 
sold his interest to Mr. Hopkins. He then went into the same business with Sears and 
Henry, under the firm name of Sears, Henry & Co. They have extensive nurseries of 
over 200 acres, in fine cultivation. January 16, 1889, he married second Anna N., sec- 
ond daughter of David and Elizabeth Peters, of Ithaca. Mr. Herendeen's mother 
Bersheba, was an appointed minister of the Orthodox Friends in the United States and 
Canada. Mr. Herendeen has been elected four times as county superintendent of the 
poor. He attended the M. B. church fifteen years, was trustee six years and superin- 
tendent of the Sunday-school four years. He has now united with the North Presby- 
terian church. Mrs. Herendeen is president of the Women's Auxiliary of the Y. M. 
C. A. 

Haire, De Witt G., Canandaigua, was born in Jerusalem, Yates county, July 27, 1844. 
His father, James, was a native of Starkey, Yates county, born September 11, 1805. 
In his early day he was a farmer in Jerusalem, and in 1857 located in Hopewell, where 
he remained six years, then removed to Canandaigua and bought a farm in the north- 
west part of the town, where he lived six years. In 1869 he moved to the village and 
spent two years, and in 1871 bought a farm on the old Thaddeus Chapin estate, where 
he died May 12, 1888. He had five children, three of whom survive; Robie, wife of 
Bradner Ellis, a mechanic of Canandaigua; Louisa, wife of John A. Fisher, a farmer 
of Canandaigua; and De Witt. James Haire was always prominent in church work, 
and was one of the founders of the Wesleyan Methodist church of Jerusalem. He was 
a great reader and profound thinker, and in his younger days was piomiiicnt in politics, 
and took great interest in the abolition of slavery. De Witt was educated in the Can- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 303 

andaigua Academy, and followed farming until 1889 on the farm on which he now 
resides, a fruit farm of fourteen acres. He is at present employed as a commercial 
traveler with the American Road Machine Co. His farm produces nearly every kind of 
fruit raised in this section, and has an apple orchard of ten acres. Mr. Haire married 
in 1870 Emma Kendall, of Tyrone, Schuyler county, and they had one child, James 
Haire, who lives at home. Mrs. Haire died March 22, 1890, and he married second, 
February 23, 1892, Sarah, daughter of Dennison Butler, of Naples, Ontario county. 

Humphrey, Ira E.. Victor, was born in Victor, October 31, 1818. He was educated 
in the public schools, and went with his parents to Indiana when he was nineteen 
years old. April 1, 1854, he married Betsey D., daughter of Newton and Eliza Clark of 
Wardsboro, Vt., and they had ten children : Florence died at the age of seven years, 
nine survive: Elizabeth A , who married Wilber Nelson of this town ; Charlotte E., 
who is a teacher and resides at home ; Mary A., Helen H., Harriet B., all reside with 
their parents ; Luman A., who is thefarmer at home; Otis L. is a produce dealer resid- 
ing at Honeoye Falls, Monroe county ; Charles S. is a grocer in Canandaigua; and Ira 
B. is a commission broker in Rochester. Mr. Humphrey's father, Luman, was born in 
Connecticut, June 22, 1786, and came to this State when a young man. February 23 
1815, he married Philena Dryer, formerly of Vermont, and they had five children that 
grew to maturity: Charlotte D., now of Oregon ; Ira E., Ursula A., who resides at the 
old home at Orland, Ind.; Otis M., who is a physician in Minneapolis; Kezia, who died 
November 30, 1848, at Orland, Ind. His father died January 30, 1841, at Orland, and 
his mother September 10, 1860, at the same place. Mrs. Humphrey's father, Newton 
Clark, Avas born at Newfane, Vt., and married Eliza Mahan, who was born in West 
Boyleston, Mass. They had nine children Fontana, Betsey B., Eliza A., Osmer N. 
Charles S., Amelia A., Adeline V., William, and Nancy. The family are all members 
of the M. E. church. The ancestors of the family are English on both sides. 

Hufchens, Floyd M., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, December 5, 1840, a 
son of Henry and Polly (Livermore) Hutchens. Henry was the oldest son of John 
and was born in 1816 in Italy, Yates county. Mr. Hutchens was an enthusiastic 
Abolitionist, a Republican and a member of the church. He married, when about 
twenty years of age, Polly, daughter of John Livermore of Canandaigua, by whom he 
had seven children, six of whom survive : Hiram A., merchant of Canandaigua ; Nodiah 
of Cheshire ; Sarah, wife of E. M. Booth of Cheshire ; Dr. John, of Cheshire ; Charles, a 
merchant of Cheshire ; and Floyd H. The latter was educated in the common schools, 
and first bought a farm in 1865 which he owned some time, and in 1867 bought the 
farm of 100 acres where he now lives. He married in January, 1864, Laura M., daugh 
ter of Warren Brown of Canandaigua, and they had two children, Sarah F., wife of 
George S. Mallory of Canandaigua; and Warren S., a student of Canandaigua 
Academy. 

Hutchens, John W., Canandaigua, was born in Jerusalem, Yates county, October 7, 
1827. Charles, the grandfather, had five children of whom John, the father of our sub- 
ject, was the second son, and was born in 1794. He came to Cananda'ga in 1832. He 
resided in various places and died on the place occupied by Charles Parshall in Cheshire, 



304 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

October 5, 1860. He left nine children, six of whom are living. John W., our subject, 
was the third son. He always made the town his home. He was educated in the 
common schools, and after leaving school he learned carpentry, a trade he has 
always followed. He built a great many of the private residences of this town, and 
also the Union church at Cheshire. In 1875 he bought a part of the J. L. Johnson 
farm, on which he lived until 1892 when he built a cottage on the lake shore where he 
now resides. Mr. Hutchens has always taken an active interest in politics, and is a 
Democrat, but has never aspired to public office. He married February 14, 1860, Mary 
L., daughter of Reuben and Sally (Perry) Sands. 

Howland, Wilber C, Victor, was born in Albany county, April 5, 1832, and moved 
with his parents to Greene county when he was ten years old. He was educated in the 
district schools, and has followed farming. He came to Victor in 1864, and September 
8, 1856, he married Jane, daughter of John H. and Margaret Ransom of Saugerties, Ul- 
ster county. They have three children : Wilber, who married Anna Rogers and has 
one daughter, Blanche ; Sabrina marr'ed Charles Rogers and has one son, Frank ; and 
Margaret M., who resides at home with her parents. Mr. Howland's father, David, was 
born in Dutchess county in 1794, and married Sarah Gardner of his native county, and 
they had ten children, eight grew to maturity : Sabrina, Caroline, Fidelia, Hiram, Ruth, 
Wilber C, Jane and Jeremiah. His grandfather, Jeremiah Howland, was a practicing 
physician in Dutchess county. The family are traced back to one John •jsowland, who 
came over on the Mayflower. 

Hallock, David W., East Bloomfield, was a native of Norfolk, Eng., born September 
5, 1831, IS one of eleven children of David and Elizabeth (Gibbs) Hallock, natives of 
England, who lived and died in their native country. Subject of sketch was reared on 
a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1852 he came to America and started 
in life for himself. He worked by the month for about four years, and then for several 
years he rented land. His first purchase was ten acres of land which after three years 
he sold, and purchased forty acres in Richmond which he still owns. In 1879 he pur- 
chased seventy-three acres on which he now resides. This he has increased to 173 
acres, on which he has erected a good barn and made many other improvements. He 
carries on general farming and hop growing. September, 1859, Mr. Hallock married 
Dalena Nudd, a native of Norfolk, Eng., and daughter of John and Mary (George) 
Nudd, natives of England, who came to East Bloomfield in 1851, and there spent the 
remainder of their days. Mr. Nudd died in 1856, and his wife in 1863. Subject and 
wife have ten children: George W., Frank, John B., Emily S., Arthur D., Alice L., 
Edith M., Maud J., Willie and Howard. Mr. Hallock is a Republican, and he and his 
wife are members of the M. E. church. 

Huff, Allen, Canadice, was born in January, 1821, at Frenchtown, Hamilton county, 
N. J. When about three years of age he moved with his parents, Anthony and Rachel 
(Hyde) HufF to Canadice. Ten years later his father died, leaving Allen the youngest 
of three children, the others being John A. of Penn Y'an, and Mary Ellen Bowers of 
Bergen. Allen married in 1847 Martha A., daughter of Amos Swan, and their chil- 
dren are: Sarah E., deceased; Evelyn C, and Sarah E. Wright. Mr. Wright was 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 305 

assessor three terms and has held other important offices. He was a benevolent man, 
ever ready to care for the poor and needy and to encourage young men to lead use- 
ful and correct lives. For many years he bought produce on commission. He died 
November 23, 1883, and his widow resides with her son, Evelyn C, at the homestead. 
He was born August 10, 1851, was educated at Lima Seminary and at Penn Yan 
Academy. December 23, 1872, he married Ella F. Coykendall, daughter of Levi Coy- 
kendall, and they have three daughters : Ola V., born March 23, 1874, a teacher ; Fay- 
ette, born July 29, 1877 ; and Allen, born February 23, 1884. Mr. Huff farms 164 acres, 
and devotes his farm to the growth of hops and general farming. For some years he 
has bought farm products on commission in this and Livingston counties. He and 
his wife are members of the M. E. church, of which he is a trustee. 

Hawkins, William F., Victor, was born on the old homestead farm north of the vil- 
lage of Victor, April 8, 1827. He was educated in the district schools and Canandaigua 
Academy, and was a farmer, but now retired from business. In April, 1855, he mar- 
ried P. Jane Mulock of Middletown, Orange county, and they have four children : Jere- 
miah W., born November 5, 1860 ; he was educated in the public schools, Canan- 
daigua Academy and Lima Seminary, and is a farmer; December 28, 1881, he married 
Helen E., daughter of Dr. George H. Bennett of Lima, Livingston county ; they have 
one son, George W., born October 22, 1883 ; Nellie E., who married Dr. Daniel Tillit- 
son, now a practicing physician of the city of Corning, Steuben county ; they have 
one daughter, Callie L. ; G. Frank is a farmer on the homestead and a bachelor ; and 
Nellie M., who resides with her parents. Mr. Hawkins's father, Jeremiah Hawkins, 
was born near Otisville, Orange county, March 3, 1792. When quite young he began 
to learn the carpenter's trade, and married Mahala M. Tooker of Newburg, Orange 
county. After exacting a promise from his brother to care for his father and mother 
he started with his wife and household possessions on a one-horse wagon which he 
made himself. After looking over the territory, he located half a mile east of where his 
son, WiUiam F., now resides. He followed his trade for ten years and devoted the 
balance of his time to farming. He was a man of rare judgment and great industry. 
He died November 20, 1875, and his wife July 6, 1890. Mrs. Jeremiah W. Hawkins's 
father. Dr. George H. Bennett of Lima was born at Avon, Livingston county, June 9 
1820, a celebrated physician in that region for many years, and was a graduate of Buf- 
falo Medical College. In politics he was a Democrat, and held the positiou of super- 
visor when he died, was also president of the World's Medical Association, and was a 
thirty-second degree Mason. In the late war he was a surgeon in the New York State 
Volunteers, was also an honored member of Sheridan Crandall Post No. 225 G. A. 
R. of West Bloomfield. October 23, 1848, he married Mrs. Eliza C. (Atwater) Dunlap 
of Ovid, Seneca county, and they had nine children : Charles A., Emma M., George 
D., John W., Eliza P., Helen E., Jason J., Ernest W., and Amanda J. Dr. Bennett 
died February 2, 1893, mourned by a bereaved wife and children and many friends. 

Herrington, Earl P., Canandaigua, was born in Hoosick, Rensselaer county, Decem- 
ber 4, 1833, and is a direct descendant of Elder Herrington, one of the Pilgrim fathers 
who was sent into Rhode Island, and where the grandfather of our subject, Philip, 



306 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

was born about 1700. He had nine children, of whom Elijah, father of Earl P., was 
the fourth son. There is still one of these children living, Philip Herrington of Hoosick. 
Elijah was born in Hoosick, November 3, 1801, and married in 1827 Mary Pirce of 
Rensselaer county. In 1841 he came to Ontario county, and May 11 of that year he 
bought a farm of eighty acres in Canandaigua, where the family has ever since lived. 
He had six children, four of whom survive : Philip, of Michigan ; William H. of Ro- 
chester; Sarah, wife of Walter S. Davis, and Earl P. From the time Earl was eight 
years old his life has been spent in this town.. He was educated at Genesee Wesleyan 
Seminary at Lima, and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until the 
death of his father, May 12, 1879, when he returned to the old homestead and con- 
ducted the farm. Mr. Herrington has always taken an active interest in church work, 
and he and his family are members of the Baptist church of Canandaigua. He mar- 
ried, February 26, 1867, Elizabeth, daughter of Philip Neff of Monroe county, and they 
have one son, Leander Earl, born December 3, 1881. 

Hunn, Thomas M., Bristol, is a native of Canandaigua, born August 28. 1822, and a 
son of James G., a son of Rev. Zadoc Hunn. The first representatives of the family 
in America were the great-grandfather of Thomas M., who was a farmer, one brother 
who was a minister, and one a doctor. Rev. Zadoc Hunn was a native of Becket, 
Conn., and was reared on a farm until sixteen years of age. He was educated for the 
ministry and took a classical and a theological course in Yale College. He then spent 
seven years as teacher in that college, Noah Webster being one of his pupils. He mar- 
ried Mary Morton, a native of Becket, Conn., and a daughter of Thomas Morton, a 
native of Scotland, who came to America for George III, and liking the country made 
his home at Becket, Conn., where he died. The family are related to Levi P. Morton. 
Mr. Hunn and wife had three sons and three daughters: Thomas M., James C, Alex- 
ander Z., Rebecca, Annie and Lorena. Rev. Zadoc went to Canandaigua in 17 — , and 
was the second family to settle there. He organized the Congregational church of 
Bristol, of which he was pastor many years. James G. Hunn was a native of Becket, 
Conn., and went to Canandaigua with his parents, where he married Eliza Gillett, a 
native of Dighton, Mass., and a daughter of Thomas and Laura (Jones) Gillett. He 
died May 22, 1859. Thomas M. was educated in Canandaigua Academy and at the 
Lyceum at Geneva. In 1848 he married Fannie P. Gregg of Bristol, born November 
15, 1821, a daughter of Benjamin Gregg, a son of Johii Gregg, a native of England, 
who came to America during the Revolutionary War, who fought some time with the 
British and then joined the Americans. Mr. Hunn and wife have had five children : 
James, Mary, Alexander Z., Benjamin G., and Emma E. James was born in 1848 and 
educated in Canandaigua Academy and in Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. He married 
Malissa Mack, by whom he had three children. He moved to Kansas, where h,e and 
the children died. Mrs. Hunn returned to Bristol, where her death occurred February 
4, 1878. Mary was born August 17, 1851, and died at the age of nine years. Alex- 
ander D., born December 26, 1854, married Myra A. Dend of Canandaigua, daughter 
of George M. and Kezia L. (Lucas) Dend of Canandaigua. Alexander and his wife have 
one child, Fannie V., born in July, 1892. Benjannn G. was born September 7, 1861, 
and died October 30, 1883. Emma E, was born July 22, 1864, educated in Canandai- 



JFAMILY SKETCHES. 307 

gua Academy, and is the wife of Euel Reed of Bristol. At the age of twenty-six our 
subject came to Bristol and purchased 100 acres, and therefor thirty- five years followed 
farming. He sold this farm, and in 1872 came to Bristol Center and purchased forty- 
five acres, which he now owns. He has since followed hop growing and general farm- 
ing. He is a Republican and has been commissioner of highways three years. He is 
a member of the Universalist Society of Bristol. 

Hickox, George S., Canandaigua, oldest son of Capt. George Hickox, was born near 
Cheshire, March 30, 1S29. His boyhood was spent on his father's farm, and was edu- 
cated in the common schools, Canandaigua Academy, East Bloomfield Academy and Wes- 
leyan Seminary at Lima. He taught district schools a number of winters and attended 
school during the summer terms. He made his home on his father's farm until 1864, 
when he married and settled on the farm where his brother, James S., now resides. 
He lived here for seven years and then sold to his brother, buying the Walker farm, 
where he has ever since resided. In 1884 he built his beautiful residence. Mr. 
Hickox has always taken an active interest in politics, and was elected on the mmority 
ticket for commissioner of highways from 1872 to 1881. He is greatly interested in 
the breeding of American Merino sheep, a business he has been engaged in ever 
since he began farming. He is chairman of the Executive Board of the American 
Merino Sheep Breeders' Association of New York State, of which he is a life mem- 
ber. In 1887-88 was vice-president of the Western New York Agricultural Society. 
In 1891 he was elected president of the Ontario County Agricultural Society and 
re-elected in 1892 to the same position. He is also a member of the Congregational 
church of Canandaigua. Mr. Hickox married in March, 1864, Anna E., daughter of 
Jacob Smith of Canandaigua, and they have had five children ; but one son now sur- 
vives, George B., a teacher at Bristol Springs. 

Hutchinson, George H., Geneva, was born in Geneva, July 25, 1861. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools and Geneva Commercial College, and is a machinist. No- 
vember 25, 1884, he married Carrie L., daughter of George S. and Sarah A. Cum- 
mings of Geneva, formerly of Dedham, Mass., and they have two children : A. Mabel 
and Arthur E. Mrs. Hutchinson's father was born in New Hampshire about the year 
of 1831, and married Sarah A. Emery. They had three children: Arthur E., who 
died in infancy ; Carrie L. and Amy E. Mrs. Hutchinson makes a specialty of art 
needle work and all kinds of fancy embroideries. 

Hickox, George, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua on the farm now occupied 
by the L. H. Tillotson heirs, December 20, 1802. The founder of the family in this 
country was one Stephen Hickox, who emigrated to this country from England and 
settled in Granville, Hampshire county, Mass. He married Lydia Spellman, and died 
in Granville during the Revolution. His son. Levi Hickox, was born in Granville, 
April 27, 1751, and married Sybil Moore, born in Middletown, Conn., September 2G, 
1747. They had nine children. He died January 7, 1811, and his wife December 29, 
1801. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was with Washington while at 
Trenton. He was a man of prominence in public afi"airs, and was the first road com- 
missioner in this town. The third son, and father of our subject, George Hickox, was 



30^ HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

born January 25, 1772, at Granville, Mass. He was captain of militia in the war of 
1812, and was called out at the time of the raid at Buffalo (in 1813). He married, Jan- 
uary 20, 1798, Eunice Holcomb, who came from Massachusetts in 1793, and opened 
school in a log school house in Canandaigua. They had four sons and five daughters. 
George, the oldest son, has always made his home in Canandaigua. He takes an active 
interest in church work, assisting with the Methodist church in 1833, and for over 
twenty-five years was a steward of the church. He was a Whig, but has for a great 
many years been a Democrat. He married, February 25, 1828, Mary Adah Mallory, of 
Huguenot descent who was born at Milford, Conn., September 20, 1808. She died 
February 14, 1892, mourned by the whole community. She was granddaughter of a 
Revolutionary soldier who fought at Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and other memora- 
ble battles. Mr. Hickox has had three sons and a daughter : George S., Henry 
Bradford, James S. and Mary D. The daughter last named has been prominent as a 
teacher for about fifteen years, having been educated for a teacher at Macedon Academy 
and Ontario Female Seminary. She has been preceptress of Walworth and Mexico 
Academies and of Ontario Female Seminary, an institution that was succeeded by 
Granger Place School in 1874. 

Hickox, Henry Bradford, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua January 19, 1833, 
a son of Capt. George Hickox, of this town. Henry was educated in the common 
schools, Canandaigua Academy and at Macedon Academy. After leaving school he 
assisted his father on the farm and taught school until twenty-five years of age. He 
leased a farm one year and in 1859, in partnership with his brother, James S., bought 
his present farm of 142 acres. Later he bought out the interest of his brother and has 
since conducted it alone as a grain and stock farm, having made many improvements in 
the place. Mr. Hickox is a Democrat. He married in 1858, Letitia, daughter of John 
Adams of Canandaigua. She died August 8, 1889, and he took for his second wife 
Alice C, daughter of T. B. Remington, of Canandaigua. 

Howe, H. Lawrence, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, August 22, 1849, a son 
of Prof. Henry Howe, who was principal of the Canandaigua Academy from about 
1825 to 1847. The early life of our subject was spent in this town, and he was educated 
in Canandaigua Academy and Cornell University. He learned the machinist's trade 
and was in John Roach's shop at Chester, Pa., for awhile, then went to California, and 
from there to Australia, and spent about six years at sea. He returned home in 1883 
and engaged in his present business. He married in September, 1884, Isabella S., 
daughter of Alexander McKechnie, and they have three children: James McK., Henry 
L., and Jessie L. Mr. and Mrs. Howe are attendants the Episcopal church, of which 
Mrs. Howe is a member. 

Hoyt, M.D., Charles S., Canandaigua, was born in Fairfield county. Conn., June 8, 
1822, and came to this section in 1834, his parents moving to Yates county. He was 
educated in Geneva Medical College, and his early life was devoted to teaching in the 
public schools. He practiced medicine in Yates county until the war broke out, when 
he enhsted in the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth N. Y. Vols., and he was assistant 
surgeon of the Thirty-ninth Regiment. At the close of the war Dr. Hoyt returned to 



Family sketches. 309 

Yates county, where lie resumed the practice of his profession, which he continued 
until 1868. In 1867 he represented his county in the State Legislature. This was his 
second term, as he served a term in 1852. In 18G8 Dr. Hoyt was appointed secretary 
of the State Board of Charities, a position he has ever since held, his office being at 
Albany. Dr. Hoyt married in 1866 Dora, daughter of Major Barnum of Bristol, and 
they have had three children: Agnes R., Charles, jr., and Jean Ingelow. Dr. Hoyt is 
the only living charter member of Rushville Lodge, F. &; A. M., No. 307. Dr. Hoyt is 
one of the five survivors of the Legislature of 1852. He is also a member of the Gr. A. 
R., and a member of the Loyal Legion Commandery of New York State. He was one 
the organizers and was president of the Society of Charities and Correction, a national 
organization founded in 1873 in New York city. As secretary of the State Board of 
Charities the doctor has made a special study of pauperism and poverty in the State, 
and with over twenty-four years' experience he has probably acquired a greater knowl- 
edge of the question than any other person living, and he undoubtedly was the first to 
suggest the Legislature for the restriction of emigration and has prepared many papers, 
which have been read before the Board of Charities and Corrections, and he has tried 
to control it in his reports as secretary of the State Board. 

Hickox, James S., Canandaigua, second son of Captain George, was born August 10, 
1830, near Cheshire. His boyhood was spent on his father's farm, and he received an 
education in the common schools and at Canandaigua Academy. Commencing at the 
age of eighteen he was for ten winters a teacher in the district schools of Canandaigua. 
On reaching his majority he was given an interest in his father's farm, and continued to 
live with him until 1859, when he in partnership with his brother, H. Bradford, bought 
the farm where H. B. still lives. This partnership existed until 1871, when he bought 
the farm of 125 acres where he now resides. In 1885 he erected one of the finest resi- 
dences in western Canandaigua. Mr. Hickox has always taken an active interest in 
politics, and was justice of the peace from 1864 to 1874. In 1875 he was elected on 
the Democratic ticket supervisor. He served his town well while on the board, and 
was a chairman of the Committee of Public Buildings and member of other commit- 
tees. Mr. Hickox was for three years, from 1876-79, president of the Ontario County 
Agricultural Society, and was chairman of the building committee at the time the 
present buildings were erected. Like his father, he has for thirty years been inter- 
ested in breeding American Merino sheep, and has taken as many prcniums as any 
breeder in the county, and has held many offices with the society. He has been elder 
of the Presbyterian church of Canandaigua for fifteen years. He married in 1860 Mary 
A., daughter of the late Joel Wolverton, and they have three children : N. Adah, wife 
of P. T. Hartmann, a dry goods merchant of Lyons; Ella A , and James S., jr., a stu- 
dent of Canandaigua Academy. 

Hopkins, Harrison, West Bloomfield, was born in Dutchess county. May 28, 1790. 
He came to West Bloomfield about 1834 and located on the State road on the farm now 
owned by B. C. Hopkins, and resided there until his death in 1882. He was a public 
spirited man, but never a seeker after office. He early espoused the cause of the 
slaves, and was a great worker in their interests. While Fred Douglass had his home 



310 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTlT. 

in Rochester he often spent much of his time with Mr. Hopkins and other sympathetic 
friends. Mr. Hopkins was in later life a RepubUcan. He was a member of the Con- 
gregational church and a strong temperance worker. He married in 1816 Merene 
Crosby of Dutchess county, who died in 1856. Their children were: Harriet, deceased, 
Aurelius H., of this town, Rhoda A., Lydia E., Charlotte, Harrison H. (the latter four 
deceased), Sarah Ann, who resides with her brother, Mary, wife of Charles Brown of 
Nebraska, WiUiam Clark, Lydia E. second (both deceased), Benjamin Crosby and Julia 
Frances, widow of T. R. Peck. All but the first lived to adult age. B. S. Hopkins has 
succeeded to the old farm. He is a Republican, a member of the Farmers' Alliance, 
and has never married. 

Harrington, Newton, Shortsville, was born in the town of Farmington, August 5, 
1833. His ancestors settled in Otsego county in 1819. They had participated in the 
war of the Revolution. Mr. Harrington's father was Calow H. Harrington, and his 
mother's maiden name was Martha Winslow. He is the youpgest of his father's family, 
with the exception of one child who died at three years of age. Newton followed the 
cooper's trade in Chicago for a time, being foreman there of a factory, after which for 
thirteen years he was engaged in the trucking business. In 1875 he sold out and re- 
turned to Ontario county, where he has since been connected with the hotel business, 
in Manchester and Geneva. In 1880 Mr. Harrington bought the Shortsville hotel, 
which he rebuilt and refurnished throughout, making it now a first-class hotel, besides 
which he owns considerable real estate here. His wife was Jenette Chamberlain. 

Humphrey, Charles S., Canandaigua, was born in Victor, August 19, 1864, a son of 
I. Elmon Humphrey, a farmer of that town, who was also a native of Victor, born 
October 29, 1S18. He was a son of Lewman Humphrey, one of the early settlers 
of the county. The father of subject married at about thirty-four Betsey D. Clark, 
a native of Vermont, by whom he had ten children, all living but one. Charles S., 
the third son, was educated at Victor Union School, and took a course in the Roch- 
ester Business College. He then worked at farming until of age. In 1886 he came 
to Canandaigua, where he was employed in the Spangle & Kinde clothing store, with 
which company he remained five years. In 1891 he went into partnership with C. 
R. Simmons, and they opened a grocery store where A. L. Higley was formerly. They 
have built up a fine trade, and are now one of the leading firms of the village in 
their line. Mr. Humphrey is a member of the K, 0. T. M., Canandaigua Lodge, No. 
168. 

Heech, Jacob, West Bloomfield, was born in 1844 in Hesse, Germany. He came 
with his parents and six brothers and four sisters in 1854 to this country, settling 
in Henrietta, Monroe county, where his father died in 1879. Jacob lived at home until 
of age, then worked by the month for twelve years. In 1877 he purchased the prop- 
erty of 156 acres known as the Richards farm, about a mile north of Miller's Corners, 
which he has since improved and now occupies. In 1877 he married Anna Clara Boer- 
ner of Rochester, a native of Germany, and they have one dan? ter, Clara Augusta^ 
Mrs. Heech's father, Nicholas Boerner, came from Saxony in 1853 with his wife and 
six children and settled in Rochester. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 311 

Harkness, Charles W., Gorliam, was born in Gorham, September 4, 1856, is a son of 
Daniel P. Harkness. He was educated in the Rushville Union School. January 4, 
1882. he married Mary A. Harper, an adopted daughter of Henry and Maria Harper, 
natives of Canada, who came to Gorham about ^867 and there lived and died, he in 
1890 and she in 1887. Charles 'vV. Harkness and wife have one child, Florence M., 
born December 17, 1889. Mr. Harkness has always been a farmer, and purchased fifty 
acres where he now lives in 1878. Later he purchased more land, and now owns 110 
acres. He is a Republican. His wife is a member of the Congregational church at 
Rushville, N. Y. 

Hall, Thomas W., Seneca, was born at Hall's Corners, January 31, 1812. He was 
educated in the schools of that time, was a farmer with his father until 1838, and has 
always followed this honorable caUing until he retired in 1868. He keptaho^el a short 
time in connection with his farm business. June 12, 1838, he married Mary A. Sims 
of this town, and thev had four children: Edward, who died at the age of seventeen 
months; John S., who is a farmer on the home farm. He married Mary J. Fish of 
this town, and has two children : Roscoe F., and Mary J., both reside at home ; Mary 
J. married James P. Gage of Wisconsin, and they have a son, Charles H.; and Edward 
E., who married Jennie Dorman, who died, and he resides in town. Mr. Hall's father 
Edward, was born in Northimberland, England, in 1774, and came with his parents to 
the United States in 1801, coming from Albany here in flat boats to Geneva, from 
there to Hall's Corners through the woods with only marked trees to guide them. He 
married Jane Wilson, formerly of Yorkshire, England, and they had six children: 
Sarah, Margaret, Thomas W., Mary, Jane, and Edward N". Mr. Hall's grandfather, 
Edward, was born at the old home in England, and married Margaret Neven. They 
had three children, two sons and a daughter. Mr. Hall's father was a constable many 
years, and held the position of deputy sheriff two terms under Sheriff Phineas Bates. 
He died in 1860, and his wife in 1832. Mrs. Thomas W". Hall died June 25, 1888. 

Jones, Leonard H., Bristol, a native of Bristol, born June 27, 1834, is a son of Elijah, 
whose father, Seth, was a native of Dighton, Mass. He married a Miss Barrows and 
had four children. They came to Bristol and settled, and here Mrs. Jones died, and 

he married second Betsey , by whom he had nine children. He was in the War 

of 1812, and kept a hotel. Elijah was born in Bristol in 1802, and was thrice mar- 
ried, first to Louisiana Hathaway, by whom he had three children. Second, in 1833, to 
Sallie (Hathaway) Reed, by whom he had three children. Mrs. Jones died October 
28, 1838, and in 1839 he married third Mary B. Andrews. Mr. Jones was a brigadier 
general in the State militia. He built the present hotel of Bristol, of which he was 
proprietor for many years. Leonard H. Jones was educated in the common schools, 
and in May, 1858, married Lucy A. Francis, a native of McComb county, Mich., born 
in 1835, a daughter of William Francis, who was one of three children of Seth and 
Mary (Farrar) Francis, of Dighton, Mass. William Francis married first Martha Evarts, 
by whom he had three children, and second Fannie (St. John) Johnson, by whom he 
had three children. He died in 1888, and his wife in 1891. He served eight months 
in the late war as a musician. Subject and wife have had five children: Frank A., 
David B., Roswell E., Lament L., and Martha A. The latter died in infancy. Mr. 



312 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Jones is a general farmer and owns 150 acres of land in Bristol, and 640 acres in 
Kansas. He owns a saw-mill, and for five years has been extensively engaged in evap- 
orating apples, the capacity of the evaporator being 300 barrels per day. With the ex- 
ception of four years spent in Oakland county, Mich., Mr. Jones has resided in Bristol. 
He is a Republican and has been supervisor seven years, and at present is excise 
commissioner. He was a Good Templar and a member of the Grange at Bristol. Mr. 
Jones and wife attend the Universalist church. 

Jopson, Mark, Canandaigua, was born in Worsted, Norfolk county, England, May 14, 
1839, and came to this country in 1856. He came to East Bloomfield and worked 
at farming until 1864, when he bought a farm of seven acres in Bristol. After two 
years he sold this and bought twenty-six acres which he conducted six years. He 
then sold it and bought a farm of fifty-two acres in East Bloomfield, which he 
owned until 1883, then sold it and bought a farm of 103 acres in Gorham. He lived 
there until 1888, then bought a farm of 128 acres in Canajoharie, where he now lives. 
He devotes his farm to the raising of grain, vegetables, and stock. He is a firm Re- 
publican though he never takes an active interest in politics. Mr. Jopson married, 
December 25, I860, Hannah, daughter of Richard Appleton, of East Bloomfield, a na- 
tive of England, who died in March, 1883. Mrs. Jopson died November 26, 1879, leav- 
ing four children: John M., a farmer of Hopewell; Herbert C, Daisey B., and Ray- 
mond H. He married second in July, 1881, Elizabeth Tooley, a native of Norfolk, by 
whom he had two children, George L., and Lillie M. 

Johnson, Lewis Mortimer, Canadice, was born in Conesus, Livingston county, June 8, 
1837. His father was George Johnson, born in Vermont, who came with his father 
Luke, to Canadice, and settled on Ball Hill in an early day. George married Joanna, 
daughter of William Fuller, who came here very early. George and his wife had 
thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters One brother of Lewis M., — William 
— lives in Canadice, on Hemlock Lake. Lewis M. was educated in the district schools 
and has always been a farmer. He married in 1861, Chloe Jackman, daughter of Josiah 
and Luvia Jackman, and they have two sons: Burdett, born September 18, 1863, and 
Eugene B., born November 7, 1866. The latter is now station and telegraph agent on 
the Erie railroad at Wallace, Steuben county, while Burdett is now residing home. He 
is a natural mechanic, and a builder of boats. Mr. Johnson is a Republican and a sup- 
porter of the M. E. Church. He owns sixty acres of land on the homestead farm, 
formerly known as the Short farm. 

Ingraham, Avery, Canandaigua, was born in South Bristol, May 6, 1842, a son of 
Benjamin a farmer of that town. His early days were spent in the town of his birth, 
and at Naples where he attended the common schools and select school, the latter kept 
by Sophia Watkins ; and also under Will W. Clark, a colonel of the Eigthty-fifth Regi- 
ment, and ex-sherifi" of the county. November 6, he enlisted in the Eighth N. Y. Reg- 
iment, and served in the Army of the Potomac until the next spring, when he was 
discharged on account of sickness. On his return home he engaged in farming, which 
he has since followed. In 1865 he went west and spent one year in the State of Iowa, 
where he was engaged in farming. In 1891 he was elected on the Republican ticket 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 313 

for sheriff over George Booth chief of pohce, after which he removed his family to this 
village, and is now living in the jail building. He has also been supervisor three terras, 
and overseer of the poor and assessor. He married in 1867 Ann B. Yaw of Naples, 
and they have four children : Annie, wife of Wallace M. Reed, the under sheriff; Bessie, 
Grace and Carl. 

Jackson, S. D., Clifton Springs, was born in Havana, June 8, 1833. He was edu- 
cated in the schools of Ontario county, and Flushing Academy, Long Island. His 
father, George W. Jackson, conducted a mercantile concern with which S. D. Jackson, 
was identified for some time. He afterward went to St. Paul, Minn., and engaged in 
real estate transactions. After eight years there he returned to Ontario county, where 
he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits and in banking. He owns consider- 
able real estate, etc., besides being the senior member of the banking firm of Jackson & 
Llewellyn at Clifton Springs, N. Y. Mr. Jackson has served as supervisor of this town 
from 1875 to 1876. His family consists of a wife and one child. 

Kenney, the late William T., Geneva, was born in Seneca county, N. Y., in 1839, 
was educated in the common schools, and was a truckman. June 29, 1862, he married 
Frances P. Condol of Geneva, and their children are as follows : Margaret E., Herman 
F., Ida A , Arthur, and Alfred. Mrs. Kenney died in the year 1884, and Mr. Kenney 
April 21, 1893. Mr. Kenney was a colored Mason, and was much regarded by all 
classes. His well-known good character brought out at his funeral a large concourse 
of his own people from many parts of the State and his own village. He was a mem- 
ber of Trinity church. The oldest daughter, Margaret E., has had full charge of the 
family since the death of her mother in 1884. 

Knapp, James L., Geneva, son of Z. F., who is one of the leading dentists in Naples, 
was born in that town June 26, 1866. He studied dentistry with his father, and in 
1891 graduated from the New York College of Dentistry, and January 1, 1892, opened 
an office in Geneva, where he is building up a good business. 

Kane, John, Geneva, was born in March, 1838, in County Clare, Ireland, and in 1856 
came to America and located at Gloversville, and was there one year. He then came 
to Geneva, and worked in a nursery twenty-one years. In 1876 he opened a grocery 
store and has carried on that business since, being also a farmer. In 1859 he married 
Ellen Flinn and has eight children, six sons and two daughters. Thomas C, the oldest 
son is lieutenant on the Chicago police force ; the third son is John S., who is in 
Chicago also and a contractor on the Columbian Exposition buildings ; Ellen, wife of 
0. Snyder, lives in New York; Anthony, Peter, Patrick W., George F., and Katie, 
reside in Geneva. The family are members of the Catholic Church. 

Ketcham, James, Gorham, a native of Hector, Schuyler county, was born January 23, 
1837, a son of Benjamin, a eon of Joseph Ketcham, a native of Orange county. Joseph 
served in the war of 1812. Benjamin Ketcham was born in Orange county, December 
28, 1794. In 1850 he purchased the farm which subject now owns. Here he died in 
1876. He was twice married. His first wife was Mrs. Charlotte Allison, by whom he 
had two daughters. He married second Elizabeth Lameraux, of Orange county. By 



314 PITSTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

his second wife he had three sons and three daughters. James Ketcham married in 
] 862, Maria, daughter of Daniel B. Smith, of Orange county. They had twelve children. 
Mr. Smith was born September 28, 1795, and died April 12, 1873. His wife was born 
July 27, 1797, and died August 18, 1878. Subject and wife have two children, Irwin 
S., born May 25, 1867 ; and Elenora S., born February 15, 1 871. Irwin S. was educated 
in Canandaigua Academy, and married Annie I. Mott, of Seneca, and they had one child, 
Claud H. Mr. Ketcham has always been an active Republican, and is a member of 
Reed's Corners Grange of which he has been master for five years. At present he is 
overseer. 

Keyes, B. W., Geneva, was born in Aurelius, Cayuga county. May 15, 1817, and 
when fourteen years of age went to learn the blacksmith's trade. He came to Geneva 
in 1836, and worked for J. H. Squires. In 1842 he opened a blacksmith's shop, and in 
1845 commenced building wagons and has carried on that business since. In 1885 his 
son B. W., jr., became a partner. Mr. Keyes married in 1838 Minerva Van Riper, by 
whom he had seven children, five of whom survive : Nelson was killed in the late war ; 
B. W., jr., was born in January, 1840, and learned the carriage business with his father. 
In 1861 he enlisted in Company H, Thirty -eiglith N. Y. Vols., was wounded at the 
battle of Fredericksburg, and received an honorable discharge. In 1864 he married 
Angeline P. Sanford, and has two children : Lewis W., and Daisey B. He has served 
as trustee of the village, canal collector one term, and is a member of Swift Post, G. 
A. R. No. 94. 

Kent, John, Bristol, a native of Bristol, born December C, 1835, is a sou of Phineas 
Kent. He was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and has made farming his life oc- 
cupation. He owns 180 acres, carries on general farming, and for thirty years has been 
engaged in liop growing. In March, 1865, Mr. Kent married Celesta M. Mason, a na- 
tive of Bristol, and daughter of Frances Mason. To Mr. Kent and wife was born one 
son, Frank H., who was educated in Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, and is now a farmer. 
He married Sarah G. Pennell, a native of Richmond. Subject is independent in poli- 
tics. He has been assessor of Bristol thirteen years. He and family attend the Uni- 
versalist cliurcli at Bristol. 

Kent, Oliver P., Bristol, is a native of Bristol, born August 2, 1833, and a son of 
Phineas, son of Captain John Kent, of Vermont, who came to Bristol about 1790. Here 
he married a Miss Sears, and had four sons and two daughters. His second wife was 
Sally Pitts, and they had two children. Phineas was born in Bristol, October 4, 1804, 
and married Laura A. Gooding, of Bristol, a daughter of Zephaniah W. and Polly 
(Gregg) Gooding, natives of Dighton, Mass., who had two sons and three daughters. 
Mr. Gooding was in the War of 1812, and died in Bristol in 1856. Phineas and wife 
had two sons and two daughters. He was a noted auctioneer for many years. He was 
a drover also and a partner of John W. Taylor, the first man in the country to ship 
cattle by rail. He was justice of the peace thirty years, constable, collector, deputy 
slieriff, highway commissioner, and under sheriff thirty years, overseer of the poor, and 
served one term as sheriff. He was one of the delegates to the convention that nom- 
nated Tilden for governor, and was the only delegate from Ontario county who voted 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 315 

for him. He died January 2, 1891, and his wife January 22, 1S?8, a.t the age of eighty- 
two years. Oliver P. attended Canandaigua Academy, and graduated from Bryant, 
Stratton, and Lusk's Business College of Buffalo. He was first engaged in the mercan- 
tile business at Bristol for two years, and then went to Alton 111., where he was book- 
keeper for Wendt & Pickard and William R. Parker. After four years he engaged in 
the wholesale liquor traffic, which he followed twelve years. He then went to St. 
Louis, Mo., and engaged in the commission business. At the same time he was inter- 
ested in a distillery and flour mill at Elsah, III. In 1873 he returned to Bristol since 
which time he has resided on the old homestead, and followed farming. In politics he 
is a Democrat. 

Ketchum, George W., Victor, was born in Victor, August 10, 1858. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools, Eastman's Business College at Rochester, and is a farmer. 
February 14, 1884, he married Louise, daughter of Nathan and Hannah Rose of this 
town. They have two children: Arthur N., and Eugene H. Mr. Ketchum's father. 
Nelson, was born in Victor, March 14, 1816, was educated in the public schools, and 
was also a farmer. September 18, 1847, he married Nancy, daughter of George and 
Mary Blaney, formerly of Licking county, Ohio, and they had five children: Amelia S., 
Adelia, George W., Charles N., and Marion, who died at the age of thirteen. 

King, Herbert N., Manchester, was born on the old farm April 12, 1863. He re- 
ceived an excellent education in the schools of Manchester and finished at Canandaigua 
Academy. His father, Lorenzo F. King, purchased the farm in 1859 of A. J. Hannan. 
It contains 120 acres of very fine land. Mr. King is a staunch Democrat and a gentle- 
man of considerable ability and energy, and has a host of friends in this county. 

Lucas, Zebina, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, April 24, 1843, a son of H. C. 
Lucas. His early life was spent on the farm, and he received his education in the com- 
mon schools and at Canandaigua Academy. After leaving school he entered the law 
office of Smith & Williams in Canandaigua, where he was at the outbreak of the war. 
In September, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-eighth N. Y. Vols., with 
whom he was at Suffolk, Portsmouth and other places. In the spring of 1863 he was 
assigned on detached service and went on duty as clerk in the provost marshal's office 
in Norfolk, Va., remaining about two years. Returning, he spent a year in New York 
and then returned to his home in Canandaigua, where he has since been employed in 
the American Express office as deputy for his father, H. C. Lucas. In 1880 he married 
E. M. Norton of this town, and they have one son, Fred Z. 

Lamport, Clarence C, Canandaigua, was born in Geneva in 1854, a son of Bishop, 
who was born in Troy in 1823, and came to this country when ten years of age. He 
was a tinsmith by trade. He died in 1891 leaving two children : E. Harry, a dentist of 
New York city ; and Clarence C. The latter was educated in Canandaigua Academy, 
and after leaving schf^ol went into the plumbing establishment of Greely & Davenport 
to learn the trade, which he has ever since followed. In 1887 Mr. Lamport began his 
present business in Canandaigua, which is located in the Atwater block. He has now 
the control of the best work of the village, and has just completed the plumbing and 
steam heating of the new Dwyer block, and also the heating apparatus of the Canan- 



31G HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

daigua Hotel. He carries-a complete stock of everything needed in plumbing, steam, 
and hot water heating, and is always prepared to do new or repair work on shortest 
notice. He is a member of Canandaigua Lodge No. 294 F. & A. M. In 1801 Mr. 
Lamport was appointed sanitary inspector on the Board of Health in this village. 

Lane, Harland H., Canandaigua, was born in Tioga county May 15, 18G3, and was 
educated in Candor Academy. His first occupation after leaving school was as a clerk 
for the D. L. & W. R. R. Co. at Candor. He remained there until 1882, then spent one 
year at Hornellsville with the United States Express Company, and in 1883 came to 
Canandaigua to open an office for the United States Company. He was the cashier for 
them until 1886, when their office was closed here, and Mr. Lane had charge of the 
electric light for the Excelsior Company of Brooklyn until they sold their interests, and 
then he was engaged as secretary of the Canandaigua Water Works Company, which 
office he still holds. January, 1891, he was elected village treasurer, and re-elected in 
1892 without opposition. He is also the secretary and treasurer for the Canandaigua 
Fire Department. He was president of the Merrill Hose Company for two years and 
secretary for three years. He is a member of Canandaigua Lodge F. & A. M. No. 
294 K. of P. ; and of Rochester Lodge B. P. O. Elks No. 24. Mr. Lane married in 
1885 Minnie Howard, of Canandaigua, and they have two children : William Howard, 
and Mary. 

Lucas, Holmes C, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, August 15. 1818, a son of 
Zebina Lucas, who came to this town from Vermont in 1815, among the earliest set- 
tlers of the town. He owned a farm about five miles south of the village, and was a 
man of prominence in his town, having held the office of justice of the peace nineteen 
years. He was supervisor from 1840 to 1846. He married Laura Ingram, daughter of 
Benjamin Ingram, who settled on the lake shore at Monteith's Point, then known as 
Truman's Point, earlier than Mr. Lucas. Zebina had two children. The youngest, 
Alonzo, died in October, 1892, aged seventy-one. Our subject, H. C, has always been 
a farmer, but in 1858 he moved into the village, where he established a business for 
dealing in grain, wool, hops, etc. He is doing a very successful business, handling some 
years as high as 800,000 to 1,000,000 pounds of wool. He is still in active business, but 
does not exert himself to drive it as he did years ago. In 1867 Mr. Lucas secured sub- 
scription for enough stock to have the Merchants' Union Express Company open an of- 
fice here. This was merged into the American Express Company after a few years, 
and Mr. Lucas has ever since been the representative of the company in the town. Mr. 
Lucas was the builder of the Canandaigua elevator, and was for many years the owner 
of the Lucas block. He conducts a farm of 130 acres in Gorham besides attending to 
his other interests. In 1840 he married Sylva Penoyer, by whom he had two children 
one of whom, Laura, died aged twenty. The other child, Zebina, is the assistant agent 
in the express office. Mrs. Lucas died in 1844, and he married second, in 1847, Fanny 
S., daughter of Squire Pratt, of Gorham, and they have one daughter. Mr. Lucas was 
chairman of the School Board when it was decided to build the new Union School 
building, and the town was bonded for $40,000 to erect the building. Mr. Lucas ne- 
gotiated these bonds and sold them at a premium, and paid them up within the specified 
time. 



J'AMILY SKETCHES. 3l7 

Lapham, George E., Farmington, was born in Farmington, October 11, 1848. He 
was educated in the public schools, Macedon and Belville Academies, and is a farmer, 
also makes a specialty of the milk business for the city of Rochester. September 20, 
1870, he married Ida M., daughter of George and Hannah M. Loomis of his native town. 
They have four children : Dircie M., Mary B., Leslie D., and George E., jr. Mr. Lap- 
ham's father, Ehas H., was born in this town in 180S. He was educated in the pub- 
lic schools and Canandaigua Academy, and was a farmer. He married Dircie A. Brown 
of this town, and they had three children : Helen D., died in infancy ; David B., born 
July 2, 18.37, and died May 16, 1889; and George E. His mother died May 2, 1859, 
aged forty-six years. His grandfather, Lsaac Lapham, was born in Berkshire county, 
Mass., in 1777. He came here and located north of the Friend's meeting-house. He 
married Mary, sister of Tared Smith, and they had eight children : Epephras, Elias H., 
Anson S., Ambrose S., Isaac S., Jared S., LucinaS., and Mary E. His great-grandfather, 
David Lapham, was a native of Massachusetts, and his great-grandmother, Judith, died 
in 1846 aged eighty-eight years. 

Long, Leonard, Farmington, was born in the kingdom of Wirtemberg, Germany, Sep- 
tember 17, 1833, and was educated in the common scliools. In 1859 he married Cath- 
erine Schmidt of his native place, and came to the United States in September, 1860, 
and soon after located in Farmington. They had two children : Rose, who died when 
she was four and one-half years old ; and Leonard, jr., born October 8, 1876, is a bright 
farmer, and is now a student in the Friends' College at Union Springs. Mr. and Mrs. 
Long own a splendid home and farm, the result of sobriety, energy, good judgment 
and industry. Mr. Long is a Democrat. 

Lutze, Dr. F. H., Canandaigua, was born in Bevergern, Province of Westphalia, 
Prussia, and came to this country, where he enlisted in the First New York Vol. Eng. 
Corps, November 16, ISHl. He was discharged November 16, 1864 at Varina, Va. He 
is a graduate of the New York Homoeopathic Medical College of New York. He has 
the clinic for nervous diseases and the diseases of children in the Brooklyn Homoeo- 
pathic Hospital on Cumberland street, and the clinic of digestive, renal and nervous 
diseases in the Brooklyn Eastern District Homoeopathic Dispensary, 194 South 3d street, 
between Driggs and Roebling streets. He translated Hahnemann's essay on the " Rep- 
etition of the Homteopathic Remedy " from the German into English ; also " Antipsonic 
Remedies"; "Intercurrent Remedies for Chronic Diseases" ; and " Remedies for Dis- 
turbances of the Antip'onic Cure" from the German of Dr. C. von Boenninghausen. 
These were all published in the IlomoeopatJiic Physician, a journal edited by Dr. E. J. 
Lee and W. M. James, 1889, Vol. 9, Philadelphia. In the same journal he published in 
1890 an article entitled " Duration of Action and Antidotes of the Principal Homcco- 
pathic Remedies." This was afterwards also published in pamphlet form and had a 
lar"-e circulation. In 1891 it was translated into the Italian by Dr. G. Pampili and pub- 
lished in his journal Rivista Omiopafica, Roma, Maggio, 1891, a copy of which was sent 
to him. He has also contributed articles to the following medical magazines and jour- 
nals: The United States Medical Investigator, The Medical Current, The Journal of 
Homa'opathics, The Ilommopathic Physician, &nd The Medical Advance. 



^18 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Lee, Father Patrick, Clifton Springs, was born in Ireland March 6, 1818. He was 
liberally educated in the High schools of Ireland, and at the University of Worcester, 
Mass., and St. Joseph College, Buffalo, N. Y. He was ordained June 30, 185G. Father 
Lee has been stationed at East and West Bloomfield and his first mission was at Vic- 
tor. He was stationed here in 18G2, having now had charge of the Clifton Springs 
church and mission for over thirty years. Father Lee is a gentleman of broad and 
liberal views and of sound judgment. 

Lobdell, Burton H., Victor, was born on the old homestead three miles southeast of 
the village March 18, 1846. He was educated in the public schools and Eastman's 
Commercial College, Rochester, and is a farmer. March 17, 1873, he married Amelia 
Ketchum, of Victor, and they have two children : Nelson L., and Marion F. Mr. 
Lobdell's father, Jacob L., was also born on the old homestead in 1819. In 1845 he 
married Joanna Farr, formerly of Canandaigua, and they have four children : Burton 
H., Byron J., Oliver L., and Frances M. Byron J. is in Los Angeles, California. Mr. 
Lobdell's grandfather was born in Stockbridge, Mass., March 14, 1771, and came to 
this town at an early day. He was the first white man that wintered in the town, and 
was the first supervisor of Victor, was justice of the peace several years, and was a man 
of good judgment. He married Hannah Boughton, who was born April G, 1775, and 
had fourteen children. lie died November 12, 1847, and his wife April 6, 184G. 

Lindner, Frank, Clifton Springs, October 8, 1856. He is engaged in a meat market, 
having succeeded his father who inaugurated the business here many years ago. Mr. 
Lindner is erecting a new block at Chfton Springs at present, into which he will soon 
move his business. He married Annie Harbor, and they have one daughter. Mr. 
Lindner has served as inspector of elections, trustee of the fire company, etc., and is a 
staunch Democrat. Edward Lindner was born at Clifton Springs, August 20, 1885. 
He is associated with his brother in the business, conducting the upper market. His 
wife was Barbara Nicket, of Rochester, and they have two children, Mrs. Lindner 
died in February, 1892. 

Lincoln, Lewis C, Gorham, was born in Gorham, June 8, 1866, a son of Flavins L., 
a son of Henry, a son of Otis who settled on the farm on which subject resides and 
which has been in the family since 1804. Henry was born in Otsego county, and when 
a boy came to Gorham. His wife was Louisa Wood and they had nine children. Fla- 
vins L. was born in Gorham. His wife was Mary A. Hubbell, of Canandaigua, born 
December 25, 1833. Her parents, Blisha and Nancy Hubbell, were natives of Beikshire 
Co., Mass., and came to Canandaigua about 1812. They have three sons and seven 
daughters. Mr. Hubbell was a lieutenant in the War of 1812, and died in 1865 aged 
eighty-seven. His wife died in 1873 aged eighty-four. To Mr. Lincoln and wife were 
born two sons, Lewis ('., and Burr W. He died in Gorham March 25, 1885. Lewis C. 
was educated in Canandaigua Academy and in 1888 he married Lillian L., daughter of 
S. B. Douglas, and they had one child, Gertrude M., who died aged two years. Mrs. 
Lincoln died September 3, 1891. Mr. Lincoln is a Republican nnn is justice of peace. 
Burr W. Lincoln was born April 26, 1868. and educated in Canandaigua Academy. He 
resided on the old homestead until his death September, 1887. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 319 

Leonard, Charles D., Geneva, was born in London, Canada, Jane 18, 1867, and came 
to the United States with his parents when less than a year old. They located in Roch- 
chester, where Charles D. was educated in the public schools and in Williams's Com- 
mercial College. Soon after the completion of his education he became interested in 
the nursery business. He has been a resident of Geneva four years and is secretary of 
the Rupert stock farm nurseries of the town of Seneca, having an office on Seneca 
street, Geneva. These nurseries are celebrated for the best fruits. Mr. Leonard has 
entire control and charge of the large force of salesmen traveling in the United States 
and Canada. Mr. Leonard has recently returned from an extensive trip in Europe, 
where he visited the largest and best horticultural gardens in England and France, 
among others the famous Kew, the greatest in the world. He has given the nursery 
business his closest study and attention both in Rochester and Geneva. The n-irsery 
has 450 acres. 

Lane, the late Jacob, father of Ellen M., was born in the town of Charlestown, Va., 
June 25, 1797, and moved with his parents to Canada sometime before the war of 1812. 
The family espoused the cause of the Americans. In consequence of this event their 
property was confiscated. The family came to the United States, locating in the town 
of Victor. Jacob, her father, enlisted in the American army, and was honorably dis- 
charged at its close. He married, and had six children: Andrew J., George W., Ellen 
M., who is a noted school teacher; Charles L., Isaac B., and Ambrose T. Mr. Lane died 
December 24, 1889. Ellen M. resides on the old homestead in the town of Farmington. 
Her grandfather, Thomas, married and had nine children : Peter, Jacob, John, Eleanor, 
Hannah, Catharine, Margaret. Betsey and Mary. Miss Lane has taught school eight 
years and was the first assistant in the Union School of Canandaigua, but recently re- 
signed to care for an invalid at home. Mrs. Jacob Lane died October 24, 1889. 

Loomis, Henry H., Geneva, was born in Geneva on the old homestead near the ex- 
periment station, January 14, 1817, and was educated in the district schools of that day 
and Geneva Lyceum. He is a farmer and real estate operator, owning many thousand 
acres of laud in the Western States. In 1836 he purchased from the government in 
Michigan at $1.25 per acre, also in 1844 from the Michigan Central Railway scrip at 
thirty-eight cents on the dollar for many acres. In 1849 he began to buy the bounty 
land warrants of the Mexican war, continuing doing so for many years. In 1852 he 
began to purchase in Western Texas bounty land warrants, locating them in Michigan. 
Mr. Loomis's father, Jerome, was born at Lebanon, Conn., in 1756, and came to this 
State June 1, 1788. In 1798 he married Elizabeth Tippetts of this State, and they had 
twelve children : Jerome, Martha, Irene, William, Anson C, Elizabeth, Homer, 
Stephen T., Henry H.,Mary J. (who died in infancy), Mary J. 2d, and Cordelia C. 
The first home was built where Mr. Loomis and sisters reside, near the experiment 
station on the pre-emption road in 1793. Mr. Loomis's father, Jerome, was a soldier in 
the Revolutionary war, under General Stark, and helped to capture General Burgoyne. 
He died in April, 1840, and his wife in 1857. Henry H. Loomis has never married. 

Marsh, Enoch 0., Phelps, one of six children of Samuel and Milanthe (Hall) Mar,«h. 
was born in Phelps, March 3, 1846. Samuel, the father, was also born in Phelps, 



320 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

where he died in 1877 at eighty years of age. Hosea, the grandfather, was born in 
Guilford in l!^7() and came to Phelps in 1804, where he built a log house. He spent 
the remainder of his life here, dying at the age of eighty-three years. The great-grand- 
father, William Marsh, was born in Vermont, his ancestors coming from England and 
settling there at an early date. Milanthe Hall, the mother, was a daughter of John 
Hall. Her grandfather was a soldier and was killed during the Revolutionary war. 
Enoch 0. married in December, 1867, Emma Loveredge of Phelps, daughter of William 
and Mary Burnett of Schoharie county. Mr. Marsh is a representative citizen, and has 
served as justice of the peace for eight years. His farm of nearly 100 acres is used 
largely for grain. 

Martin, Jacob, Hopewell, was born in Rush, Monroe county, November 3, 1820. 
His father was John, a native of Maryland, who came with his parents to Monroe 
county, and there lived and died. His wife was Mary Moyers, and they reared six 
children. Jacob Martin was raised on a farm, and at the age of twenty-one went to 
Henrietta and engaged in the manufacture of carriages, which he followed until 1861, 
when he came to Chapinville and soon afterward began the manufacture of spokes, 
hubs, etc. He is at present in business with Albert S. Glass & Son, carriage wheel 
manufacturers. They employ 150 men, and have a greater output than any other fac- 
tory in the State. October 24, 1847, Mr. Martin married Emeline Dennis, a native of 
Kennebec county, Me., born in 1826. Her parents, Jacob and Nancy (Longfellow) 
Dennis, came to Henrietta in 1847 and in 1849 went to Canandaigua. The father of 
Mrs. Dennis, Stephen Longfellow, was a cousin of Henry W. Longfellow. Mr. Dennis 
and wife had seven children, five of whom are living. The children of Mr. Martin are : 
Mary I. (deceased), Isabella, Edward D., and Emma D. Mr. Martin is a Republican. 
Mrs. Martin and daughters are members of the Universalist church at Clifton Springs. 

Merrill, F. B., Canandaigua, is a native of Belknap county, N. H., and came to On- 
tario county in 1887 from New York, where he had been a dealer in malt, hops and bar- 
ley. He established a market of the same products in this town, in which he is still 
engaged. In 1891 Mr. Merrill purchased the old road bed of the Geneva and South- 
western Railroad from Geneva to Naples, and in the early part of 1892 the Middlesex 
Valley Railroad Company was incorporated, and the work of construction was com- 
menced in June, 1892. The road from Stanley to Naples was completed and opened to 
the public August 29, 1892. Mr. Merrill is president of the construction company that 
built the road and resident director of the railroad company ; he is also president of the 
Central City Water Works of Syracuse. 

McArthur, James, Canandaigua, superintendent and manager of the Vanderbilt Sash 
Balance Co. (incorporated in Canandaigua in 1872), is a native of Canandaigua, where 
he was born in 1853. After leaving school he engaged in the furniture business, which 
he has always been interested in up till 1888. In 1886 he got out a patent for a sash 
balance, which he sold, and it is now manufactured at Rochester by the Pullman Sash 
Balance Co. In January, 1890, he was the patentee of the Perfection Sash Balance, 
which is also manufactured at Rochester. The same year he made an improvement on 
the Pullman patent, which he sold to the company. In 1891 he patented a spring fruit 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 321 

grate for shipping fruit, which avoids all jarring in shipping the fruit. This is manufac- 
tured in Rochester. His next device in 1892 was a car brake and truck which he sold, 
and it is a success. In 1892 Mr. McArthur devised and patented the Yanderbilt Sash 
Balance, and after selling to the company in Canandaigua, he was employed to come 
here and act as superintendent of the manufacture, he retaining a large interest in the 
work. 

Mather, Charles E., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, February 8, 1863. He is 
a son of George C, a farmer of this town, born in Middlesex, Yates county, June 16, 
1835, who came to Canandaigua in 1850, when he bought the farm now occupied by 
Charles R. He married in 1850 Malvira A., daughter of John Adams of Middlesex, by 
whom he has five children: John L., a mechanic of Shortsville; Rebecca J., wife of 
Thomas M. Weatherwax of Carrol county, III; Sarah R., wife of Frederick Douglass of 
Canandaigua; Alice N., wife of C. F. Robertson of Canandaigua, and Charles R. Mr. 
Mather has always taken an active interest in politics and has been excise commissioner 
twelve years. Charles R. is recognized as one of the leading Republicans of his district, 
and has twice been selected member of the County Executive Committee. He married 
in 1884 Louisa, daughter of George Stearns, a merchant of Rushville, by whom he has 
two children : Leah and Helen. The old homestead contains 142 acres, the principal 
crops being grain and fruit. They are also breeders of horses. 

Moody, Robert, Seneca, was born on his father's homestead in this town in 1829. 
He was educated in the common schools, and has always followed farming. He was 
assessor of the town three years and was elected supervisor in 1876, serving six years. 
In 1887 he was elected member of assembly, serving two years. November 15, 1854, 
he married Mary A. Stokoe, of this town, and they have had five children ; only one 
son survives, Edward L., who is a farmer in this town. Mr. Moody's father, Benjamin, 
was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1775, and came to the United States in 1795, 
first locating near Sing Sing, where he remained nine years. He came to Ontario 
county in 1804 and received title to his homestead from James Wadsworth in 1806. 
He married twice ; first we have no record ; she died early. For his second wife he 
married Mrs. Ann (Millspaugh) Ferguson, and they had four children : Ann M., Mary 
J., Harriet D. and Robert. Mr. Moody's father died in 1847 and his mother in 1874. 
Mrs. Moody's father, William Stokoe, was born in England about 1797, came to the 
United States with his parents in 1801, and married Jane Martin of this State. They 
had six children : Thomas, John, Edward, William, Elizabeth and Mary. Her father 
and mother are both deceased. 

Morrell, William N., Geneva, was born in Ripon, Yorkshire, England, February 17, 
1850. He was educated in the Grammar School of that place, and was a carriage man- 
ufacturer. He learned his trade with his father, and came to the United States in 1869, 
locating in Rochester, where he entered the employ of the Cunningham Carriage Co. 
He visited England in 1875, and returned to the United States and to Rochester in 
1879. In 1881 he became a partner in the Waterloo Wagon Co. In 1889 he became 
associated with Charles A. Eddy, of Seneca Falls, in the constructing and patenting of 
an iron arch for the cut under wagons. Mr. Morrell was president of this company. 



322 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

April 23, 1891, they sold to the Geneva Carriage Co., they having a capital of $50,000. 
Since that time, in December, 1891, Messrs. Morrell and Eddy have patented a coach 
gear, or fore carriage, which is used exclusively by this company. November 26, 1886, 
he married Miss E. A. Johnson, of Waterloo. 

McTeggan, James, Canandaigua, was born in Beauharnois, Canada, March 20, 1829. 
When six years of age his parents moved to Ogdensburg, where his father, George, en- 
gaged in farming. He afterwards moved to Waterloo, and in 1844 went into the 
employment of the Auburn and Rochester R. R. Company, making his home in Water- 
loo. In 1848 he moved to Geneva, where he died in February, 1873, in his seventieth 
year. He left four children : Ann Jane, widow of John T. Scoon, of Geneva ; George, 
an engineer on the N. Y. C. R R. Co.; Mary, wife of Cornelius A. Hemiup, of Geneva ; 
and James. James was educated in the common schools and academies at Seneca 
Falls and Waterloo. After leaving school he engaged in farming in Waterloo for five 
years. In 1847 he entered the employ of the Auburn and Rochester R. R. as baggage 
master and mail carrier. From Geneva he went to Newark, N. Y., where he was 
station agent for the N. Y. C. for two years, and in 1855 came to Canandaigua as 
station agent, remaining nine years, then went to Suspension Bridge as freight agent 
for the same company, where he was located until 1880. That year he moved to Buf- 
falo, where he acted as general western freight agent for the N. Y. C. & H. R. R., a 
position he held for twelve years, returning to Canandaigua in 1892, where he bought 
his present farm and beautiful residence. This is a fine fruit farm of forty-seven acres, 
formerly owned by Cong Lanefort, on which forty years ago Abner Antis built the 
beautiful stone mansion, considered one of the finest in the town. On this farm in 1887 
an attempt was made to reach natural gas, which was partially successful. Mr. Mc- 
Teggan now has the use of gas from this well for heating and cooking. Mr. McTeggan 
married in 1852 Elizabeth Le Gard, by whom he had two children, one now living, 
Mrs. John Burke, of Niagara Falls. Mrs. McTeggan died in I860, and he married 
second in 1862, Anna Wilson, of Canandaigua. They have one child living, John S., 
a clerk for the N. Y. C. R. R. at Buffalo. One child, Lizzie, died May 3, 1878, in her 
eleventh year. 

Monagle, William, Gorham, a native of Gorham, was born in 1814, a son of John, 
who was a native of Maryland and came to Gorham in an early day. He married 
Susan Armstrong, by whom he had five children. William was reared on a farm and 
educated in the common schools. In 1844 he married Elizabeth Marks, a native of 
Rockland county, born July 29, 1828. Her parents Avere Jacob and Elizabeth Marks, 
who reared four daughters and two sons, and lived and died in Rockland county. Mr. 
Monagle has a farm of 148 acres, which he has greatly improved. He is a Democrat, 
and cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. He and wife are members of the Presby- 
terian church at Seneca. They have had six children, only two of whom survive : 
Oliver, who married Nettie Billborough, and has two children, George and Robert ; 
and Eugene W., who married Marietta Dillenbeck, and has three children, Emma D., 
Ward and Leland. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 323 

MacKay, John, Geneva, was born in 1813 in the South of Scotland, and in 1838 
came to America, landing in Geneva with but twenty-five cents in his pocket. For 
two years he worked on a farm and saved about $300, then went into a drug store in 
Geneva as clerk for several year?. He spent five years in a drug store in Penn Yan, 
then returned to Geneva and was salesman in a lumber yard for a few years. In 1861 
he in company with Dr. Conger, bought the lumber yard and there carried on busi- 
ness until 1878, when he bought Mr. Conger's interest and carried on business until 
1885, when he retired. In 1844 he was united in marriage with Emily Hayes 
of this town, and they had one child, Janette Sophia. His wife died October 26, 1883. 
The family are members of the Presbyterian church, in which Mr. MacKay has been an 
elder over a quarter of a century, and has done much towards building up the society. 

Morse, Edward H., Canandaigua, was born on a farm in Canandaigua, October 16, 
1816. His grandfather, Isaac, was born near New Haven, Connecticut, April 1, 1757, 
and in 1809 bought a farm of fifty acres in Canandaigua, which has ever since been in 
the hands of this family. Isaac married Charlotte Grant, also of New England, and 
they had seven children, of whom Orlando was the oldest son. He was born in Con- 
necticut December 21, 1790. He was orderly sergeant in the war of 1812, and was at 
the battle of Lundy's Lane. He married January 26, 1816, Sarah, daughter of Moses 
Hawley, a farmer of Canandaigua, and they had four children who reached adult age: 
John, a merchant, who died May 20, 1864; Catherine S., and Martha A., who lives in 
Canandaigua; and Edward. The latter was educated in the common schools, and on 
reaching his majority worked his father's farm on shares one year, and the next year 
took one adjoining. In 1848 he bought a farm in East Bloomfield, which he conducted 
five years, then returned to the old homestead, where he remained until Christmas 
1870, when the old home was destroyed by fire. In 1871 he bought his present farm 
of 130 acres, where the next year he built a beautiful residence. Mr. Morse has always 
been a staunch Republican, but never an aspirant for public office. He married in 1838 
Lurana M. Buck of East Bloomfield, and they had three children : Albert H., who lives 
on his father's farm; Ellen Augusta, who died March 15, 1892; and John E., who 
Hves on the old homestead. Mrs. Morse died April 9, 1853, and Mr. Morse married 
again June 7, 1855, Jane E., daughter of Asa Hawley, a farmer of Canandaigua, and 
they have had two children : Jane, who died in January, 1874, in her eighteenth 
year; and Edmund Henry, a clerk in a jobbing house in New York city. 

Mowry, Royal H., East Bloomfield, a native of Madison county, born March 12, 
1823, is a son of Augustus, a son of Sylvanus, a native of Connecticut and an early 
settler of Madison county, where he died. Augustus was born in Connecticut in 
1783, and came to Madison county when young. He married Polly Hazelton of 
Madison county, by whom he had seven sons and two daughters. Mr. Mowry died 
May 13, 1843. Hoyal H. was educated in the common schools, and married Polly, 
daughter of Joseph and Polly (Jones) Stafi'ord, pioneers of Madison county, and to 
Mr. Mowry and wife were born three children : Cornelia, who married T. A. John- 
son of West Bloomfield; Clinton D., born June 7, 1848, who was twice married. 
First to Ehza Frost, and second to Ella, daughter of Randolph McMickel, by whom 



324 HISTORY OP ONTARIO COUNTY. 

he has two children: Mabel and Roy. He is a farmer, and for the last twenty-six 
years has resided in East Bloomfield. The third child of subject was Alice A., who 
married Lorin Webster, and had one son. Mrs. Webster died in 1886. In 1888 
Clinton D. and father came to the farm they now own, and have since greatly improved 
it. Subject is a Republican, but not an aspirant to office. 

McCarthy, Mrs. Carrie A. U., Victor. Mrs. McCarthy's late father, Josiah Upton, 
was born on the old Upton farm north of the village, and occupied now by Jeremiah 
W. Hawkins. He was educated in the public schools and Lima Seminary, and was a 
farmer and produce dealer by occupation. In September, 1836, he married Sophia 
Roe, formerly of Massachusetts, and they had three children: Maria P., William R., 
and Carrie A., who married John McCarthy, and had three children : George E., John 
N., and Ralph E., residing a home with their mother. Mr. McCarthy died October 31, 
1885. Mrs. McCarthy's grandfather, James Upton, came from Charlemont, Mass., and 
located on the farm, purchasing it for $12 per acre. He was the first poormaster in 
the town of Victor. He married Olive Boughton, and had thirteen children : Olive, 
Achsah, Josiah, William W., James, Edward, Uri, Caroline, Mary, Charles, Alvira and 
Maria, one died in infancy. Mr. McCarthy's brother, William R., was a soldier in the 
late war in the Fifth Ohio Vols., and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. 

Metcalf, J. Henry, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua June 25, 1857, a son of 
Jabez H., a lawyer of that town, admitted to the bar in 1843. The whole life of our 
subject has been spent in this village, where he was educated in the Canandaigua Acad- 
emy. When he was eighteen years of age he began to read law in his father's office, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1878, passing his examination in June, about a week 
before reaching his majority. He opened an office in this village, and has ever since 
enjoyed a lucrative practice. January 2, 1890, Mr. Metcalf was appointed by Governor 
Hill county judge of Ontario, to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Secretary of 
State Rice. The following fall he was elected to the position over Dwight C. Backen- 
stose of Geneva, his term expiring in 1896. He is a director of the Canandaigua Na- 
tional Bank. 

McCarthy, M.D.. C. D., Geneva, son of Charles T. and Catherine (Mc'Kean) McCar- 
thy, was born December 24, 1860, in Canandaigua, where he was educated at the 
academy. He graduated in 1882 from the Genesee Normal School, and in 1888 grad- 
uated from the University of Buffalo. He practiced one year in Kansas City, and 
then settled in Geneva, and December 30, 1891, married May B., daughter of John 
O'Neill of East Bloomfield. Dr. McCarthy is a member of the County Medical So- 
ciety. 

Murray, Thomas, Canadice, was born in Killeighy, County Down, Ireland, May 3, 
1834, and came with his grandmother to this county in 1844, on the sailing ship Ger- 
rick, landing in New York after twenty-four days. They came to South Bristol, where 
he lived until the age of seventeen, then went to Bristol and married in 1853 Sarah, 
daughter of Samuel Gracey, also a native of County Down. They have six children: 
Robert of Dakota; Edward, who married and lives in Bristol; Susan, wife of Dennis 
Riordan of Bristol; William, married and lives in Bristol; Frank, married and lives in 



I'AMILY SKETCHES. 325 

Canadice Corners ; and Eliza, wife of John Savage of Richmond. In September 1862 
Mr. Murray enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-eighth N. Y. Vols, and 
was discharged in August, 1865. He was in several engagements, the principal of 
which was at Cold Harbor, where he was wounded. After his recovery he was in 
detached service in Washington as wardmaster and hospital steward in Finlay General 
Hospital. He was also detailed to take the census of the colored population in three 
counties in Virginia, and later in the engineer department as overseer under a civil 
engineer in the building of fortifications, part of the time having 380 contrabands under 
him. He is a member of the Gr. A. R., Hazen Post, No. 518, of Springwater. After 
the war he returned to Bristol and engaged in farming, coming to Canadice in 1882 
and now living at the Corners, where he has a farm of sixteen acres, three of which are 
in hops. He is a Mason, and for five years has been master of Eagle Lodge No. 619, 
F. & A. M., of Honeoye. He has been assessor eight years, and is justice of the peace. 
He has always been a Republican. 

McKnutt, the late Isaac, was born in the town of Manchester April 27, 1833. He 
was educated in the common schools and followed farming. March 14, 1859, he mar- 
ried Eliza, daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Miller, formerly of St. Lawrence county. 
She came here with her mother when she was seven years old. They had four chil- 
dren, one died in infancy, three survive : Isaac F., who manages the farm for his 
mother and the family ; Susie A., who married Nelson C. Reeves of East Henrietta, 
Monroe county, and Louie M., who resides at home. Isaac McKnutt died May 8, 1892. 
Mr. McKnutt's father, Robert, was born in 1805, in the town of Manchester, and mar- 
ried Angeline Stafford of his native town. They had seven children : Pauline J., 
Phoebe A., Isaac, Belinda E., Emily M., Augusta A., and Augustus R. Robert Mc- 
Knutt died December 8, 1883. Mrs. McKnutt's father, Martin Miller, was born in 
Scotland about the year of 1804. Her father married Elizabeth Cabalon, and had five 
children: Joseph, Annie, Mary H., Jennie and Eliza. 

Meath, Bernard, Canandaigua, was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, in 1826, and 
came to this country in 1847. He first located on the west shore of Canandaigua Lake, 
then spent six years with Theodore Pomeroy in Farmington for $156 per year. He 
kept a small store in Cheshire for eight years, and in 1861 bought the Stiles farm 
of 110 acres, and the following year bought the Simmons farm of seventy five acres, 
making one large farm of 185 acres, on which he has made many improvements. 
In 1874 he built one of the finest residences on the Middle Road, and since then 
he has built barns and other outbuildings, until now he has one of the finest homes 
in Canandaigua. The principal products of the farm are grain, and hay, and stock. 
He married in 1849 Ann Coney, who died m 1874, and he took for his second wife 
Mary Cougevan of Canandaigua, by whom he had seven children : Bernard, Mary, 
Nora, James, Ann, Mathew and John. Mr. Meath has always taken an active inter- 
est in politics, in which he has worked for the success of the Democratic party. 

Munson, Frederick, East Bloom field, was born July 27, 1809, a son of Anson and 
Hulda (Dowd) Munson. Anson was born in Goshen, Conn., in 1774, and in 1799 came 
to East Bloomfield and purchased six acres of land, built a tannery, and there lived 



326 HtStORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

the remainder of his hfe, dying in 1849. His wife died in August, 1861. Their chil- 
dren were : Harlow, born October 31, 1799; Mary, born March 11, 1801; Betsey, born 
May 27, 1803; Henry, born May 8. 1805; Luther, born September 23, 1807; Fred- 
erick, born July 27, 1809; Ruth E., born April 27, 1811; Hiram, born May 30, 1814; 
WilHam, born May 22, 1816; Edwin, born April 28, 1818; Emily J., born August 17, 
1820, died aged twenty-three. Frederick received a district school education and at 
the age of twenty-one began life for himself in the tannery with his brother, Luther. 
After two years he bought 114 acres of land, afterwards sold fifteen acres, and later 
bought the old homestead, making 223 acres in all. In 1849 he sold out and moved to 
the village, and in 1852 engaged with R. F. Adams in the mercantile business, remain- 
ing five years. He served as supervisor from 1861 to 1866 and is a Republican. He 
has been twice married, first to Olive, daughter of Timothy and Lucy (Rice) Buell. They 
had four children : Lansing and George of Brooklyn ; Buell, who enlisted in the 
Twenty-sixth New York Volunteers in August, 1861, was wounded at Fredericksburg, 
and died in January, 1863, at Lincoln Hospital, Washington ; and Frank. Mrs. Mun- 
son died May 26, 1884, and he married second Florinda Hobart. They are members of 
the Congregational church. 

Nelson, Omri, Victor, was born in Rupert, Vt, November 27, 1814, and came with his 
parents to Henrietta, Monroe county, when less than two years old. Sometime after- 
ward they moved to Centrefield, in the town of Canandaigua, where he was educated 
in the district schools, but has always been a farmer until the year of 1885, when he 
retired. He has married twice, first on December 6, 1838, Jemima Boughton of the 
town of Victor. They had six children : Irene, Harriet, Julia, Ruth, Ann, and Wilbur. 
His first wife died May 2, 1884, and he married second, April 30, 1885, Mrs. Mary 
(Cronk) Benson of Victor. She has two children, both daughters : Mrs. Ella Rawson 
and Carrie E. Benson. Mr. Benson was killed in the late war. Mr. Nelson's father, 
Calvin, was also born at Rupert, Vt., and married Ruth Remington, sister to the orig- 
inal inventor of the famous Remington rifle, and they had nine children : Ruth, Lester, 
Calvin, Sally, Diantha, Melton, George, Thomas and Annie. Mr. Nelson has been an 
active member of the Methodist church since he was fourteen years old, and of the 
Methodist church of Victor since 1838, class reader and steward as long as he was able 
to attend to the duties. His first wife was a member until she died, so is also his pres- 
ent wife. In politics he is a Republican. 

North, Robinson D., Canandaigua, was born in Goshen, Conn., August 14, 1818, 
a son of Israel, who came to Ontario county in 1820 and settled on a farm in East 
Eloomfield, where he died in 1843. He had eight children, four of whom survive : 
Nelson H., a retired merchant of Syracuse ; John D., a manufacturer of Denver, Col. ; 
Eliza J., wife of Charles Higby of Syracuse ; and Robinson D. The early life of the 
latter was spent in East Bloomfield. He was educated in the common schools and 
Canandaigua Academy, and after leaving school he followed farming until 1880, when 
he established the manufacture of grape boxes, which business he now conducts. The 
factory is located in lower Mam street, where it at one time employed a number of 
hands, but the innovation of grape baskets has caused a falling off of the trade in boxes. 



i 

FAMILY SKETCHES. 327 

Mr. North is a prominent figure of the business men of this town, and it is said of him 
he has many friends and few enemies. He has been a member of the Canandaigua 
Board of Health and has always taken an active interest in church work, and is now 
an elder in the Presbyterian church of Canandaigua. While in Bloomfield he was a 
trustee of the Congregational church. Mr. North married in 1839, Ora, daughter of 
Josiah Chatfield, a native of Massachusetts, w^ho followed farming at Auburn N. Y. 
They have two children: Charlotte Elizabeth, widow of Philip Vandenburg of Canan- 
daigua, and Lydia M., wife of David S. Willyr of Canandaigua. At his death in 1878 
Phdip Vandenburg left two daughters : Ora H., a student of Detroit Normal School • 
and Mabel L. 

Outhouse, Orrin, Canandaigua, was born at Peekskill, on the Hudson, April 1.5 18.32. 
The grandfather was one of the most extensive land owners of West Chester county 
and had a large family. William, his son, was born at Peekskill, September 4, 1798. 
In 1834 he came to Ontario county, locating near Cheshire, where he lived but a year, 
then bought a farm of 186 acres on lot twenty-eight in Canandaigua where he died, 
William Outhouse was married in 1818 to Rebecca Fields of Peekskill, by whom he 
had eleven children, eight of whom survive. Orrin moved with his parents to Canan- 
daigua, where he has always lived. He assisted his father on the farm until nineteen 
years of age, when he started in life for himself, and farmed in different places until 
1863, when he bought a farm of 100 acres on lot thirty in Canandaigua. After about 
two years there removed to the old homestead, where he lived until 1880, when he 
bought his present farm of eighty-seven acres. He married in 1865 Melvina Debow 
daughter of Ansel and A. Melvina (Stanley) Debow, and they have three children : 
Franc M., wife of Mark Gourley, a farmer of Farmington ; Nellie J., wife of James 
Steele, a farmer of East Bloomfield ; and Clara A., wife of W. Charles Dryer, a farmer 
of Victor. Mr. Outhouse has never taken great interest in public affairs, devoting his 
time and energy to his farm. 

O'Leary, Patrick, West Bloomfield, was born February 17, 1845, in County Cork, 
Ireland, a son of Humphrey and Mary (O'Neil) O'Leary. He came with his parents to 
this country in 1849, locatmg first in Richmond and later in Victor, where his father 
died in 1881. They had, besides Patrick, s'x children : Joanna, wife of James Appleton ; 
El'en, wife of Daniel Webster ; and Humphrey, all now in Michigan ; Mary, wife of 
Polk O'Neil; Catharine, widow of Thomas McNaraara; and Margaret, wife of Philip 
Scully. Patrick was educated at the common schools, and worked at home and by the 
month until of age, when he worked a farm at Victor three years. In 1872 he with 
his father purchased a farm in the latter town, and in 1874 removed to Miller's Corners 
where he has since been engaged more or less in the produce business and in farming. 
He was elected on the Republican ticket supervisor for the years 1890-91. He married 
June 12, 1845, Eliza Toomey, of this town. They have no children. 

Ottley, Samuel P., Seneca, was born on the old homestead, Seneca Castle. He was 
educated in the schools of his day, and has been a good farmer. May 15, 1847, he 
married Sarah M. Williams, of Seneca Castle, and they have had six children : Franklin, 
Charles, Edna Arvilla, Elsie L., Frederick S., Albert C, Nina M. who died in infancy. 



328 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Franklin married Mary E. Spangle, of Hopewell, and they have eight children : George 
H., Sarah E., F. Maude, Elsie M., Samuel A., Charles F., Hattie B. and Edwin C. Elsie 
L. married Joseph Brizzee, of the town of Hopewell, where they reside. Frederick G. 
married Mary C. Wilson, of this town, and had one son, Albert W. Mrs. Ottley is de- 
ceased. Albert C. married Bertha L. Vangelder, of this town, and have had two chil- 
dren, Mildred and Marie. Mr. Ottley's father, Thomas, was born in Yorkshire, England, 
in 1788, and came with his parents and brother to the United States m 1805, locating 
in the woods in Seneca Castle when there were no crossroads or bridges. He married 
Lucinda Porter, of Seneca, and had fourteen children : William, Deborah, Lucinda, 
Thomas, Joshua P., Samuel P., Jane P., Arvilla B., Edwin and a twin of his who died 
in infancy, Charles and Mary, and twins who died in infancy. Mr. Ottley's father, 
Thomas, was member of assembly in year of 1831, also was superintendent of Ontario 
county thirty years, and was surveyor of land, administrator in settlement of estates, 
and wrote deeds, mortgages and other writings in sale and purchase of land ; was in 
public office most of his life. Mrs. Ottley's father, Valentine Williams, was born in the 
town of Pompey, Onondaga county, February 14, 1797, and married Elsie Hewitt, of 
Waterbury, Conn., January 1, 1818, and had four children: Mortimer, who died in in- 
fancy ; Mortimer 2d, Sarah M. and Charles V. Her father died January 20, 1867; her 
mother June 25, 1876. Her brother Charles was a soldier in the late war and was in 
fifteen general battles. 

Osborne, David H., Victor, was born in the town of Austerlitz, Columbia county, 
November 11, 1819. He received a common and academic education. He came to 
Victor at the age of sixteen years and was a clerk in a general store for a while, return- 
ing to finish his studies. Afterwards he came to Rochester, where he entered the mer- 
cantile business until 1845, when he came to Victor where for a short time he conducted 
a general store, retiring from business to take charge of the real estate interests of the 
family, with this exception living a retired life. January 5, 1847, he married Lavina 
A., daughter of William and Lavina Bushnell, of this town. They reside on the home- 
stead. They have had four children : William B., who married Laura V. McDonald, of 
Rochester; Cora B. resides at home with her parents; Carrie B. married Mark T. 
Powell, an attorney of Canandaigua; and Henry B., who died when nearly three years 
old. Mr. Osborne's father, David, was born in East Hampton, L. I., and went to Co- 
lumbia county when a young man. He married Polly Wright, of that county, and had 
five children: Samuel W., Mary M., John W., David H. and Harriet A. Mr. Osborne 
is a member of the Presbyterian church, holds the position of deacon and elder, and is 
interested in all good work. 

Primps, Joseph, Geneva, was born in Bavaria, Germany, December 3, 1823, was 
educated in the public schools of that country, and came to the United States about 
1852. He first located in Rome, Oneida county, for two years, and then came to 
Geneva. In early life he was a farmer. In Geneva he was sexton of the First Pres- 
byterian church, also of the Dutch Reformed church, and sexton of the cemetery. 
August 9, 1854, he married Barbara Frederica Dorr, formerly of Wirtemburg, Germany, 
later of Geneva. They had seven children: Joseph, who died in infancy; Joseph 2d, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 329 

John, Mary, Frank, Margaret and Otto, all deceased except Joseph 2d and Mary. The 
former married Amelia Buckholtz, formerly of Germany, and they have seven children : 
Lillian A., Augusta C, Nellie A., Emma B., Arthur J., Annie and Leah E. The sur- 
viving daughter, Mary, married Frank C. De Mun, of Greneva, and they had one daugh- 
ter, Leah B., who died in infancy. Mr. De Mun was born in Waterburg, Tompkins 
county, February 4, 185G. His father was a grain speculator, and he grew up in the 
same business; he also became an auctioneer. Eight years ago he came to Geneva, 
and is now proprietor of a crockery and house furnishing store, being also a popular 
auctioneer. 

Page, Charles Augustus, Geneva, was born in Orange county, September 2, 1817, 
and from there went to the town of Geneva and engaged in farming. In 1861 he en- 
listed in Company D, One Hundred Forty-eighth Regiment N. Y. S. Vols, and served 
three years ; and although never wounded in the battle, the close of the war found him 
in broken health. Returning from the South Mr. Page sold his farm in Geneva, and 
purchased another on the east side of the lake, but after three years there he came to 
Geneva village where he died August 22, 1891. His wife was Margaret Ansley, by 
whom he had six children: Newton, of Geneva; John, who died while young; Helen 
S., who married Andrew J. Eshenour, the latter a successful business man, and who 
died in 1890 ; Louisa, who became the wife of Louis F. Barger ; Mary, who married W. 
P. Moses ; and Margaret. 

Pierce, William Henry, Canandaigua, was born in Bristol, July 30, 1856, a son of 
William H., and RowenaT. (Carpenter) Pierce. The grandfather on the paternal side 
was a native of Massachusetts, and had seven children, of whom William H. was the 
third son. He was born in 181 8 and always made his home in Bristol. He was a car- 
penter and some of the houses which he erected are still standing. He married in 1847 
a daughter of Robert Carpenter of South Bristol, and they had eight sons, all living. 
Subject was the fifth son and was educated in the common schools. After leaving 
school he worked as a farmer for about twelve years, and in 1884 he bought the Francis 
Castle farm of 128 acres in Canandaigua which he has since conducted ; the principal 
products being grain and hay. Mr. Pierce has never taken an active interest in politics, 
but his ambition has been to become a successful farmer, and be known as an upright 
citizen. He married in 1881 EHza A., daughter of Nathan S. Hunn of Canandaigua, 
and they have six children : Anna H., Frank and Fred (twins), Nellie M., Charles E., 
and Nathan S. 

Phillips, Nathaniel, Victor, was born in Richmond, Ontario county, October 27, 1838. 
He was educated in the public and Brockport Normal Schools. He taught school eight 
years and is a farmer. He married twice, first, October 23, 1862, Emily Allen of Clark- 
son, Monroe county, and they had three children : Grace L., who married John H. 
Boughton, and has three children. George, Ernest and Louise ; Carrie M., who married 
Burton Marcee of Victor ; and Charles A., who is completing his education in Roches- 
ter. Mrs. Phillips died July 12, 1881, and he married second, November 25, 1885, 
Evangeline, daughter of William and Martha Smith of Rochester. They have one son, 
Henry N., born August 29, 1887. Mr. Phillips's father, Darius, was born in Taunton, 
rp 



330 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Mass., January 3, 1801, and came with his parents to Baptist Hill when he was seven 
years old. He married twice, first to Polly Allen, and had two children; and second, 
Harriet Hall of Richmond. They had twelve children: Mary, Gyrene and Rowena 
(twins), William, Nathaniel, Hannah, Albert, Jane, John, Mariam, Ellen and George, 
all grew to maturity. His grandfather, Nathaniel Hall, was in the Revolutionary war. 
His grandfather, Israel Phillips, was also in the Revolutionary war. 

Parker, J. Albert, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, August 7, 1851, a son of 
John Parker, a gardener of this town, who was born in England, and came to this 
country in 1850. He located in Canandaigua where he lived until his death in 1881. 
He had five children, four of whom are living. He was educated in the common 
schools, and on leaving school he went into the store of A. S. Newman. Mr. and Mrs. 
Parker are members of St. John's Episcopal church. 

Prouty, Phineas, Geneva, the pioneer of a highly respected family in the locality, was 
a native of Vermont, and settled at an early date in Schenectady. He was a soldier in 
the War of 1812-15, and came a young man to Geneva, where he was for many years 
an enterprising merchant and straightforward business man. His old stone building on 
Seneca street has been recently removed to be replaced by a more substantial structure. 
He erected, also, the buildings on the historic Maple Grove farm, the property on 
which stands the noted " Century tree." Phineas Prouty 's wife was Margaret Van 
Vranken of Schenectady, by whom these children were born : Nicholas, who died in 
infancy :"Harriet, who married Thomas Hillhouse of New York city ; Sarah Augusta, 
who became the wife ot A. L. Chew; and Phineas jr. Phineas Prouty, jr., was born 
in Geneva, November 8, 1829. He was given a good education, read law, and was 
admitted to the bar, but abandoned professional life at his father's request, for mercan- 
tile pursuits. He succeeded his father in the hardware business, and was for thirteen 
years the partner of A. L. Chew. He was a man possessed of unusual busmess qualifi- 
cations, shrewd and far-seeing in his investments, and the latter years of his life found 
him possessed of a well deserved competency. He died July 2, 1891. His wife, whom 
he married September 18, 1855, was Adalaide, daughter of Andrew M. Cobleigh, and 
were the parents of six children, four of whom are now living. 

Purdy, Charles J., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, December 31, 1866, a son 
of James B., a native of Oswego county. Charles J. was educated in the common 
schools and Canandaigua Academy, was attracted to the application of electricity for 
mechanical and scientific purposes, and engaged with the Excelsior Light Co. at Brook- 
lyn, starting with them as an apprentice and rapidly rising to become an electrical en- 
gineer. He assisted in the building of the electric light plant at Canandaigua in 186(i 
and then removed to Seneca Falls, where he filled the position of electrician and assistant 
superintendent for the Excelsior Light Co., for over a year, and then removed to Can- 
andaigua to take charge of the plant. His position is now superintendent and electri- 
cian for the Canandaigua Electric Light Co. He married in 1890 Maggie Tuohey of 
Canandaigua. Mr. Purdy was elected in 1891 superintendent of fire alarms for the vil- 
lage. He is a member of the Canandaigua Lodge No. 245 K. of P., and also of Canan- 
drigua Lodge K. 0. T. M. No. 168. 



{•AMlLY SKETCHES. 33l 

Piilver, William, Gorham, was born in Goiliam, August 19, 1842. At the age of 
fourteen he began as clerk in Gorham and contmued till 1864, -when he went to Penn 
Yan aud clerked for J. T. Slaughter till 1867. He then spent two years with C. L. 
Eastman, having also been one year in partnership with him. In 1871 he returned to 
Gorham and engaged in the general mercantile business, which has been very prosper- 
ous, his annual sales now averaging over $16,000. Mr. Pulver is a Democrat and has 
been justice of the peace twelve years. He was postmaster under Mr. Cleveland's ad- 
ministration. He is a member of the E. K. 0. R. of Gorham, No. 62. In 1861 he mar- 
ried Catharine C. Traver, a native of Ghent. Columbia county, a daughter of Albert and 
Helen Traver. Mr. and Mrs. Pulver have three children: James A., a merchant of 
Stanley ; Alonzo E., a carriage manufacturer of Gorham, and C. Lena, who resides at 
home. The father of William was James M., a son of William, who was a native of 
Kinderhook, N. J. Mr. Pulver, sr., was twice married. By his first wife he had two 
children. He married second Mrs. Cavery, by whom he had six children. James M. 
was born in Kinderhook and was a well informed and thorough going business man. 
He spent some time in teaching, and when quite young was elected constable. From 
that time he studied law, and finally rose to the rank of a judge, in which capacity he 
acted several years. He was also justice of the peace twenty-four years and was super- 
visor. His wife was Lydia, daughter of John and Catharine (Cortleyou) Snyder, by 
whom he had four sons and four daughter.^. He died in 1877, and his wife is living in 
Gorham. 

Pavlak, Victor, Geneva, was born in the province of Passen, Germany, October 10, 
1850. He was educated in their schools and came to the United States in 187 i, locat- 
ing in Geneva. He visited his former home on one occasion. He has always worked 
at the nursery business since in his adopted country, and formed a co-partnership with 
William Sisson in 1885, which continued until the death of Mr, Sisson in 1892, since 
which time he has had full charge of the business, in fact he has always been its 
manager. He has about fifteen acres with all varieties of the best stock, and conducts 
the same on honest business principles. November 12, 1884, he married Mary L. Sisson 
of Geneva, and they have two children : Mary K. and William J, Mrs. Pavlak's father, 
William Sisson, was born in Yorkshire, England, June 4, 1819, and came to the United 
States about 1840, locating in Vermont, but coming to Geneva the following year. He 
married Bridget Lyman and they had five children ; William, one who died in infancy ; 
George L., Mary, and Francis, who died when a year old. 

Paul, Charles R., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua in 1850, a son of F. W. Paul, 
a railroad contractor and at one time president of the Niagara Falls Division of the Erie 
Railroad. He was born in Scotland in 1813 and came to this country a young man, 
locating in Canandaigua. He was always interested in railroad construction and had 
contracts for building on the Erie, Flint and Pere Marquette at Saginaw, and others. 
He died here in 1865, leaving six children, four of whom survive. The only son of the 
family in business in this town is our subject. He was educated in Canandaigua 
Academy, under Professor Clarke, and after leaving school acted as clerk in his brother's 
drug store, and in 1874 became a partner. At his brother's death in 1889 he became 



332 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

sole proprietor, and is now conducting the oldest drug store in town, it having been in 
existence since the town was first started. In 1876 Mr. Paul married Mary A., daugh- 
ter of Thomas Blanchard, a native of England, who conducted a market here. Mr. 
Paul is a member of the Board of Health ; of the A. 0. U. W.; of the Mutual Accident 
Association ; and the Empire Knights of Relief. Mr. and Mrs. Paul are members of St. 
John's Episcopal church. 

Parsons, William W., Canandaigua, was born in Bristol, May 22, 18G3, a son of H. W. 
Parsons, a farmer of that town. The great-grandfather, William, came to this section 
from Connecticut, and his son Hiram lived in Bristol on the farm settled by his 
father. He had one child, Hiram W., who lived on the homestead, where he was born 
in 1840. He married in 1862 Sarah M. Wheaton of Bristol, and they have two chil- 
dren : Ernest D., a clerk in his brother's store, and William W. The early life of the 
latter was spent on the farm at Bristol. He was educated at the Union School and 
Lima Business College, and in 1884 opened a store in partnership with S. P. Hall on 
Bristol street, which lasted one year ; then the firm was Parsons Bros, for two years, 
and Wheaton & Parsons for three years. In January, 1891, he became sole owner of 
the business. In the spring of 1892 he moved into his new store on Main street, 
which has been refitted for him. This has three floors for trade and basement for 
reserve stock. He carries a full line of groceries and provisions, and the fall of 1892 
he added the furniture department. He married, January 20, 1887, Minnie A. Francis 
of Bristol. He is a member of Canandaigua Lodge, No. 204, F. & A. M., and Kanan- 
daigua Lodge, No. 245, K. of P. 

Parmele, Hiram Taft, Canandaigua, was born in West Bloomfield in 1831, a son of 
Isaac, born in Connecticut in 1799, who moved to Ontario county when a child, his 
father, Reuben, settling on a farm where Isaac and five other children were raised. 
The old homestead farm is in the possession of a descendant of the family. Isaac, the 
second son, always lived in West Bloomfield, where he died in 1886. He married 
Laura, daughter of Ebenezer Leach of Lima, and they had six children, of whom four 
are living. Hiram T. was the oldest son. He was educated in the common schools, 
and at private schools at Honeoye Falls and Bloomfield. After leavmg school he fol- 
lowed farming a few years, and then engaged as a clerk in a store at East Mendon. 
Tn 1852 he opened a store in Honeoye Falls, which he conducted for three years, then 
went into business in West Bloomfield, where he conducted a general store until 1871. 
In 1873 he came to Canandaigua, and went into the milling business at Chapinville, 
where he owned the flouring mill for six years. In 1882 he went to Victor and opened 
a bank, the firm being Parmele, Hamlin & Co. December 1, 1887, he established the 
Canandaigua National Bank at Canandaigua. and has ever since been a member of the 
board of directors, and has held the office of cashier. Mr. Parmele has always been an 
ardent supporter of the Republican party, and has held numerous offices of honor and 
trust. In 1866 he was elected supervisor of West Bloomfield, and re-elected for four 
successive terms, during his last term serving as chairman of the Board of Supervisors. 
Mr. Parmele married in 1856 Mary, daughter of Melancton Gates of West Bloomfield, 
and they had four children : Laura, wife of J. H. Johnson, a lawyer of Penn Yan ; 



t'AMILY SKETCHES. 333 

Henry, a banker of East Bloorafield ; George, a lawyer of Rochester, and Mary, a stu- 
dent of Vassar College. 

Potter, M.D., John W., Canandaigu§, was born in Middlesex, Yates county, May 15, 
1821. His grandfather, Avery B. Potter, was a native of Scotland, moved to England, 
and emigrated to this country previous to the war of the Revolution, and served in 
that war as an officer. After living in various places he finally settled in Cuyahoga 
county, where he died at about ninety years of age. He had four children. James G. 
A., the second son and father of subject, was born in Providence, R. I., in October, 
1782. He served in the war of 1812, and afterward engaged in farming in Yates 
county, afterwards moving into Alleghany county, where he owned and conducted a 
distillery and portage. He had an interest in large quantities of land along the Gene- 
see river, in the town of Belfast and other places. He was a Whig, and held many 
offices of honor and trust. He married Orilla Briggs of Oneida county, August 20, 
1806, and they had twelve children, six of whom are still living: Caleb, of Eaton 
county, Mich.; James A., of Battle Creek, Mich.; Eli S., of CofFeyville, Kan.; Nancy, 
widow of Truman Barnes of Pike Hollow, Wyoming county ; Julia, widow of John R. 
Francisco of Middlesex, Yates county ; and John W. The early life of the latter was 
spent in Alleghany county. He was educated at Alford Academy, Genesee Wesleyan 
Seminary, and finished his medical course at Albany Medical College, graduating in 
1848. He practiced in Albany five years, then located in Glen Aubrey, Broome 
coimty, where he practiced medicine three years, and was justice of the peace and post- 
master. He went to Kansas in 1856, but returned and settled in Warren county. Pa., 
where he practiced until 1869 ; he owned there many hundreds of acres of land and 
saw-mills. January 14, 1869, he moved to Canandaigua, where he has since remained- 
He owns many farms in the county, among them the Gorham Mineral Spring farm, 
which is very valuable. Dr. Potter has made generous benefactions to educational and 
benevolent institutions; he gave 150 acres of valuable land and $1,000 in money to 
Syracuse University. The loss of his house by fire, in which was consumed many val- 
uable papers, deprives him of important dates regarding his movements and deeds. 
He has given up active practice, but is still wiUing to lend his aid amongst his friends. 
He was married in Albany August 14, 1846, by the Rev. Mr. Armitage, to Mary Lucetta 
Cornell, and they have five children : James A., a farmer of Gorham ; May J., who 
lives at home ; George W., a civil engineer of Dodge City, Kansas; and Florence, wife 
of Amos C. Knear of Tidioute, Warren county. Pa. 

Parker, E. W., Hopewell, was born in Jacksonville, Steuben county, August 19, 1338, 
a son of Samuel, who was a son of Samuel who came from Luzerne, Pa., in an early 
day and settled in Livingston county, where he spent the remainder of his life. His 
wife was Martha Parker, and they had four daughters and four sons, three of the latter 
being Methodist clergymen. Samuel, jr., was born December 16, 1797, in Luzerne, Pa. 
He married Mersett S. Fowler, of Livingston county, born April 7, 1810, and they had 
two children, Robert and Samuel. In 1833 Mrs. Parker died, and in 1834 he married 
Lois Winters, born in Schuyler county, in 1805, and to them were born three sons and 
one daughter. Mr. Parker was a minister in the M. E. church. He preached in Liv- 
ingston and Ontario counties, and was at one time stationed at Elmira. In 1840 he 
located on the farm now owned by the subject, where he died in 1879 and his wife in 



334 HiSTOllY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

1887. Subject was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and in 1865 married Kate E. 
Lewis, a native of Hopewell, born 1841, a daughter of Nathaniel B. and Wealthy A. 
Lewis. The father of Nathaniel B. was Nathaniel, a native of Connecticut, who early 
came to Hopewell where he died. He was one of the founders of the M. E. church, 
and gave the Emery Chapel its name. He died about 1857. Nathaniel B. was born 
in Hopewell. His wife was Catherine Smith, by whom he had two sons and two 
dauo-hters. He was assessor a number of years, and also commissioner. He died in 
Hopewell May 2. 18G7, and his wife died October 23, 1883. Subject has had two 
children: Annie L., born January 27, 1873, and died June 22, 1892, and Charles H., 
born October 26, 1883. Mr. Parker is a Republican. 

Pratt, David, West Bloom field, was born in Manchester, Vt., February 10, 181G. His 
father, Joeh came with his family to West Bloomfield, traveling with two teams and 
occupying thirteen days in the journey, and settled near where David now lives, in 
1833. David had one brother, James S. and a sister, Parley. Subject was educated 
in Vermont, and married at the age of thirty-four Angeline Matteson, October 29, 1850, 
and a few days later his brother James married her sister, Adaline Maria. His father, 
Joel, died in 1846, fifteen years after the death of his mother, Clarissa. David had four 
children: Helen, who died aged sixteen; Agnes, wife of B. L. Scott, of Michigan; 
Charles, born in 1860, and resides with his parents ; and one who died in infancy. A 
part of his father's original purchase is now included in the farm of David, consisting 
in all of 160 acres of fine land. Mr. Pratt is a Republican, but has never accepted 
office, though the best the town afforded has been tendered him. He has accumulated 
a comfortable fortune, and for nearly fifty years has never had to call on a doctor. 

Post, Frank A., Clifton Springs, was born at Orleans, Ontario county, June 4, 1859. 
After receiving a good education in the schools of this county, he entered the Philadel- 
phia Dental College, from which he graduated in 1886. He then commenced the prac- 
tice of his profession here, where he has since remained. Dr. Post is one of the stew- 
ards of the M. E. church, and also one of the board of the Y. M. C. A. He is staunch 
Prohibitionist and is a descendant of a Revolutionary family of New York State. 

Pritchard, Benjamin F., Phelps, one of six children of Benjamin and Ann (Stoughten- 
burg) Pritchard, was born in Phelps January 19, 1843. Benjamin, the father was born 
in Poughkeepsie. The grandfather, James, was born in London, England, and came 
to this country and settled in Poughkeepsie, about the period of the Revolution, where 
he followed his trade of silversmith. Benjamin F. Pritchard married first Emma A. 
Ross, of Phelps, who died in 1869, leaving one daughter, Emma A. In 1871 he mar- 
ried Carrie M. Starr, a native of Danbury, Conn. They have two children, Paul C, 
and Suzo H. Mr. Pritchard has always been a resident of Phelps. About ten years 
ago he went into a manufacturing corporation which continued for one and one-half 
years, when the company known as the Crown Manufacturing Company Avas formed, 
manufacturing grain drills, and grass seeders. He acted as traveling agent of the com- 
pany for about seven years, since which time he has been president of the company, 
giving his entire time to its interests. The organization has a capital of $100,000. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 335 

Rose, Jared S., Farminp:ton, was born in Victor, March 10, 1849. He was educated 
in the common schools and Canandaigua Academy, and has always followed farming. 
He was elected supervisor of Farmington in the spring of 1888, and served continu- 
ously four years, was town clerk ten years, and assessor two years. December 19, 
1871, he married Sarah L., daughter of Hiram L. and Nancy Bloodgood, of Victor, and 
they have six children : Smith J., William H., E. Adeline, Verna L., Lydia N., and 
Edgar J. Mr. Rose's father, Henry, was born in England, March 28, 1821, and came 
to the United States when he was about sixteen years old. About 1840 he married 
Lydia E , daughter of Wilmarth and Saloma (Eddy) Smith, of the town of Farmington 
They had six children, two died in infancy, four survived: Jared S., Mary A.. Edgar 
D., and Carrie E. Mary A. married G-eorge P. Powers, and had two children, Frank 
0., and Lula. Mrs. Powers died in 1884. Edgar D., wife and children, all died De- 
cember 6, 1881. Mr. Rose's mother's grandfather, Jonathan Smith, was one of the 
pioneers of the town. The Smiths were identified with the town growth and pros- 
perity. Mrs. Rose's father, Hiram L. Bloodgood, was born in Dutchess county in 1829 
was a farmer and married Nancy Young, of Farmington. They had six children, two 
died in infancy, four survived: Sarah L., Emma, Mulford C, and William J. Mrs. 
Rose is a member of the M. B. church of Victor, and Mr. Rose of the Society. 

Rice, the late Henry 0., was born in Washington county, July 6, 1833, and went 
with his parents to Oswego county when a young man. August 30, 1862, he enlisted 
in Company D, One Hundred and Forty-seventh N. Y. S. Vols., was honorably dis- 
charged April 9, 1863. December 15, 1863, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Greorge 
and Diantha Howland of this town, they moved to Farmington where he died May 21, 
1879. Mrs. Rice's father, George Howland, was born in Adams, Mass., January 28, 
1791, and came here with his parents when six weeks old. January 10, 1819, he mar- 
ried Diantha Robinson, who was born October 10, 1795. Her father was a soldier in 
the Revolutionary war. They had two children : Abram, born July 6, 1822, and Eliz- 
abeth. Abram married Phebe Macumber of Farmington and they had two children : 
Mary and Lucilla T. Mary married Henry C. Osborne, and Lucilla married Winfield 
S. Miak. They have one daughter, Angeline M. The farm has been owned continu- 
ously in the family 102 years 

Rogers, Newton, Canandaigua, was born in Jerusalem, Yates county, July 21, 1830, 
a son of Reuel Rogers, a native of Jefferson county, and the father of nine children, 
three now living: Lucy, wife of James Doolittle, of Michigan; Mittie E., wife of John 
J. Stebbins, of Penn Yan ; and Newton. The latter was but six years old when his 
parents moved to Ontario county, where they bought a farm near Cheshire. Newton 
was educated in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-one leased a farm, and 
from that time has been engaged in agriculture. In 1850 he bought his present farm 
on the west shore of Canandaigua lake, a fine place of sixty-six acres, where Mr. 
Rogers has made many improvements. He has about twelve acres set out to grapes, 
and seven acres of peaches. He has always taken an interest in the success of his 
political party, but has never been an active politician. He was for three years assessor of 
his town. In 1854 he married Anzolett E., one of five children of Freeman Spaulding, 
a native of Massachusetts who came to Gorham in 1832 and to Canandaigua in 1850. 



336 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have two children : Chauncey E., a farmer of Canandaigua, and 
Julia, wife of Charles E. Green, of Canandaigua. 

Riordan, Patrick, West BloomSeld, was born March 15, 1832, in Tipperary, Ireland, 
and emigrated to America in 1851. He located in Syracuse, but two years later went 
to Pittsford, where he lived two years. In 1855 he came to West Bloomfield, where 
he has since resided. For three years he worked at farming, then purchased a small 
farm, and twenty years later sold that and purchased one of 120 acres of Mr. Pal- 
mer, formerly owned by Hon. John Dickens. He owns also another farm south of the 
village. In 1857 he married Mary Whiby, of County Tipperary, Ireland. They have 
had five children : Mary, wife of James Curran of this town ; John ; Ellen, wife of 
John Murphy of this town ; Lizzie, wife of John Newman, of East Avon ; and Henry. 
Both sons are aiding their father in the carrying on of the farms. They are of the 
Catholic faith. Mrs. Riordan is dead. Mr. Riordan was appointed census enumerator 
for this town for the last census. He is a Democrat. 

Reese, E. D., Hopewell, was born in Hopewell, May 20, 1846, a son of Peter, who 
was a son of Peter, a native of Maryland, born April 6, 1765. After marriage the lat- 
ter went to Virginia, and after three years came to Hopewell and settled. He drove 
through and was obliged to cut his own road. About twelve years later he moved on 
the farm now owned by Peter, jr., and died in 1854, and his wife in 1853. Peter, jr., 
was born in Hopewell, November 4, 1808. His whole life has been spent in that town, 
ship, and at present resides on the old homestead aged eighty-four. His first wife was 
Hannah Knapp, and tbey had one daughter. His second wife was Sarah Stintenburg, 
a native of Hyde Park, Dutchess county, and they had five children, four of whom are 
now living. Subject and wife are members of the M. E. church at Clifton Springs. 
His wife died October 11, 1892. Subject was educated in Canandaigua Academy and 
in Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y. He is a Republican and has been inspector of 
elections. 

Rose, George I., West Bloomfield, was born in Bethany, March 1, 1841, and came to 
Victor in 1851 with his parents. His father, Nathan C, was born in Rush, Monroe 
county, and his grandfather, Nathan, was of English descent, born in Berkshire county, 
Mass., in 1772. He became one of the earliest settlers in East Bloomfield. His first 
child, Harley, was born there in 1797, and lived to be over ninety years old Nathan's 
father fought in the French and Indian war and seven years in the Revolution. He 
was with Washington at Valley Forge. He died at East Bloomfield. Nathan C. was 
a farmer, and married Hannah Fosdick, of Bethany, in 1840, by whom he had six chil- 
dren : George I. ; Henry F., a commission merchant in Detroit, Mich.; Ezra C, who 
died in 1891 at Victor ; James N., also a commission merchant at Detroit ; Charles, a 
farmer of Victor, and Louisa, wife of George Kilthorne, of Victor. George I. was edu- 
cated in the common schools and at Lima Seminary, and helped his father at farm- 
ing until of age, when he enlisted from Victor in July, 1862, in Company D, One Hun- 
dred and Twenty- sixth New York Infantry. He was in thirteen engagements and 
was taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry, but was immediatele paroled and soon after ex- 
changed. He was wounded at Bristow Station, and again at Weldon Railroad, and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 337 

was at Lincoln's inauguration in 1865. On his return he came to West Bloomfield, 
where he has since resided. He has taught school many terms and has been justice of 
the peace ten years. For a long time he has been prosecutor of pension claims, and is 
a member of the G. A. R. He is a farmer and occupies the farm formerly owned 
by bis father-in-law, Caleb Kellogg. In 1869 he married Mary L. Kellogg, by whom 
he has seven children : George I., jr., Norma L., Caleb, Alexander, Sophia, and Henry. 
Mrs. Rose's father was born in East Bloomfield, and her mother, Sophia Loughier, was 
a native of New Hampshire. 

Rowley, George Washington, Richmond, was born in Bristol, November 19, 1827. 
His father, Darius, and grandfather, Charles, came from Cayuga county here about 
1810, and after nearly ten years they removed to South Bristol. Charles died about 
1852. Darius married Dolly, daughter of Harry Gilbert, of Bristol. Their children 
were : Sophia, George W., Abagail, Palmer, William, Mary, Zidona (the latter three 
deceased), Thaddeus, and Edson M. George W. spent his boyhood in the district 
schools and on his father's farm until 1850, when he married Charlotte, daughter of 
Caleb Bliss, of Bristol (formerly of Massachusetts), and Zilpha Gerry, who came from 
Dighton, Mass. They have had three children: Mary, who married Orrin S. Beach, a 
farmer of this town ; Ida, deceased ; and Belle, who married F. I. Short, of Attleboro, 
Mass. Mr. Rowley settled in Richmond in 1850, and in 1867 purchased his present 
farm of 200 acres at Richmond Mills. On the site of his present residence stood at an 
early day the " West Richmond Hotel," Silas Reed, proprietor. It was a large log 
building, plastered inside. Besides this place Mr. Rowley has two other farms. He 
has been justice of the peace twenty years, and is a Republican and supporter of the 
Methodist church, of which his wife is a member. 

Rowley, Frankhn, Victor, was born two miles north of the village of Victor, Octo- 
ber 14, 1822. He was educated in the district schools and was a farmer. December 
23, 1858, he married Jennette, daughter of William and Hortense (Mitchell) Wilder, 
and they had tliese sons : Calvin, who married Elizabeth Whittleton of Walworth, and 
have three children : Alonzo G., Alvirette and Cora; Charles A., who is a physician ; 
he graduated from Lima Seminary and Cleveland Homoeopathic Hospital College in 
1888 ; William W. is in Chicago ; Frank is a druggist ; Clark B. is an agent in Buffalo ; 
and George is a clerk in this village. Mr. Rowley's father, Andrew, was born in Stock- 
bridge, Mass., in 1800, and came to Victor with his parents when a boy. He married 
Sarah Biglow and had four children : Franklin, Elizabeth, Sarah and Biglow. Mr. 
Rowley's grandfather was captain in the war of 1812. Mrs. Rowley's father, William 
Wilder was born in the town of Bristol, March 1, 1802, and married Hortense Mitchell 
of his native town. They had twelve children. Mrs. Rowley's grandfather, Gamaliel, 
was one of the first settlers in that region, and took a skiff and went on Canandaigua 
Lake to Wilder's Point, and having the choice between East Bloomfield and Bristol, he 
chose the latter, and was the leading spirit of those days building churches, mills and 
other necessary improvements. These sturdy pioneers came from Connecticut. 

Reed, Henry, Victor, was born in Saratoga county, near the famous Springs, July 
2, 1819, and came with his parents to Gorham, Ontario county, when he was eight 



338 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

years old. Afterwards they came to Phelps, where he was educated in the district 
schools and Canandaigua Academy, and has been a farmer for several years. January 
1, 1844, he married Clarissa H., daughter of Jeremiah and Sally Richardson of Victor, 
and they have had three children : Ernest R., who is well educated and married Lottie 
Parks of Victor, and has two children : Vera L. and Urma P. ; Lilia M., who married 
John Feiock, and has five children : Alice C, Henry R., John B., Clarence and Em- 
mett L. ; one of the daughters died. In politics Mr. Reed has always been a Repub- 
lican. 

Ryan, Edward P., Phelps, was born in Phelps, September 12, 1852, one of six chil- 
dren of Captain James Ryan, who was in the English army before coming to this 
country. Mr. Ryan has always lived in Phelps. In 1879 he went into the hotel busi- 
ness and has been engaged in it to the present time. In the spring of 1884 he took 
possession of the " Cottage Hotel," of which he is still the popular landlord. He mar- 
ried in February, 1876, Emma Maley of Phelps, and they have four children: Frank J., 
Jennie B., Edward, and Paul Leo, all of whom hve in their present home adjoining the 
hotel. 

Ransom, James, Victor, was born in Saugerties, Ulster county, September 25, 1835. 
He was educated in the public schools and has always been a farmer. March 4, 1856, 
he married Sarah S., daughter of Peter and Jane Youngs, of his native place, and came 
to Victor soon afterwards. They have six children : Wilson B., George, Raymond J., 
Allen, Rose B., and Eveline. Wilson B. married Ophelia Rugg of Victor, and have 
three children : Ella, Warren, and Norman. George married Edith Wells of Victor. 
Raymond married Cora Hare of Macedon, Wayne county, and has one daughter, Ade- 
laide. Rose married Willard Mann of Saugerties, and they have one son, Roy. Mr. 
Ransom has acquired a fine property through industry, thrift and integrity. He has 
changed the rugged features of nature and built a fine residence, which is fine in its 
architectural appearance, and the farm buildings are arranged in the best possible way 
for the care of stock. His windmill cuts his fodder, grinds all kinds of grain, shells his 
corn, cuts his wood, and pumps his water for all purposes. 

Roy, Isaac, Phelps, the only survivor of seven children of John and Edna (Parrish) 
Roy, was born in Phelps, November 22, 1817. The father, John, was born in Scot- 
land, November 15, 1779. The grandfather, Coll Roy, was born in the Highlands of 
Scotland in 1750. He emigrated to this country in 1792, and settled on the Mohawk. 
In 1803 he settled upon the Roy farm in the eastern part of Phelps. He died from the 
effects of a fall in 1827. Edna Parrish Roy, the mother, was born in Maryland, March 
31, 1775, she being a daughter of Richard Parrish, the family coming to Phelps about 
the year 1800. Isaac Roy when a mere boy was compelled to work on a farm. By 
hard work and careful application of his earnings he has acquired a handsome property, 
a portion of which is about 600 acres of the choicest land in Phelps. He takes delight 
in keeping his farm in a high state of cultivation, and the buildings upon his several 
farms are exceptionally convenient and well kept. He is a prominent member of the 
banking firm of John H. Roy & Company. He is a close student of public questions, 
in which he has always been interested, and is a Democrat. He is a philanthropist 
and generously supports every move that will tend to benefit his native town. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 339 

Robson, John, Gorham, was born in Northumberland, England, Jime 2, 1819, a son 
of James Robson, jr., and was one year old when his parents came to America. He 
was educated in Canandaigua Academy and in 1849 married Isabelle Telfer, a native 
of London, Canada, and daughter of Adam and Jane Heslip, early settlers of Spring 
Water, N. Y. Mr. Robson and wife have had seven children : James A., Jane T., 
Ann, Mary, Nellie (deceased), Phoebe E., and Fannie M. Mr. Robson is a general 
farmer and owns 270 acres of the old homestead, on which he has made many improve- 
ments. He is a Republican and has been assessor three years and supervisor five 
years. He and family are members of the Presbyterian church at Gorham. 

Reed, De Forest E., Gorham, was born in Potter, Jannary 31, 1858, a son of Austin, 
whose father, Joshua, was a native of Italy, Yates county, and was the father of three 
sons and seven daughters. Austin was born in Italy in 1825. When a young man he 
went to Michigan and followed teaching several years, and there married Elizabeth 
Irwin, a native of Champlain, born in 1830. Her parents were James and Betsey Ir- 
win. To Mr. Reed and wife were born two sons and three daughters. Mr. Reed is 
a farmer of Yates county. He is a Republican in politics and has been assessor and 
excise commissioner. He is a member of the Grange at Rushville. De Forest E. was 
educated in Rushville Union School and is a farmer and carpenter. In 1880 he pur- 
chased the Washburn farm of 110 acres, and the same year married Emma Washburn 
of Gorham, born December 17, 1855. Their children are : Annie L., Orin W., and 
Frank C. Mr. Reed is a Republican and was elected justice of the peace but never 
qualified. He and his wife are members of the M. E. church at Rushville. The par- 
ents of Mrs. Reed are Richard M. and Annie (Gage) Washburn, who had one son and 
one daughter. Mrs. Annie Gage Washburn was a daughter of Marvin, son of Amasa 
Gage. 

Robinson, Wesley D., Seneca, was born in Springwater, Livingston county, Novem- 
ber 28, 1843. He was educated in the common schools and five years in Canandaigua 
Academy, and is a teacher by occupation. July 23, 1862, he enlisted in Company D 
One Hundred and Twenty-sixth N. Y. S. Vols., mustered into the service August 22, 
1862, and was severely wounded in the thigh at the battle of Gettysburg. After re- 
covering to some extent he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps in 1864, and 
was honorably discharged August 22, 1865. He has married twice, first Eliza L. Tracy, 
of Grand Rapids, Mich., in February, 1868, who died in 1876. He married second, 
February 28, 1878, Emma J. Eaton, of Campbell, Steuben county, and they have had 
two children, a son, Claude A., who died when he was two years old, and Charlie D., 
born December 21, 1882. Mr. Robinson's father, David A., was born in Scipio, Cayuga 
county, May 27, 1820, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Malissa A. Bots- 
ford, of his native place, and they had eight children ; Wesley D., R. Lewis, Ellen M., 
Salome A., Frances E., Willis H., Charles H. who died at the age of three years, and 
Alfred E. Mr. Robinson was elected justice of the peace in 1881, serving until the 
spring of 1893, when he was re-elected. 

Rupert, William P., Seneca, was born in Seneca on the homestead farm December 
15, 1828. He received a common school and academic education, and in early life was 



340 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

a teacher and farmer. In 18G7 the Rupert nursery and stock farm was started and the 
pubhc at home and abroad gave it liberal patronage. In 1887 the sons Philip G., Will- 
iam T. and Frank E. were given an equal partnership interest under the firm name of 
W. P. Rupert & Sons. They have seventy acres devoted to the nursery interests, and 
from the earliest period of its history it was the aim of Mr. Rupert to furnish first class 
fruit and ornamental trees to the public. They have a branch office in Geneva in charge 
of Charles D. Leonard. In their choice short-horned stock they have sold very largely 
of their premium stock at the fair grounds in various places, but still winter at least a 
hundred head. May 24, 1854, he married Catherine Bell, of Gorham, and they have 
six children : Theodore D., who is a physician in Geneva ; Sophia E., Philip G., C. Belle, 
W. Thomas and Frank E. Mr. Rupert's father, Philip, was born in Little York, Pa., m 
1782, and came to Geneva in 1804, keeping for that time a large shoe shop, employing 
many men. An incident occurred on Sunday in 1812 that rather shocked the proprietor. 
An officer with a large force of men going to fight the British, ordered him to open his 
store, which he did rather than have the soldiers open it, for they said, shoes we must 
have, Sunday or Monday, and a thriving business was done as long as the stock lasted. 
He married twice, first in 1805 Sarah Yates, formerly of New Jersey. For his second 
wife he married Mrs. Rebecca (Parkhurst) Yates, and they had nine children : Rosanna, 
Barnet, Philip H., Rebecca, Eliza A., Theodore B., Delos W., William P. and Rosetta 
P. Mr. Rupert's grandfather, Bernard, came from Germany in 1720, when seven years 
old. Mr. Rupert has been postmaster at Seneca nine years, and superintendent of the 
Sanday-school in the Presbyterian church at Seneca twenty- five years. 

Scribner, Edward, Victor, was born in East Bloomfield June 21, 1827. His parents 
moved to West Bloomfield and shortly afterwards to Victor when he was six years old. 
He was educated in the public schools, and has always been a farmer. He married 
twice, first in 1857 Phoebe Sheldon, of the town of Farmington. They had two chil- 
dren, Jennie, and John A. who married Catherine Thompson, of Albany, and have one 
daughter, Helen. Mrs. Scribner died in 1860. The daughter, Jennie, resides at home 
with her parents. February 14, 1861, he married second Sarah E., daughter of Isaac 
and Esther Drake, of Webster, Monroe county, and they have had two sons : Frankie 
W. who died in infancy, and Burton E. who married Ludora H. Bortle, of the town of 
Perrington. Mr. Scribner's father, Abram, was born in Massachusetts in 1789. He 
married Henrietta Southworth, and had eight children : Charles, Delia, Caroline, Jane, 
George, Edward, Mary and Henry. They came to East Bloomfield after several chil- 
dren were born, others were born in East Bloomfield and Victor. Mrs. Scribner's 
father, Isaac Drake, was born in Pennsylvnaia in 1793, and married Esther Burnett, 
formerly of New Jersey, and they had six children : Stephen B., Mary, William, Web- 
ster S., Sarah E. and Sylvester. Mrs. Scribner's father was in the War of 1812. 

Stafiford, Milton J., Victor, was born in Victor, August 10, 1830. He was educated 
jn the common schools and until the year 1874 followed farming as an occupation since 
that date. He has been an extensive dealer in wool and also a cattle broker. May 16, 
1861, he married Catharine A., oldest daughter of David and Sophia Clark, of his native 
town, and they have had three children, two sons and a daughter : George, who died 



f^AMILY SKETCHES. 341 

in infancy; Jennie, who resides with her aunt, Mrs. Simonds; and Willie J., who is 
engaged with Frank Pimm, under the firm name of Pinmi & Stafford. Mrs. StaflTord 
died April 10, 1889. Mr. Stafford's father, Samuel, was born December 31, 1783. He 
married Nancy Ferguson, of his native town, and they have had ten children, four sons 
and six daughters : Betsey, Amos, Sally, Rachel, Emily, Polly, Samuel, Nancy, George 
W. and Milton J. The family came to this county in 1826, and the three youn<^er 
children were born in Victor. Mr. Stafford is a member of Milnor Lodge No. 139, F. 
& A. M., and has been its master twice. He is also a member of Excelsior Chapter No. 
169, R. A. M. In politics he is a Republican, and has been highway commissioner on 
seven different occasions. The family is of English and Scotch descent. 

Sutherland, Henry C, Canandaigua, was born on the homestead, about two miles 
west of Canandaigua, December 18, 1844, a son of William Sutherland. The ancestry on 
the paternal side is Scotch, and the American branch of the family was founded by three 
brothers who came to this country some time in the eighteenth century. David 
grandfather of Henry C, lived in Columbia county, and had nine children of whom 
William was the youngest son. He was born in Chatham, December 5, 1800, and in 
the War of 1812 drove a team for the government from Albany to New York. He mar- 
ried in Columbia county in 1828 Sarah Thompson, of Stamford, Dutchess county, and 
in 1831 came to Ontario county, moving his goods by canal, himself riding horseback 
and leading one horse on the towpath. He bought a farm of 300 acres, and for many 
years engaged in speculation in wool and live stock. In the winter of 1840-41 he went 
to Chicago, where he was engaged in packing meat, and returned on horseback from 
Indiana, where he had bought two horses. Of his five children, four survive : Thomp- 
son, Eliza, widow of the late John Smith ; Lewis, and Henry C. Maria married Ross 
Crippm, of Penfield, and died February 15, 1865. Henry C. has always lived in this 
town. He had a common school education and assisted his father on the farm where 
he remained until of age, when he bought a farm on the western town line which he 
conducted till 1885. He then bought his present farm, the Oliver Phelps estate and 
that year erected a beautiful residence on the place. Mr. Sutherland is interested in 
many private institutions, is a director of the Canandaigua Tinware Co., of which he is 
also vice-presidfint; a stockholder in the Lisk Manufacturing Company, and the Can- 
andaigua National Bank. He married in 1864 Maggie Castle, by whom he had one 
child, Cora, wife of Wayland Hopkins, of Canandaigua. Mrs. Sutherland died in 1873, 
and he married second Lillian, daughter of Addison Wheeler, of East Bloomfield, and 
they have one son and a daughter. Will H., a student at Canandaigua Academy, and L. 
Vedah. 

Sheldon, Gardner L., Farmington, was born in Farmington, September 20, 1S26. He 
was educated in the public schools, and ^followed farming. October 17, 1849, he mar- 
ried Huldah A., daughter of Edward and Harriet Herendeen of this town. They have 
three children, two sons and one daughter. Edward J. was born January 1, 1851, was 
educated in the common schools and Canandaigua Academy. May 1, 1873, he married 
Harriet E. Bullock, of Brighton, Ontario, Canada. They had four children : Edward 
C, Lulu I., Fred G. and Frank C. (twins), who died at the age of three months. Mr, 



342 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Sheldon was a miller by occupation, and died February 23, 1885. Albon G., born Sep- 
tember 15, 1857, was educated in the public schools and Palmyra High School. He too 
is a farmer by occupation. December 17, 1884, he married Lizzie, daughter of Cullen 
H. and Mary C. (Beebe) Rogers, of Palmyra. They have two daughters and one son: 
Evelyn R., Albon G., jr., and Mary A. (twins), Hattie E. died in infancy. Mr. Shel- 
don's father, John, was born in the town of Farmington in the year 179G, was educated 
in the district schools of his day, and married Eliza Gardner, who was born in the 
eastern part of this State. They had five children, three sons and two daughters: 
Sarah, William B., Gardner L., William P., Hannah B. Mr. Sheldon's grandfather, Na- 
thaniel, married Sarah Winslow, and had nine children, four sons and five daughters : 
Stephen, Joseph, John, Elizabeth, Anna, Ruth, Webster, Sarah, and Vania. The an- 
cestors of the Sheldons are Scotch. 

Smith, Albert E., Canandaigua, was born at his present residence in Canandaigua, 
November 10, 1841. His grandfather, John, was of the Mohawk Dutch. He came to 
Canandaigua about 1810, where he spent the balance of his days. He was twice mar- 
ried and had a large family. Jacob, the father of our subject, was one of the second 
family, born in 1799, and from the time he was twelve years old lived in this town. He 
married Mittie Jameson in 1825, and they had ten children, of which four are still liv- 
ing : Orson J., a farmer of Illinois; Anna E., wife of George S. Hickox, of Canan- 
daigua; Mittie C, widow of Rev. D. C. Sackett ; and Albert E. The latter was edu- 
cated in the common schools and Canandaigua Academy, and assisted on the farm un- 
til his father's death April 26, 1872, when he became the owner. This is a fine farm of 
130 acres, and the re-idence is one of the oldest in the town, erected by Hugh Jameson 
in 1812. He married, December 7, 1870, Mary A., daughter of William and Rachael 
(Miller) Greer. They have four children : Mittie J., preceptress of Webster school; M- 
Alberta, Emma L., and Ethel M. They are Baptists. 

Smith, William H., Canandaigua, was born in the town of Farmington, Ontario 
county, January 23, 1829. He was a son of George Smith, a farmer of that town. 
His boyhood was passed in his native town, where he attended the common schools and 
later the academies at Macedon and Canandaigua. When he was nineteen years old 
he began the study of law in the office of Judge Mark H. Sibley, and was admitted to 
the bar in the spring of 1851. He began practice in Port Jervis, Orange county, 
where he remained a year and a half, and then settled in Canandaigua, where he has 
ever since followed his profession. In 1858 he was elected district attorney and re- 
elected in 1861. While serving his second term he was a delegate to the National Con- 
vention at Baltimore, which nominated President Lincoln for his second term. In Jan- 
uary, 18G9, he was elected for four years as county judge, and in 1878 was re-elected 
for six years. While serving as district attorney several cases of great importance came 
under his official control, and in their successful management he won the commendation 
of the profession and the community. Mr. Smith was married in 1851 to Jane Hal- 
stead, daughter of Isaac Halstead, of Livingston county, and , they have three chil- 
dren : Emma, wife of Frank G. Stark, living in Wisconsin ; Harriet B , and Halstead. 

Smith, Nicholas B., Geneva, son of Cornelius, was born near Waterloo, October 29, 
1835. In 1867 he married Alice E. Everett, and they have one child, Grace. For many 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 343 

years Mr, Smith was engaged in boating on the Erie canal and the Hudson River, and for 
three years ran from New York to Baltimore. He has held the office of constable twelve 
years, and sheriff eight years. In 1861 he enlisted, and was honorably discharged in 
1863. He was injured by a horse falling on him at Malvern Hill. He was in the United 
States Signal Service fifteen months, and was government watchman at Gi-iesboro' Point 
one year. In 1889 he built a green-house at Geneva, and is engaged in the growing of 
plants. 

Everett, John, was born in Suffolk county, England, in 1806. He married Sarah 
Hake, and in 1850 they came to America and settled at Geneva. He was a machinist, 
and they had eight children. Mr. Everett died July 1, 1872, and his wife September 
11, 1873. Of their children five are now living : May, wife of George Taylor ; Rachel, 
wife of John Kenfield ; Alice, wife of N. B. Smith, Eleanor, widow of A. Wentzer, and 
all reside in Geneva. Charles lives in Montgomery City, Md. 

Smith, Charles S., Canandaigua, was born in Bristol, June 19, 1865, a son of John 
and Eliza A. (Sutherland) Smith. John was born in Canandaigua, March 7, 1831, and 
has always been a farmer. H6 married in 1859 Eliza A. Sutherland of this town, and 
they had five children, of whom Charles S. is the oldest son. Mr. Smith died Novem- 
ber 20, 1892. The whole life of our subject has been spent in this town. He was edu- 
cated in Canandaigua Academy under professors Clarke and Smith, and on leaving 
school followed farming for a short time. In 1888 he took charge of a flouring mill 
which he bought in 1890, and still conducts a merchant and custom mill. Mr. Smith 
married in January, 1888, Cora, daughter of Abel Richmond, of Clifton Springs, and 
they have one child, Helen E. Mr. Smith is a member of Canandaigua Lodge No. 294 
F. &; A. M. and of Canandaigua Lodge K. of P., and his family are members of the 
Methodist church. 

Smith, E. W., Manchester, was born in Manchester, May 4, 1866. He received a 
liberal education in the schools of this town and Canandaigua Academy, and shortly 
after completing his studies became engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Smith mar- 
ried Catharine Abensheme, and they have one son. E. W. Smith is a staunch Repub- 
lican, and has served as clerk of the school district, pathmaster, etc. Fie is an ener- 
getic and a representative man. His ancestors participated in both the War of Revolu- 
tion and that of 1812. 

Smith D. Waterman, Farmington, was born on the family homestead in Farming- 
ton August 16, 1821. He was educated in the common schools and at Canandaigua 
Academy and the Friends' Boarding School near Poughkeepsie. Mr. Smith has been a 
railway conductor for several years. He has been several years with the Elmira, Can- 
andaio'ua & Niagara Falls Railroad Company. The above company becoming extinct, 
he entered the employ of the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. Co, serving as conductor five years, 
and is now retired. April 13, 1847, he married Lydia Carey, of Half Moon, Saratoga 
county, and they had six children, two sons and four daughters. Three survive ; Fan- 
nie E. who married Ransom B. True, of Syracuse; David C, and James H., who now 
live at home. Mr. Smith's father, David, was born in Rhode Island, April 10, 1774, 
and came with his parents to this town when about sixteen years old. December 6, 



344 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

1812, he married Mary Shotwell of this town, and they had six children : David P., 
Rebecca T., D. Waterman, John H., Rhoda M., and Isaac B., of whom three survive: 
Rebecca Lapham, D. Waterman, and Isaac B., a resident of Canandaigua. Mr. Smith's 
father held a captain's commission in the War of 1812, the commission now being in 
the possession of the family. His grandfather, Joseph Smith, came to Farmington in 
an early day, and his sons operated a grist-mill. 

Simmons, C. Rollin, Canandaigua, was born in Bristol, July 5, 1851, a son of George, 
a farmer of that town. He was educated in the Bast Bloom field Academy, and on 
leavino- school engaged as clerk in the dry goods store of Ellis & Parmele in Canandai- 
gua, with whom he remained five years. He then acted as clerk for Sherman Kings- 
bury in his grocery store. He was with him nine years, and then came to the store 
where he now is a partner, then conducted by A. Higley. In 1890 Mr. Simmons, in 
partnership with Charles S. Humphrey, bought out the store No. 3 Tillotson block, 
which has been a grocery stand ever since the block was erected. The firm of Sim- 
mons & Humphrey carry a full line of everything to be found in a grocery store, re- 
quiring the assistance of four clerks, besides the assistance of both partners. Mr. 
Simmons is a member of Canandaigua Lodge, No. 294, F. & A. M. In 1874 he mar- 
ried Alice B. North, by whom he has one child, Ruby J. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons are 
members of the M. E. Church of Canandaigua. 

Simmons, Edward W., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, August 3, 1861, a son 
of Dr. Elnathan W. Simmons of Canandaigua. He was educated in Canandaigua 
Academy under Prof. Noah T. Clarke, and after leaving school engaged as clerk with 
Dr. J. T. Smith in his drug store, with whom he remained about five years, and then 
bought the store where he had acted as clerk, where J. A. Barker is now located. In 
1886 he removed his business to the Moore block, where he is still located, and has 
now one of the finest drug stores in this section on Main street. He carries a full 
line of drugs and medicines, both patent and proprietary, toilet articles, etc. Mr. 
Simmons married in September, 1890, Lizzie, daughter of 0. S.Bacon, of the Mc- 
Kecknie Bank, and they have one child, Margaret Bacon. 

Simmons, John D., Bristol, was born in Bristol, August 6, 1845, and is a son of 
George W. Simmons, Whose father was Richard Simmons, George W. Simmons was 
born in Bristol in 1813, and educated in Canandaigua Academy. His wife was Cor- 
nelia Pool of Bristol, born 1816, who bore him four sons and two daughters. In 
1850 he purchased the farm of seventy acres which subject now owns, and here lived 
and died. He died in 1877, and his wife March 15, 1883. Subject of sketch was 
reared on a farm, and educated in the common schools of Bloomfield. In 1865 he 
married Rhoda Blake, a daughter of Lyman Blake. Subject and wife have one child, 
E. Carroll, who was educated in Canandaigua Union School. He is a farmer by occu- 
pation. In 1893 he married Cora Andrews of Bristol and daughter of George An- 
drews. Mr. Simmons is a Democrat, and he and family attend the Universalist church 
at Bristol. 

Sutherland, D. A., Gorham, is a native of Potter, born August 23, 1831. He is a 
son of Alexander, a son- of David, who was a native of Orange county, and one of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 345 

the earliest settlers of Yates county. He was a Baptist minister, and was once a 
member of assembly. Alexander was born in Potter in 1789, and married [Maria 
Van Duzer, a native of Orange county. They had two sons and six daughters. Mr. 
Sutherland was justice of the peace fifteen years. He died in 1836, and his wife in 
1884 at the age of ninety-four years. Subject was educated in Genesee Wesleyan 
Seminary, and in 1853 married Charlotte Cole, a native of Gorham, and daughter of 
Warren and Mary A. (Ferguson) Cole, of Otsego and Orange counties respectively. 
To them were born four children. He died October 28, 1878, and his wife in 1839. 
Subject and wife have two daughters: Celia C, who died in 1864, and Charlotte C, 
wife of James M. Lane of Gorham. Mr. Sutherland spent nine years in farming, 
and then for twelve years kept a hotel at Reed's Corners, N. Y. In 1864 he began 
as an auctioneer, and has since had a very successful business. Since 1869 he has 
resided in Gorham, engaged in buying wool and produce. He is a Democrat, and 
has been highway commissioner and notary public. 

Sutton, Charles, Manchester, was born in the town of Rushford, Allegany county, 
July 19, 1856. His father settled at Naples, N. Y., where he followed agricultural 
pursuits. Charles married a Miss Knapp of Ontario county, who succeeded to her 
father's farm of fifty acres near Clifton Springs. This farm they still own and con- 
duct. Mr. Sutton is a staunch Republican, and is much esteemed in the county. 

Sawyer, William H., Farmington, was born on the farm where he now resides, 
October 26, 1834. He was educated in the common schools and Macedon Academy. 
May 19, 1875, he married Helen J. Pratt of Marion, Wayne county, and they have 
had three children: Clara A., who is attendmg school in Palmyra; Henry P., who 
lives at home, and Howard J., who died at the age of four years. Henry, father of 
our subject, was also born in Farmington (now Manchester), April 25, 1803. He mar- 
ried Susannah S. Dewey of his native town, but formerly of Connecticut, who was 
born September 11, 1806, and they had six children, three sons and three daughters: 
Cornelia, Joseph H., William H., Frances M., Edwin D. and Louisa M. The grand- 
father, Joseph, was born in Vermont, and came to this State with his parents. He 
was twice married, first to Desire Root of this State, and second to Anna Coates. 
Mrs. Helen J. Sawyer died January 20, 1890, mourned by a bereaved family and 
many friends. 

Scott, John D., Geneva, was born in the northeast part of Geneva, March 17, 1860. 
He was educated in the common schools and Geneva Commercial College. He is a 
grower of nursery stock at present, and also does a jobbing trade, employing six sales- 
men. March 5, 1888, he married Nellie J., seventh daughter of Benjamin and Jane 
Learch of Fayette, Seneca county. They have three children : J. Dean, Helen F. and 
Sarah M. Mr. Scott's father, Charles S., was born in London, England, and came to 
the United States when a young man. He married Frances Dixon, formerly of York- 
shire, England, and they had six children: John D., Minnie, James, Phoebe, Anna and 
Fannie. Mrs. Scott's father was born in the town of Fayette in 1832, and married 
Jane Gougher of his native town. They had eight children : Nora, Susanna, George, 



34G HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Anthony, Perry, Carrie, Nellie and Isadora. Mr. Scott is a member of Lodge No. 299, 

I. 0. o.'p. 

Sissons, John F., Bristol, was born in Bristol, June 20, 1830, on the farm he now 
owns. He is a son of Gen. Horatio Sissons, a son of Stephen Sissons, who came to 
Bristol in an early day. Gen. Horatio Sissons was born in Bristol in 1800, on the farm 
owned by subject. He was a school teacher and also a teacher of music, and a self 
made man. He rose to the highest office in military ranks. In 1824 he married 
Clotilda Taylor of Bristol, born in 1804, daughter of John Taylor of Massachusetts, one 
of the first settlers of Bristol. They had three sons and five daughters. He was a 
farmer and stock dealer. He died in 1867, and his wife in 1852. Subject of sketch 
received an academic education. He is a farmer, and the oldest but one hop grower 
in Western New York. He also makes a specialty of raising apples, and owns thirty- 
five acres of orchard. In 1855 he married Sarah J, Case of Steuben county, daughter 
of Morgan L. and Eliza (Hunn) Case, who spent most of their life in Bristol, but died 
in Canandaigua. They have had six children : Elizabeth A., Stephen H., Louis J., Nora 
C, Horace C, and Ralph C. Mr. Sisson is a Democrat, and was a member of the 
Grange when first organized. He and family attend the Congregational church at Bris- 
tol. Mrs. Sisson died December 17, 1876. 

Saunders, Daniel W., Canandaigua, son of William, was born in Bolton, England, in 
August, 1851, of Welsh ancestry. In May of the following year his parents came to 
this country, and located in Canandaigua. William was born in Agibavana, Wales, in 
1821, and when seventeen years of age was bound, as a parchment in possession of Mr. 
Saunders reads : To spend four years to learn the art of carpenter and joiner. He was 
the builder of a great many of the best houses in Canandaigua. He died in June, 1886, 
and his wife died in November, 1891, aged seventy-eight years. They had five children, 
of whom three are still living: Sarah Saunders, a teacher of Cortland Normal School; 
Elizabeth, wife of Byron H. Wilson of Chicago ; and Daniel W. The latter was edu- 
cated in Canandaigua Academy, and on leaving school engaged in the trade of his 
father, and has ever since followed it. He is a Mason, and he and his family are mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian church. He married in 1872 Rose Townsend, by whom he 
had four children, only one of whom is living, Edith, now in her eleventh year. Two 
of the children died in infancy, and Lizzie Irene died ni August, 1891, aged eighteen. 
Mrs. Saunders died in October, 1888, and he married second, Carrie, daughter of Wil- 
lard Bates of Canandaigua, by whom he has one child, Grace. 

Sisco, George H., Victor, was born in Franklin county September 19, 1853, was edu- 
cated in the public schools, and came to Victor in the spring of 1872. Mr. Sisco con- 
ducts a first-class meat market in this village. December 22, 1877, he married Mary 
E., daughter of Walter E. and Frances A. Morgan of Victor, and they had four chil- 
dren : Walter, William, Mary B., and Belle M. Mr. Sisco's father, Marvin, was born 
in Vermont, was a Methodist preacher, and married Malissa Manning of this State, and 
had six children : Charles M., Harrison, Mary, George H., Silenas, and Ella. He died 
in August, 1891. George H. Sisco's wife's mother, Frances A., was the youngest 
daughter of Dr. William Ball. Dr. Ball was a practicing physician of this place and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 347 

county many years, and had the most exphcit confidence of his patients, and the whole 
community. He married Rachael, daughter of Dr. Beach of Victor, and they had three 
children ; Mary, Frances and Thomas. They also had an adopted daughter, Mary E. 
Hutchison, now Mrs. Dr. Draper. Mrs. Ball died March 17, 1879. Mrs. Sisco died 
March 17, 1887. 

Sale, the late William, was born in Victor, November 30, 1820, was educated in the 
public schools, and was a farmer. October 16, 1844, he married Nancy, daughter of 
Samuel and Nancy (Forgason) Stafford, and they had one son, "Willie, born February 

4, 1847, who was educated in the public schools and Lima Seminary, and was a den- 
tist. He died July 8, 1874, in the full bloom of manhood, was mourned by a host of 
friends and a bereaved mother. Mr, Sale died September 7, 1847. Mrs. Sale's father, 
Samuel Stafford, was born in Dutchess county December 31, 1782, and was well edu- 
cated. In the year 1806 he married Nancy Forgason, and they had ten children : 
Betsey, Amos Sally, Rachael, Polly, Emily, Samuel, Nancy, George and Milton. Mrs. 
Sale's father, Samuel Stafford, died January 5, 1861, and her mother, Nancy, February 

5, 1868. Mrs. Sales is conducting a bakery and fancy grocery store. 

Swan, Amasa, Richmond, was born in Stonington, Conn., in 1788. When a child he 
went with Joshua to Saratoga county, where he married Keziah Hanford. In 1818 he 
settled in Richmond, where Edmund Swan now lives, and bought that farm. His 
brother Peleg, who came soon after, joined him in the purchase, and finally bought 
Amos's interest, and lived and died there, Amos went first to Bristol, and five years 
later to Canadice, where J. M. Hisk now lives, and here he spent the remainder of his 
days, dying in 1844. One son, Seneca, was born in Saratoga county, and eight chil- 
dren were born in this county. Two died. Joshua, born in 1819, makes his home 
with his sister Adelia, the second wife and widow of Philip Stout, who for many years 
was a merchant and hotel keeper here. The hotel is now kept by Mrs. Stout. 

Schutt, Hiram, Manchester, was born in the town of Manchester, November 17, 
1824. Prior to the war he was engaged in mercantile transactions at Port Gibson. 
In 1852 he raised Company K, One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Regiment, which was 
ordered to the seat of war. He participated in a number of battles and skirmishes, 
and was wounded in right arm, and shot through the side at Drury's Bluff on May 16, 
1861. On July 3 his regiment joined the army of the Potomac, with which it remained 
until the close of the war, after which he was mustered out with a major's commission. 
Major Schutt has served as justice of the peace and justice of sessions. In 1865 he was 
elected on the Republican ticket to the State Legislature for three years. 

Southerland, Jerome P., Gorham, a native of Potter, Yates county, was born July 
10, 1831. His father, James, son of David, was born in Potter, and married Tlieda 
Prouty, by whom he had eight children. He died in 1830. Jerome P. was reared on 
a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1855 he married Sarah C. Clark of 
Seneca, a daughter of Samuel B. Clark, whose father, David, was a native of London, 
England, and in an early day came to Seneca. The wife of Samuel B. Clark was Mar- 
garet Robson, a native of Seneca. Subject and wife have had three children : Ora and 



348 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTS. 

Frank (deceased), and Frank C. Mr. Southerland came to Gorham in 1868 and pur- 
chased eighty acres of land, which he has increased to 130. He is a Democrat in poh- 
tics. Frank C. Southerland was born in Gorham February 10, 1872, and educated in 
Canandaigua Academy. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and of the Good 
Templars Lodge. 

Silvernail, Peter, Canandaigua, was born in Berlin, Rensselaer county, September 22, 
1821. The paternal ancestors of subject were Hollanders, and the name of Silvernail 
appears in the early history of our country. His grandfather, Philip, was a resident of 
Dutchess county, and had seven sons, of whom William was the fifth. He was born in 
1797, and married at twenty-one years Christina Mills. In 1822 they removed to Pot- 
ter, Yates county, where Mrs. Silvernail died in 18G5, and William February 17, 1877. 
William was prominent in church and other good works, and was a deacon of the church 
in Potter a great many years. Our subject is one of a family of ten children, three of 
whom are living : Jane, wife of Milton Shotts of Potter ; Catherme, widow of Joseph 
Seymour of Sodus, Wayne county, and Peter. The latter was educated in the common 
schools, and assisted on his father's farm until of age, when he learned the carpenter 
and joiner trade, which he followed until 1865. He then bought a farm of over a 100 
acres in Canandaigua where he has made many improvements, and has now a beautiful 
residence erected in 1876. The principal product of the farm is grain. Mr. Silvernail 
has always taken an active interest in church work, and for several years was superin- 
tendent of the Cheshire Sunday-school. He married in 1845 Sarah A., daughter of 
Seth Beeman, a farmer of Canandaigua, and they have had three children, all of whom 
are deceased: Marion Antoinette died October 18, 1872, aged twenty-six years; Dr. 
William M. died April 23, 1883, aged thirty-three ; and Adelbert died April 17, 1878, 
in his twenty-fourth year. 

Smith, Rufus V., Manchester, is a son of Asa, who settled in this town about 1813. 
The family originally located in New England, from which vicinity they moved to this 
State. His great-grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier and was killed at the battle 
of Bunker Hill. Asa Smith, father of subject, died in 1868, and his mother in 1884. 
Rufus V. Smith was born May 3, 1839, and has never married. He owns a fine farm of 
112 acres, located on the Port Gibson and Canandaigua road, upon which he lives. Mr. 
Smith is a staunch Republican and has held several town offices. 

Sidway, George D., East Bloomfield, is a native of Shiawassa county, Mich., born 
October 8, 1840, a son of Charles, whose father, William, was many years a resident of 
Newburg, Orange county, and there died in 1811. The wife of William was Elizabeth 
Danes, by whom he had three sons and a daughter. In an early day the family came to 
Canandaigua. Charles was born in Orange county in 1808 and was a child when he 
came to Canandaigua. He was educated in the common schools and learned the car- 
riage maker's trade in Rochester. In 1836 he married Susan Lee, a native of Yates 
county, and a daughter of James and Sarah (Smith) Lee. Mr. Sidway and wife had 
nine children. In 1835 he went to Michigan and resided until 1864, then returned to 
Ontario county and bought the farm of 150 acres now owned by George D. Here in 
1874 Mrs. Sidway died, and in 1875 Mr. Sidway married second, Lydia Crosby of Ben- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 349 

ton. He next went to Grenesee where he lived until his death, August 21, 1882. James 
Lee was born in 1778 and was the father of ten children. He was a farmer and miller 
and died in Penn Yan in 1868, and his wife in 1857. James Lee had a brother, Dr. Lee 
of Penn Yan, who was assemblyman in 1817, and in 1833 and 1834 was in the United 
States Congress. The parents of James Lee were Thomas and Waty (Sherman) Lee, 
he a native of Fishkill, born in 1739. They were the parents often children. Mr. Lee 
settled in Ontario county in 1790 and there lived and died in 1814. He owned 1,300 
acres of land and a grist-mill, and ground the first rye west of Cayuga Lake, July 4, 
1790, and the first wheat July 5. Subject of sketch was reared on a farm and educated 
in the common schools and Leona Academy, Jackson county, Mich. He is a wagon 
maker by trade and followed it some years in Cleveland, Detroit, London, Hamilton, 
Canandaigua and Rochester. In 1864 he came to East Bloomfield with his parents and 
has since been a farmer except two years spent in the grocery business in Canandaigua. 
June 3, 1874, he married Maria Clark, a native of Grreece, Monroe county, and they 
have one child, Susan S. Mr. Sidway owns the old homestead and also another farm 
near Canandaigua, known as the Eastman place. He is a general farmer and makes a 
specialty of breeding White Leghorn chickens for egg production. In politics he is a 
Republican, in religion he and his wife are Presbyterians. The parents of Mrs. S'd- 
way were David and Sophia (Putnam) Clark, native of New Jersey and she of Victor 
N. Y., and they had seven children. Mr. Clark is a farmer and at present resides in 
Victor. The parents of David Clark were David and Catherine GifFord, he a native of 
New Jersey and an early settler of Monroe county. N. Y. 

Smelzer, John M., Geneva, was born in Lodi, Seneca county, November 7, 1846, and 
was educated in the public schools, graduating from Lima Seminary. In early life he 
was a farmer with his father and af tewards on his own account. He was a merchant 
in Watkins ten years and after a period of rest became a captain in the service of the 
Seneca Lake Steam Navigation Company for twelve years. About 1883 he came to 
Geneva to reside. In February, 1891, he was elected police justice for the term of 
four years. September 23, 1867, he married Nancy A. Halsey of his native place, and 
they have four children : John H., George P., Lizzie K., and Mary C. Mr Smelzer's 
father, Philip, was born in the north of Ireland and came to the United States when 
five years old. He married Matilda Meeker, who was born in New Jersey and rode 
horseback when a young girl with her parents to this part of this State. They had 
eleven children, of whom eight grew to maturity : John M., Mary, Jane, Sarah, Helen, 
Lewis M., Baxter T., and Addie. Mr. Smelzer is a member of Jefferson Lodge No. 
332 of Watkins F. & A. M., also of Watkins Chapter No. 22 Royal Arch Masons. 

Scott, WinSeld, Geneva, was born in Canajoharie, Montgomery county, June 28, 
1834, and received a liberal education. He has had a variety of occupations, for a 
time being bookkeeper in New York. In 1850 he married Caroline Scott of Missouri, 
and they have seven children : Genio C, a resident of Kansas ; James R., a merchant 
in Bellona, Yates county ; Walter, who resides in the State of Washington ; Samuel 
W., a resident of California; Helen M., who married Fred C. Barnes; Frank W. and 
John C, both of whom reside at home. Mr. Scott's father, Genio, was born in Livonia, 
Livingston county, in 1806. He was a farmer and was twice married. His first wife 



350 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

was Catharine Roof, by whom he had four sons: George M., Walter, Winfield, and 
one who died unnamed. Mr. Scott died December 19, 1879, and his widow in 1889. 
Our subject has been one of the assessors of his town six years, and was also the enu- 
merator of the town in the last census. In politics he is a Democrat. 

Skidmore, jr., Thomas, Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, June 26, 1869, a son 
of Thomas Skidmore, a boot and shoe merchant of this town. Our subject was educated 
in Canandaigua Academy under Prof. J. C. Norris, from which he graduated in 1890. 
The same year he entered Cornell University, where he studied until 1891 , returning here 
to assist his father in his store. He remained with him until November 15, 1892, then 
established a wholesale and retail furniture store on Main street, the store being about 
thirty feet front by 150 in depth, occupying three floors for trade, and a basement for 
reserve stock. In the rear is a storage and manufacturing establishment, seventy-five 
feet by 250. Mr. Skidmore carries a complete stock of everything necessary to furnish 
a house, from kitchen to drawing-room. He is a member of Merrill Hose Co. 

Skidmore, Thomas, Canandaigua, was born in Bristol, England, October 3, 1841, and 
came to this country in 1862, locating in Canandaigua, where he has ever since made 
his home. He first engaged in the hat and cap business with Mr. Maggs, which he fol- 
lowed until April, 1869, when he started in the boot and shoe business, which he has 
continued ever since. His store is at 204 Main street, has a frontage of eighteen feet, 
by seventy-five deep. He uses the upper floor for repairing and custom work and as a 
reserve stock room, and carries a very complete stock of boots, shoes, rubbers, slippers, 
etc. Mr. Skidmore married in 1805 Mary A. Halligan of Canandaigua, and they have 
three children : Anna A., Thomas, jr., the furniture dealer, and Frederick, a clerk in 
the store. Mr. Skidmore is a member of F. & A. M. No. 294, and of the M. E. church. 

Smith, Chapin H., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, October 22, 1863, a son 
of Lewis M., a native of Yates county, who came to this town about 1860. He has 
always dealt in grain, avooI, and hops. He married Antoinette Hawlej^, a sister of Dr. 
J. A. Hawley of this town, and they had three children : Estella, wife of James 
Douglas of Manchester ; Daley C, a student ; and Chapin H. Mrs. Smith died in May, 
1879. The whole life of subject, with the exception of about eight months spent in 
Texas, has been spent in this town. He was educated at the Canandaigua Academy, 
and on leaving school became clerk in Pomeroy Fitch's seed store, with whom he re- 
mained three years. April 1, 1880, he engaged with the American Express Co. in 
their office here, starting as helper and advancing to a clerkship. October 1, 1887, he 
went to Texarkana, Texas, where he was cashier for the Pacific Express Co., and re- 
turned here the following April on account of his health. He then went as driver for 
the Adams Express Co., which superseded the United States Co., in 1886. Mr. Smith 
was driver but a month and a half when he was appointed agent of the company, and 
has ever since held that position. Mr. Smith is a member of Canandaigua Lodge No. 
294 F. & A. M., and of Excelsior Chapter No. 164, a member of Canandaigua Lodge K. 
of P. No. 145 and of Mutual H. & L. Company. Mr. Smith married, June 15, 1888, 
Flora A. Cornish of Cananda'gua, and they have one child, Stanley McKay. Mr. and 
Mrs. Smith are attendants of the Baptist church of Canandaigua. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 351 

Schwing-, William E., Clifton Springs, was born in Germany in 1862. He came to 
this country in 1883. Mr. Schwing established a bakery and confectionery at Clifton 
Springs in 1889, which he sold to his brother soon afterward. He then went West, 
where he remained until 1892, when he returned, and is about to establish a new bak- 
ery enterprise at Phelps. He is at present with his brother at Clifton Springs. Mr. 
Schwing is a member of the K. of P., etc. 

Spangle, Simon, Hopewell, was born in Hopewell, June 29, 1833. His life occupa- 
tion has been farming. (Jctober 14, 1856, he married Harriet, daughter of Christopher 
Fosher, an early settler of Seneca. His wife was Mary Hammond, by whom he had 
three sons and three daughters. He was a captain in the State militia, and died in 
1884, and his wife in 1889. Mertie, an adopted daughter of Simon Spangle and wife 
of Charles Gardner of Hopewell, died in March, 1885. In politics Mr. Spangle has 
has always been a Democrat, but has never aspired to public office. He and wife are 
members of the M. E. church at Hopewell Centre. Philip, a twin brother of Simon, 
now owns the homestead. He was reared on the farm and educated in the common 
schools. October 14, 1856, he married Mary E., daughter of Thomas and liucinda 
(Porter) Ottley, who had fourteen children. Mr. Ottley was a native of England, and 
when eighteen years of age came to America, where he was a surveyor. He was 
supervisor of Hopewell a number of years and also justice of the peace. He was 
superintendent of county poor for twenty-five years, and was at one time a member 
of the assembly. He died in 1856, and his wife in 1853. 

Sears, Simeon H., East Bloomfield, was born in Sharon, Conn., September 6, 1816, a 
son of John, son of Stephen, a sea captain, who was lost at sea. His wife was Sybil 
Hunt, who died in Connecticut about 1825, aged about ninety-four years. They had 
a son and four daughters. Subject's grandfather was three times married. John Sears 
was born in Sharon, and came to East Bloomfield in 1856, where he died in 1860, 
aged seventy six. His wife died at the age of eighty-three years. He was a phy- 
sician, and their children Avere : Sybil, Mary, Simeon, John, Vincent, Albert, Sarah and 
Fannie. Albert died of yellow fever in Mississippi, and Mary and Fannie died young. 
Simeon B. had a district and academic education, and at the age of tAventy-two years 
started for himself on a farm of his own of 100 acres. This he sold and located on 
150 acres, where he now lives in East Bloomfield. He was a trader in sheep and wool 
for several years, and is a Republican in politics. January 18, 1839, he married Mary 
J. Roberts, who was born on the adjoining farm to her husband in Connecticut, No- 
vember 19, 1816, She was a daughter of Samuel and Pamelia (Patchen) Roberts. 
Her grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. and Mrs. Sears have had five chil- 
dren: Mary, wife of Charles E. Eastman; Albert R. ; Amanda C, wife of Henry C. 
Brown; Louisa M., wife of George Parmalee; and Almira, wife of Francis Ellis. 

Seager, Edwin, Phelps, was born in the town of Phelps, December 4, 1821. He was 
a son .of Levi Seager, who was born in Connecticut, near the city of Hartford, who 
came to Phelps and settled in 1812. The grandfather, Micah Seager, was also a Con- 
necticut man. The great-grandfather was Joseph Seager, whose birthplace is not 
at this time definitely known. The mother of Edwin Seager was Sophia Streeter, who 



352 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

was born in the town of Phelps. Edwin Seager married, September 4, 1850, Mary- 
Jane Pritchard, one of six children of Benjamin and Jane Ann (Stoughtenbnrg) 
Pritchard of Phelps. The grandfather, James Pritchard, was born in London, Eng- 
land, and came to this country and settled at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., about the period of 
the Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Seager have four children : Charles S., Hattie Sophia 
George C, and Edwin J. George C. is a stirring newspaper man of Rochester, is court 
reporter, and also identified with various important enterprises. The Seager farm is 
a farm of seventy acres largely devoted to grape culture. 

Schu, Franklin N., Naples, was born in Wayland, Steuben county, August 5, 1861. 
He attended a German school for eleven years at Perkinsville and the Wayland dis- 
trict school three years. At the age of twenty-four he began traveling for a Phila- 
delphia house, which he continued for three years, then returned to Wayland and re- 
mained several years. August 24, 1886, he married Gettie, daughter of R. L. Stone of 
Avoca, Steuben county. He kept a saloon in Wayland for two years, then went to 
Swains, Allegany county, and was in a hotel for one year ; was one year in a factory 
at Avoca, then conducted a fruit store in Corning. He was in Fall Brook for about 
a year, also in the railroad shops six months, and from there ttfoved to Naples, where 
he engaged with Capt. E. A. Griswold as collector, etc., in his fruit basket manu- 
factory. 

Smith, Edward, Manchester, was born in Manchester, December 12, 1825. His an- 
cestors were from Connecticut, and they participated in the War of 1812 and the Revo- 
lution. In 1852 Mr. Smith purchased his fine property, which he has since been im- 
proving and adding to, until now it is a very valuable farm. His wife was Alice E. 
Harmon, and they have two sons. Mr. Smith has held the offices of constable, path- 
master, etc., and is a man of more than ordinary ability and integrity. 

Stark, Charles W., Gorham, was born in Canandaigua, August 25, 1837, a son of 
Jedediah, a son of John, a native of Connecticut. Jedediah was born in Salisbury, 
Conn., September 15. 1808. In early life he moved with his mother to Canandaigua, 
where he kept a hotel and lumber yard. September 4, 1838, he married Annie Fowler, 
born April 21, 1807, at Gorham, on the farm now occupied by Charles W. Her father, 
Reuben W. Fowler, was born August 2, 1778, in Connecticut, and died September 17, 
1856. He married Cecil Sawyer February 24, 1806. She was born May 25, 1782. 
They had three sons and one daughter. His wife died at the age of seventy-five years. 
Jedediah Stark had seven sons and three daughters. He died September 1, 1889, and 
his wife in September, 1881. Charles W. was educated in the common schools and 
graded schools of Penn Yan. August 30, 1862, he enlisted in Company F. One Hun- 
dred and Forty-eighth N. Y. Vols., and served until March 16, 1865, when he was 
wounded and taken to the hospital at Fort Darling, remaining until his recovery, when 
he was honorably discharged. From April 15 to May 16 he was in skirmishes and 
battles before Petersburg. Mr. Stark has been twice married, first in 1865 to Frances 
Sawyer, a native of Middlesex, who died in 1869. He married second Mary Welfare, 
December 31, 1874. She was born in England in 1850, a daughter of Thomas and 
Rebecca Welfare, who came to Philadelphia in 1854, and afterwards to Hopew;ell 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 353 

where they now reside. They have four children. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Stark 
are: Edward B., Charles L., Celia M., Nellie E., Lansford B., Mabel L., Thomas W., 
Oscar S. Mr. Stark is a Republican, and a member of Scott Post G. A. R. No. 319, at 
Rushville. He has been in the mercantile business at Rushville and Rochester and has 
also kept hotel at Canandaigua, He is now a farmer in Grorham. 

Smith, Virgil, Gorham, is a native of Gorham, born February 7, 1839. His father, 
Nathaniel, was a son of Enos and Phoebe Smith, natives of Orange county, N. Y. 
March 4, 1819, he married Mary T. Yeckley, born May 17, 1796, and a daughter of 
John and Esther Yeckley. Mr. Smith and wife had four sons and four daughters. In 
1820 he came to Gorham and settled on a farm of 160 acres, and there spent the re- 
mainder of his days. He was one of the organizers and also president of the Gorham 
Agricultural Society. Mrs. Smith died in 1868, aged seventy-two years. Mr. Smith 
married second Rachel Hood, July 21, 1868. Mr. Smith died August 25, 1886, aged 
ninety-three years. Virgil Smith married, December 5, 1865, Fanny Mitchel, a native 
of New Jersey, born July 26, 1844. She is a daughter of Henry C, a son of John 
Mitchel, a native of New Jersey. In 1864 Henry C. came to Gorham, where he at 
present resides. His wife died in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had two children : 
Mary, wife of Dales Prankish, and Albert M., born April 27, 1870. The latter married 
January 10, 1893, Ella M. Shaw, of Gorham. Subject is a carpenter by trade, and has 
followed that business for twenty years. He is a Democrat, and has been trustee, 
justice of the peace, and treasurer of Gorham Agricultural Society three years. He 
is a member of Canandaigua Lodge No. 236 I. 0. 0. F. 

Thompson, George T., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua January 8, 1854, a 
son of Thomas, a carpenter of this town. He was educated in the common schools and 
the academy under Professors Clarke and Halsey, and his first business venture was in 
1870, when he engaged with S. S. Bergher, and in 1876 he went in partnership with 
him in the manufacture of sash, blinds and doors. This partnership lasted until the 
spring of 1885, when he bought out the interest of Mr. Bergher, and has since con- 
ducted the business alone. In 1890 he added the handling and dealing in lumber, buy- 
ing out the yard of E. 0. Wader. In 1890-91 he was one of the village trustees. He 
married in 1879 Louise M., daughter of Edward Parrish, of Canandaigua, and their 
union has been blessed by two sons, Arthur E. and Carl G. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson 
are members of St. John's Episcopal church, of which he is a vestryman. 

Turner, the late Thomas C, was born on the homestead April 22, 1817, was educated 
in the public schools, and was a farmer. December 31, 1845, he married Nancy M. 
Ellis, of Victor, and they had five children : Henry E., Isabel C, Jennie S., Emmett B. 
who died at the age of sixteen years, and William H. was born May 2, 1862, was edu- 
cated in the public schools, and is one of Victor's enterprising farmers. He married 
Lizzie E. North, of Canandaigua, and they have one son, L. Ellis, born November 14, 
1885. His wife died March 28, 1886. Thomas C. died February 27, 1874. Horace, 
father of Thomas C, was a soldier in the War of 1812. 

Trickey, Cyrus, Canandaigua, was born on the homestead in Academy, May 6, 1860, 
the only son of Jeremiah Trickey. He was educated in the common schools and at 



354 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Canandaigua Academy under Prof. N. T. Clarke, and assisted on his father's farm until 
he was twenty-five. In 1884 he was appointed postmaster for the Academy office, and 
the next year built a store here which he has since conducted. He carries a general 
line of merchandise of all kinds, and controls the trade of Southern Canandaigua, and 
of Bristol and South Bristol. He has always taken an active interest in the Repub- 
lican party, but has never been an aspirant for office. He married, November 28, 
1883, Anna L., daughter of Harrison Phillips, of Canandaigua, and they have three chil- 
dren : Hazel L., born February 2, 1886 ; Katie A., born November 28, 1888 ; and Alma, 
born July 6, 1892. In addition to his store Mr. Trickey conducts a farm of 123 acres 
in Canandaigua, and also owns a residence and lot of seven acres near Academy 
school- house. 

Taylor, George, Geneva, was born in Norfolk. England, March 3, 1830. He came to 
the United States with his parents when five years old, locating in Geneva ; was edu- 
cated in the public schools and learned the bakery and confectionery business. He was 
in the employ of Hiram L. Suydam eighteen years, and began business for himself in 
1867, which has been continued with success. March 3, 1852, he married Mary P. 
Evered, of Honeoye Falls. She was born in Suffolk, England, and came to the United 
States in 1850. They have had four children : William E. ; Franklin P., who died in 
infancy; Charles E. (died August 19, 1882) ; and Ida B. Charles E. married Laura J. 
Jones, of Clyde, and they have two daughters : Daisy I., and Edna M. Ida B. married 
Philip R. Kirk, formerly of Bridgeport, Conn., and they have one daughter, Edith M. 
Mr. Taylor is a member of the Old Castle Lodge No. 299 I. 0. 0. F., and has held all 
the offices of that organization. 

Tompkins, Vinson E., Geneva, the owner and proprietor of the well known Tomp- 
kins House in Geneva, was the son of Ira G. Tompkins, a native of Dutchess county, 
and a landlord of good reputation in Ontario county and vicinity, he having kept public 
house in Naples, and also at Spencer's Corners before coming to Geneva. In 1825 Ira 
G. Tompkins came to Geneva and was foreman in H. L, Lumb's shoe shop, but in 1844 
he became proprietor of the old Geneva House, which he kept for nearly four years. 
The latter is prominently located near the depots, and has always been made the head- 
quarters for the New York Central and Lehigh Valley officials, and among the many 
railway magnates who have enjoyed the hospitality of this house we may recall the 
name of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt. Ira G. Tompkins opened this house in 1848 
and maintained it until about the time of his death December 29, 1888, being succeeded 
in the proprietorship by his son, Vinson E. Tompkins, who is now its owner ; and 
we may say without exaggeration that the son is the worthy successor of his father, 
for the excellence of cuisine at the Tompkins House is well known throughout Central 
New York. 

Taylor, William, Geneva, was born in Norfolk county, England. He married Mary 
Becket, and they came to America in 1836, settling in Geneva. He was a wagonmaker 
by trade and they had six children. He died in July, 1888, and his wife in 1836. 
George, son of William, was six years of age when his parents came to Geneva. At 
the age of fifteen years he went to learn the baker's trade, and in 1867 established a 



t"AMlLY SKETCHES. 355 

bakery at Geneva, which he has carried on ever since. He married Mary Everett and 
has one child, Ida B.. wife of P. R. Knk, Avho resides in Geneva. The family are mem- 
bers of the M. E. church. 

Treat, Fred E., of 72 Bristol street, Canandaigua, was born in South Bristol, Jime 27, 
1857, a son of Richard S., who has made hi« home in Bristol for forty years. He is a 
native of Vermont, and has always followed the carpenter trade. He has three chil- 
dren : Richard S., jr., a carpenter of Canandaigua ; Flora A., of South Bristol ; and Fred 
E. Until 1878 the latter made his home in ?outh Bristol. He was educated in the 
common schools and Naples Academy, and on leaving school took up the trade of his 
father. In 1878 he came to Canandaigua, where he was employed by Contractor Kino- 
six years, and followed various other employments until October, 1889, when he took 
his first contract, and since then has built some of the best residences and public build- 
ings in this section. During 1892 he built a saloon and residence in Canandaigua, the 
Dwyer block, one of the finest in the town, the Quigley block, and four residences, be- 
sides repair work. He is a Mason and also a Republican. He married in 1884 Cora 
M., daughter of Calvin Crane, a farmer of Hopewell. 

Thatcher, Lester, Hopewell, was born in Canandaigua, October 14, 1842, a son of 
Alonzo Thatcher, who removed to Hillsdale county, Mich., where Lester was edu- 
cated. In 1864 he returned to Hopewell, and in 1865 married Lorada Freshour, born 
in Hopewell in 1840, a daughter of William, son of John Freshour. Her father was 
born in Hopewell in 1813, and married Mahetable Penn, a distant relative of William 
Penn. Mr. Freshour and wife had three daughters : Mai-y (deceased) wife of Augustus 
T. Smith ; Hester A., wife of Edward Wright, of Canandaigua ; and Lorada. Mr. Fres- 
hour was one of the leading farmers of Hopewell, and was assessor several years. 
He died in 1891 and his wife in 1856. Lester Thatcher and wife have had three 
children : Hettie E., wife of Charles H. Rockfeller, a farmer of Gorham, Angle L. (de- 
ceased) ; and Sylvia E., at home. Mr. Thatcher is a Republican in politics, and has 
been highway commissioner three years. He is a member of Hopewell Grange 
No. 454. 

Thatcher, Alonzo, Hopewell, was born in Hopewell, Ontario county, July, 1816, is a 
son of Israel Thatcher, of Massachusetts, who came to Hopewell in 1808, and here 
spent the remainder of his days. His wife was Delight Litchfield, by whom he had 
five sons and five daughters. He died in February, 1866, and his wife in 1856. Alonzo 
Thatcher was reared on a farm, and married in 1840 Hannah E. Purdy, a native of 
Yates county, born in 1822. Her parents were Francis and Annie (Grifiith) Purdy, 
who had one son and four daughters. Mr. Purdy was an early settler of Canan- 
daigua. Mr. Thatcher and wife have had three sons and two daughters, two of whom 
are living : Lester, and Annie J., wife of Asa F. Miles, a son of Amasa, who was a son 
of Thomas Miles, born in Massachusetts, who settled in Hopewell in 1802, and died 
September 12, 1842. Amasa Miles was born in Hopewell in 1812. His wife was Fi. 
delia Root, by whom he had twelve children. He died in July, 1888, and his wife died 
in May of that year. Mr. Miles and wife have one child, Mary J. He is a mem- 
ber of Canandaigua Grange No. 138 ; of Canandaigua Lodge No. 294 F. & A. M., and 



3o6 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Excelsior Chapter No. 166 R. A. M. He has been Master of Ceremony in the Blue 
Lodge, and Master of Third Vail in the Chapter. Alonzo Thatcher is a Republican, 
and a member of Canandaigua Grange No. 158. In 1845 he moved to Hillsdale county, 
Mich., and there lived nineteen years, then returning to Hopevpell, w^here he has since 
resided. 

Taylor, Loren A., West Bloomfield was born in Honeoye Falls in 1839. His father 
Chester W., came to West Bloomfield in 1830, and married Emily Sawdy, of Marathon, 
Cortland county, and had four children : Loren A. ; Clinton E., a farmer of this town 
and a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, who was taken prisoner at Harper's 
Ferry ; Alfred L., of Fairport ; and one who died in infancy. Mary Jane Taylor, an 
adopted daughter, now lives with Loren A. Chester W. Taylor died in October, 1890. 
Loren A. was educated in the common schools and at East Bloomfield Academy, also 
at Lima Seminary, and has been engaged in farm produce business for many years. 
He has been justice of the peace for four years. He was a private in the One Hun- 
dred and Forty-eighth N. Y. Vols, in the late war and was dischaiged for disability. 
He married, in 1864, Mary E. Parmelee, of East Bloomfield. 

Torrey, Henry H., Naples, son of Larned Torry, was born in Middlesex, Yates county, 
January 7, 1820. He was educated at the common schools of that town, and moved 
to Marion, Wayne county, in 1868, remaining about six years. In 1877 he removed to 
Naples and married Delia Metcalf, who died January 4, 1890, and in July of that year 
he married Mary J. Brayton, daughter of Israel Blood, of Rushville. Mr. Torrey has 
been an active business man and has taken much interest in politics. He was highway 
commissioner one year, constable one year in Middlesex, etc. 

Tozier, James H., Naples, was born in the city of New York, April 16, 1863, and 
came to Canandaigua in 1865, lived there until 1877, and then removed to Naples, 
Ontario county, where he has resided since. He was educated at the public schools in 
Canandaigua. When he first came to Naples he worked on a farm, and commenced 
the retail furniture and undertaking business in 1884. Mr. Tozier was married April 
26, 1887, to Mary Byington, of Naples. He was elected supervisor of the town of 
Naples in 1891 and re-elected in 1892. 

Tozier, George W., Gorham, was born in Hopewell July 13, 1826, a son of John 
Tozier, an early settler of Hopewell, whose first wife was Charlotte HubbeH; by whom ^^^ 
he had five daughters and a son George W. His second wife was Joanna Osburn by 
whom he had two children. Mr. Tozier was twice afterwards married. He came to 
Gorham and lived a number of years, then went to Clifton and afterwards to Canan- 
daigua where he died aged seventy-three years. He was a wagonmaker by trade, and 
a Democrat and was an active politician. He was well read in law and at one time did 
quite an extensive business as a pettifogger. George W. worked with his father until 
the latter sold his property in Gorham and has for the last forty years manufactured 
carriages and wagons at Reed's Corners, in which he has been very successful. He is 
a Democrat and a member of I. 0. 0. F. Lodge No. 236 at Canandaigua. 

Thompson, sr., William, Gorham, was born in Murrayshire, Scotland, April 16, 1818, 
a son of John and Janette (Milne) Thompson also natives of Murrayshire, who had 



MMILY sketches. 357 

eight sons and three daughters. John was a farmer and died in Scotland in 1860, and 
his wife December 22, 1883, aged ninety years. William Thompson was reared on a 
farm and educated in the common schools. He married Mary, a daughter of John and 
Mary (Southerland) Frazer, natives of Scotland, who had ten children. The children of 
Mr. Thompson are : Jessie, wife of Joel Bishop, and has four children ; John, married 
Sophia Hartman and resides in Auburn ; William, married Isabelle Robson ; Mary, a 
teacher at Clifton Springs ; Jean T., married M. H. Nelson and has two children ; and 
George who works his father's farm. In 1858 Mr. Thompson came to Canada and 
spent one year. He next spent one year in Wisconsin, and then came east and fol- 
lowed the milling business nine years in East Palmyra, Macedon, and Manchester Cen- 
tre. In 1868 he purchased the farm he now owns in Gorham. In 1881 he built a fine 
house and has made many improvements. He is a Republican. Mr. Thompson has 
three brothers in America and one in Scotland. 

Uttley, William, Canandaigua, was born in Williamson, Wayne county, March 3, 
1813. His father (also named William) was born in Maryland in 1776. Reconducted 
a mill in Maryland, and when he came to this State first located in Steuben county. 
William Uttley, sr., died in 1840. He married Hannah, daughter of Mathew Martin of 
Virginia, who afterwards located in Chapinville. They had nine children, all deceased 
but William, our subject. When the latter was fourteen years of age he came to Can- 
andaigua, and spent five years with Judge Howell, and was nine years in the employ 
of Jared Wilson. He worked John Gregg's farm nine years, and in the spring of 1858 
bought sixty-six acres of the Gregg farm in Hopewell, and in the fall of 1869 moved to 
Ea&t Bloomfield where he conducted a farm for eighteen months, and then went to 
Lima, Livingston county. Returning in 1872 he bought a farm of ninety-nine acres in 
Canandaigua, where he has ever since made his home. Mr. Uttley is a Republican. 
He married in 1837 Betsey, daughter of Lewis Wicks, of Middlesex, Yates county, and 
they had eight children, three of whom are living: Jared Wilson, and John Mosher, 
who conducts the homestead farm, and Margaret, who also lives at home. Mrs. Uttley 
died August 15, 1888 aged seventy-one years. 

Van Auken, Horatio, Phelps, the oldest of nine children living of George W. and 
Margaret (Van Etien) Van Auken, was born in the town of Phelps April 4, 1843. 
George W., the father, was born in Phelps in 1822 and died at the age of seventy years. 
The grandfather was David Van Auken, and his father, John, was the pioneer who 
came to Phelps and settled in 1793. He was a soldier of the War of 1812. The 
mother, Margaret Van Etten, was born in Wayne county, a daughter of Cornelia Van 
Etten. Horatio Van Auken married March 13, 1867, Laura S., daughter of William 
and Delia (Burgess) Aldrich, of Phelps. Her grandfather was Ziba Aldrich. Mr. Van 
Auken has occupied his present farm for seventeen years, he being the third occupant 
of it. It is devoted to general products and carries about -seventeen head of stock. 

Vanderhoof, Frederick D., Phelps, was born in Manchester April 28, 1843, one of six 
children (four now living) of Peter and Margaret (Doxtater) Vanderhoof. Jacob, the 
grandfather, was born in New Jersey, coming to Manchester and settling in early life. 
Frederick D. married in 1864 Armeda, daughter of John R. and Hannah C. Hyde of 



358 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Newark, N. Y. They have four children: Ina H., Fred, Neva W., and Bertrand G. 
Mr. Vanderhoof was educated at the schools at Clifton, read medicine with Dr. Pome- 
roy, of Newark, graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York 
city in March 1864. He entered the service as assistant surgeon until the close of the 
war. In February, 1867, he came to Phelps and engaged in the practice of his pro- 
fession, where he has since remained. 

Woods, James, Seneca, was born in Seneca, Ontario county, May 25, 1825. He was 
educated in the district school, has always followed farming. June 14, 1864, he mar- 
ried Mrs. Margaret (Dodge) Thatcher. Mr. Woods's father. James, was born in New 
Jersey in 1793 and came to Pennsylvania with his parents when he was six years old, 
and came to this old homestead at Flint Creek in 1823. He too was a farmer. In 
1821 he married Elizabeth McKnight formerly of Pennsylvania, and they had six chil- 
dren : Margaret, James, John, Elizabeth, Robert and Harriet N. Mr. Woods died 
September 1, 1880, and his wife May 24, 1873. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. 
Mrs. Woods's father, Joseph Thatcher, vi^as born in Conway, Mass., March 16, 1793, and 
came here when he was sixteen years old. He married Anna Le Fevre, and had ten 
children : Rebecca, Julia A., Ebenezer, Margaret, Sarah, Susan, Emeline, Jesse, Eliza- 
beth J., and a baby not named. Mrs. Woods married for her first husband John 
Dodge, who died December I, 1862. Joseph Thatcher was also a soldier in the War 
of 1812. Mrs. and Mrs. Woods attend and support the Methodist church at Flint 
Creek. His father was a class leader in the old church a great many years. 

Warner, Henry D., Phelps, was born on the Hiram Warner homestead in Phelps, he 
being one of four children of Hiram and Mary (Knapp) Warner, both of whom were 
born in the town of Hopewell. The grandfather, Rufus, came from Conway, Mass., 
and settled in Hopewell in early life. Henry D. married in January, 1875, Frances B. 
Spear, of Clifton Springs, in Manchester, a daughter of James and Mary (Baggerley) 
Spear, whose ancesters were Maryland people. They have three children : Bell, Earl, 
S., and Theodore Henry. The farms of Mr. Warner comprises 205 acres, used for 
grain and general crops, with fifteen acres of orchard. 

Warner, Rufus, Phelps, was born in Hopewell, February 26, 1833, son of Hiram and 
Mary Jane (Knapp) Warner, both natives of Hopewell. The grandfather, Rufus War- 
ner, was born in Conway, Mass., and came to Hopewell when a young man, he being 
one of the early settlers. Hiram, the father, always lived and died in Ontario county. 
Rufus Warner married in February, 1860, Charlotte W. Rice, of Michigan, daughter of 
Horace and Julia (Wheat) Rice. They have four children ; Henry Rice, Elmer 
Everett, Frank Wheat, and Morris E. Mr. Warner has lived in Phelps since he was 
three years of age. His farm of 114 acres produces mostly wheat, barley, oats, pota- 
toes and corn. He has also a fine apple orchard. 

Webb, George Nelson, West Bloomfield, was born in West Bloomfield, April 15, 
1838. His father, John, was born in Lunenburg, Vt., in 1796, and came at the age 
of fifteen years with his father, Cliarles, to West Bloomfield. John Webb married 
Nancy GilleH, a native of Lynn, Mass., who emigrated when a young girl with her 
parents to Detroit. Her mother was a sister of Reynold Peck. When Detroit was 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 359 

captured by the British and Indians in the War of 1812, she, with others, was made 
prisoner and held captive about six months. Later she was sent to Lima to school, 
and while there made the acquaintance of her future husband. They had six children, 
who grew to maturity : Mary, John, Jane, Emily, Gray and Homer, all living George 
worked for his father and attended the schools until of age. In 18G3 he enlisted in 
the One Hundred and Forty-eighth New York Volunteers, and served until the close 
of the war, participating in all of the nineteen engagements of that regiment. In 18G0 
he married Mary Fitch of Le Roy, and they had one son, William, born September 2. 
18G1, who lives near by, and is a poultry dealer. In the spring of 1868 Mr. Webb and 
his brother Homer purchased a half interest in the drain tile factory at Factory Hol- 
low. He soon after acquired Homer's interest, and a little later the remaining half of 
W. Tack Siver, and he has conducted the business alone, except for a year or two. 
Mr. Webb averages about 250,000 to 300.000 annually. His sales are mostly in On- 
tario, Livingst M onroe counties. Mr. Webb has a farm of eighty acres in Lima, 
Livingston county. 

Walmsley, Dr. Robert W., Canandaigua, was born in Dubuque, la., and when but 
three years of age his parents moved south. Dr. Walmsley is a graduate of the Uni- 
versity of Louisiana, from which he received his degree of M. D. His classical educa- 
tion was received at the University of Virginia and Randolph Macon College. He 
practiced five years in New York city, and then located in 1885 in Canandaigua, Avhere 
he has ever since controlled a large practice. Dr. Walmsley married in 1881 Phila- 
delphia, daughter of Dr. C. C. Beard of New Orleans. She was the granddaughter of 
Captain Thomas Stuart Monteith, who was one of the earliest settlers of this section 
coming to Canandaigua in 1832. Dr. Walmsley has one child, Gratia Stuart. He is a 
member of the Ontario County Medical Society of the Society of Physicians of the vil- 
lage, and is surgeon of the village police commissioners, the first incumbent of the 
office, newly created. 

Wheeler, O^car F., West Bloomfield, was born in Bristol, February 4, 1831, a son 
of Addison H. and Lucy P. (Remington) Wheeler. The grandfather, George A., a 
pioneer of Geneseo, ran a ferry on the the Genesee River, and also conducted a hotel. 
He died in East Bloomfield in 1837, at the age of sixty years. His wife was Phoebe 
Wheeler, by whom he had several children. Addison H. was born in Geneseo, Living- 
ston county, in 1801, and came to East Bloomfield with his parents, where he lived on 
the homestead all his life, excepting ten years spent in Canandaigua. He bought the 
farm of fifty-two acres where subject now resides, also 225 acres in Livingston county. 
He was a Republican and died in 1872. His wife died about 1886. She was born in 
Canandaigua, a daughter of Thaddeus Remington and Betsey Nelson, and she had nine 
children : Oscar F., Martha, who died aged twelve, Thaddeus R., Rob H., Edward R., 
Ulysses M., Ellen E., Lillian and another. Mr. Wheeler left a large property at his 
death. Oscar F. was raised on a farm and had a district and seminary education. At 
the age of twenty- one years he began life for himself where he now resides, in com- 
pany with his father, which they continued three years, then his brother took an inter- 
est, and at twenty-seven he sold to his father. He married and m^^ved to Bergen, 
Genesee county, where he bought sixty-five acres of land and lived eleven years. He 



360 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

then sold out and lived in Byron seven years. In 1878 he bought 152 acres, where he 
now lives, and on which he has made many improvements. He married, February 
24, 1859, Lucy S. Rowley, born in Rush, Monroe county, a daughter of R. and Lucy 
(Hay ward) Rowley of East Bloomfield, and Mr. Wheeler and wife have had eight chil- 
dren : Heber E., Stoughton R., Lucy D., wife of Charles Ilobson ; Oscar F., Rob H., 
Alice A., wife of Arthur Buell; Ellen E., and Jerome M. 

Warth, Samuel, Geneva, was born in the city of New York, on July 9, 1832. He 
was the son of Conrad and Margaret Warth, who came to Geneva in 1851, bringing 
two of their children : John S. and Samuel. The latter is the only survivor of the 
family now in Geneva, and although he began life with but little encouraging pros- 
pects, he is now a leading grocer of Geneva and a successful business man. His wife 
was Margaret E. Everson, by whom he has had three children, only one of whom, 
however, is now living. In politics Mr. Warth is a Democrat, but not active. 

White, Oliver H., Bast Bloomfield, a native of Dutchess county, was born August 
22, 1830. His father, Walter, was a son of Anthony, a native of Germany, who came 
to Dutchess county with his parents. Walter wa? born in that county in 1792. He 
married Mary Hall of his own county, by whom he had five sons and two daughters. 
In 1836 Mr. White came to Monroe county, where he died. He and wife belonged to 
the Society of Friends. His death occurred in 1872, and his wife in 1877. Oliver H. 
was educated in Brockport Academy. October 9, 1855, he married E. M. Ewer, a 
native of Monroe county, and daughter of Edwin Ewer, whose father, Isaac, was one 
of the first settlers of Mendon, Monroe county. Oliver H. is a general farmer. In 
1867 he came to East Bloomfield and purchased 115 acres, which he has greatly im- 
proved. He makes a specialty of breeding Langshan fowls, Jersey cattle and Cheshire 
swine. He was a Republican from the organization of that party until the organiza- 
tion of the People's party, when he joined the latter. Mr. White is a member of 
Miller's Corner's Lodge, No. 279, A. 0. TJ. W., and of East Bloomfield Grange, No. 94. 
For sixteen years he has been director for the Ontario County Fire Insurance Com- 
pany. He and family are birthright Quakers. The children of Mr. White are: Edwin 
E., William H., Charles R., and Kate E. (deceased.) Edwin E. graduated from the 
University of Michigan with the degree of M. A., and received a diploma to practice in 
the Supreme Court of Michigan. He married Mary A. Morey of Lima, and they re- 
side in St. Johns, Mich., where Mr. White has a very extensive real estate and loan 
business. William H. graduated from the Medical and Pharmaceutical department of 
Michigan University, and married Jessie D. Pampell. They have one daughter, Marion, 
and reside in Grand Rapids. Charles R. married Laura E., daughter of William Green 
of East Bloomfield, and they have two children : Oliver W. and Edwin E. Charles R. 
was educated in East Bloomfield Academy and in Michigan University. He has been 
president of the County Alliance for two years. He is a member of Mount Pleasant 
Lodge, No. 217, I. 0. O. F. For two years he has been engaged in the sale of agri- 
cultural implements. All of the sons are members of the " Sigma Phi." 

Wheeler, Simeon R., East Bloomfield, was born in East Bloomfield, December 28, 
1817. His father was Benjamin D., a son of Benjamin, a native of Massachusetts, born 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 3G1 

February 7. 1764, who married Celia Buffington July 28, 1782. She was born in 
Massachusetts August 26, 1762. Benjamin had six sons and four daughters. In 1800 
Mr. Wheeler and wife came to East Bloom field, and settled on the farm now owned by 
Simeon R. He was an extensive land owner, and built the first grist-mill in South 
Bloomfield. He was also in the Revolutionary War. He died February 6, 1836. 
Benjamin D. was born in Massachusetts April 10, 1889. He came to East Bloomfield 
and married Deborah Reed, born February 19, 1809. Mr. Wheeler and wife had two 
sons and three daughters. He died September 30, 1818, and his wife married second, 
John Pool, and they had three daughters and a son. Mr. Pool died January 7, 1800, 
and Mrs. Pool died in 1878. Simeon R. was educated in the Genesee Wesleyan Semi- 
nary. April 2, 1839, he married Betsey Bently, born in Richmond in 1819, a daughter 
of Isaac Bently and Hannah Dubois of Saratoga county, N. Y., who came to Richmond 
in 1816. He died January 10, 1863, and his wife April 12, 1855. Subject and wife 
have had one daughter, Gertrude, who married Theron P. Buell in 1858. She died 
May 30, 1859. Mr. Buell was born August 10, 1834, and died May 28, 1889. Wife of 
subject died May 9, 1878, and November 5, 1879, he married second Clara (Daily) Hin- 
man, widow of Elijah S. Hinman, by whom she had four daughters. She was a daugh- 
ter of William Daily of Chemung county, and his wife was Clara C. Cunningham, 
daughter of George Cunningham of Scotland, an early settler of Chemung county, N. 
Y. Mr. Wheeler has always been one of the leading farmers of the town, and owns 
253 acres of land. Mr. Wheeler was a Whig, and is now a Republican. He voted for 
William Harrison, and has twice voted for his grandson. He has always been active 
in politics, and has been commissioner of highways six years, assessor seventeen years, 
justice of the peace three years, and superintendent of the county poor twenty-one 
years. Mr. Wheeler was a member of the I. 0. 0. F. Lodge of East Bloomfield, and of 
the Monumental Lodge of Good Templars of Bristol. He has for fifty years been an 
active worker in the Universalist church of Baptist Hill, and many years trustee. Mr. 
Wheeler was appointed postmaster at South Bloomfield when office was organized in 
1882, and has since held that office. 

Witter, W. Murray, Gorham, a native of Seneca, was born December 23, 1843. He 
is a son of Warren B., a direct descendant of Wm. Witter, of England, who with his 
family came to America and settled at Lynn, Mass., 1640. William Witter, sr., died on 
the voyage, but his wife Hannah lived to be very old. William Witter, sr., was a very 
old man and a noted Baptist minister. Josiah Witter was twice married, first to Eliza- 
beth Wheeler, by whom he had two daughters and one son. His second wife was 
Sarah Crandall, and they had one son and three daughters. Josiah Wheeler died at 
Stonington, Conn., in 1690. Ebenezer Witter was born in Stonington, Conn., May 28, 
1668. His wife was Dorathy Morgan, by whom he had four sons and five daughters. 
He died at Preston, Conn., June 12, 1698, and married Elizabeth Gove, by whom he 
had five sons and three daughters. She died 1761, and he married second Mrs. Amy 
Meach. Ezra, son of Joseph, was born January 22. 1727, at Preston, Conn. His wife 
was Annie Morgan, and they had three sons and one daughter. He died March 9, 
1761, and his wife March 17, 1761. William, son of Ezra, was born in Stonington, 



362 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Conn., March 16, 1759. His wife was Esther Breed, by whom he had one daughter 
and three sons. He died March 10, 1845, and his wife August 26. 1819. William, son 
of William, was born in Stonington, Conn., February 4, 1786, and married iu 1810 
Bulah Carter. They had four sons and two daughters. He came to Aurelius, Cayuga 
county, and later, in 1820, came to Gorham. He was a minister and physician, and 
died September 12, 1847. His wife died December 16, 1821. Warren B., son of Rev. 
Wm. Witter, and father of subject, was born at Aurelius, Cayuga county, in 1818, and 
came to Gorliam when young. He was educated in Canandaigua Academy, and taught 
forty-three terms of school. June 19, 1841, he married Caroline Shoemaker, born 
October, 1814. She died August 7, 1873. He was one of the founders of the Ontario 
Patrons Fire Relief Association, and was its first president. He was county superin- 
tendent of poor for nine years, and school superintendent many years. He died in 
1885. W. Murray Witter has always been a farmer and now owns 216 acres. He 
breeds carriage horses and Merino sheep. December 19, 1865, he married Alicia T. 
Brundage, a native of Gorham, N. Y., born June 28, 1848, a daughter of James Brund- 
age of Rensselaer county. His wife was Emeline, daughter of Isaac Arnold, who had 
two daughters. He came to Gorham and purchased seventy-five acres of land where 
W. Witter now resides. He died in 1863. Mr. Witter and wife have had five chil- 
dren, four now living : Ormond D., Jean M., Emeline F., Irwin H., and Roy E. (de- 
ceased). Mr. Witter is a Republican, and has been justice of the peace eight years. 
He and his wife are members of the Grange at Reed's Corners. 

Wilkins, Gustavus C, Geneva, was born August 8, 1843, in the western part of 
Russia. November 25, 1869, he landed in New York, and after spending a short 
time in that city and Philadelphia, went to Mount Vernon and remained for a time. 
He ha« been engaged in the meat business since 1871, and has spent two and a half 
years in Rochester. He married Caroline Krull, by whom he has had two children. 

Wilson, Matthew, Geneva, son of William, was born in the north of Ireland, August 
18, 1819. In June, 1839, he landed in New York, and remained there three years as 
clerk in a large wool house. In 1842 he settled in Geneva, and bought wool for sev- 
eral years. In 1842 he engaged in painting and paper hanging, and in 1850 opened a 
wall paper store, where he has remained ever since. He married in 1852 Prudence S. 
DorcheS'.er, and has four children living : William, a clerk for his father ; Frank, a 
clerk; Sophia, married Solon B. Furman of Tampa, Fla., and died there in 1892; and 
Clara D., who married D. J. Van Auken. 

Young, W. Ambrose, Farmington, was born at Oaks Corners in the town of PhL'lp.«, 
April 25, 1836, and has always been a farmer. September 2, 1864, he enlisted in Com- 
pany A, One Hundred and Eleventh N. Y. S. Vols., and was honorably discharged at 
the close of the war. Was before Petersburg and followed Lee's Army until its sur- 
render. October 2, 1868, he married Almira M., daughter of Theodore and Matilda 
(Winnie) Pomeroy of this town. They have one daughter, Nettie, who married Thomas 
Barnsdale, of Walworth, Wayne county, and has two daughters, Iva and Ora. Mrs. 
Young's father, Theodore Pomeroy, was born in Springfield, Mass., and married Ma- 
tilda Winnie, of Albany county. They had nine children : David, Julia, Eliza, Lucena, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 363 

Alvira, Mark, Mary J., Mary J. 2d, and Daniel. Mrs. Young's father was an excellent 
school teacher. 

Young, James A., Farmington, was born at Oaks Corners in the town of Phelps, No- 
vember 9, 1843. He was educated in the public schools, and is a farmer. He enlisted 
twice, first in July, 1862, in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth N. Y. S. 
Vols., served until 18G3, when he re-enlisted as a Veteran in Company H, One Hundred 
and Eleventh N. Y. S. Vols., was taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry and paroled ; was in 
the campaign under Generals Hooker and Meade, was under fire three days in the battle 
of Gettysburg, and wounded in left arm ; was in Newark Hospital until November. 
He was wounded second time in the right thigh in the battle of the Wilderness on May 
5, and was honorably discharged in October, 1865. November 25, 1868, he married 
Lucina A. McLouth, and had one son, George W. Mr. Young's father was born at 
Oaks Corners, August 10, 1810, and married Lucinda Van Deren. They had eight chil- 
dren: William A., Sarah E., Mary A., James A., Edward P., John M., Samuel L., and 
Anna I. Mrs. Young's father, Allison McLouth, was born May 24, 1816, in this town, 
and married Julia Pomeroy. They had four children : Charles G., Lucina A., Matilda, 
and Emma L. Mr. Young is a member of Herendeen Post No. 107 G. A. R., Depart- 
ment New York of Shortsvilie, N. Y. 

C''^oley, George B., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, September 4, 1863, a son 
of Edgar M. Cooley, who was born here in 1826, a son of Lyman Cooley, who came to 
this country from Massachusetts early in the century. Lyman Cooley had seven sons, 
of whom Edgar Avas next to the youngest. Edgar M. Cooley at his death was a com- 
mission merchant in Canandaigua. George B. was the only child, and was but seven 
years old when his father died. He was educated at Walworth Academy under Prof. 
Norri«. After leaving school he taught a short time, and in 1883 entered the office 
of H. M. Field as clerk and law student, remaining with him until 1887, when he went 
into the office of Box, Norton & Bushnell at Buffalo, as managing clerk, returning 
here the following year to continue his studies with H. M Field. In September, 1889, 
in company with Albert B. Sackett, establis)ied the reporiing, typewriting and copy- 
ing office in the Atwater block, which they still conduct. In March, 1892, Mr. Cooley 
was nominated on the Republican ticket for town clerk, and elected without opposi- 
tion, re-elected in 1893, admitted to the bar in March, 1893. 

Sutherland, Lewis T., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua, September 25, 1848, a 
son of William, a native of Chatham, Columbia county, born December 5, 1800. He 
came to Ontario county about 1833, and settled on a farm adjoining the home of our 
subject, where he always made his home, and died there January 29, 1889. He mar- 
ried, before coming to Ontario county, Sarah Thompson, a native of Dutchess county, 
by whom he had five children, three sons and two daughters. One sister, Mrs. Maria 
CriflFen, died in Penfield about 1865. The children living are: Thompson, Eliza A., wife 
of John, of Canandaigua, and Lewis T. This town has always been the home of our 
subject. He was given an education in the common schools and Canandaigua Acad- 
emy, and assisted on his father's farm until twenty-three years of age, when he began 
farming for himself. In 1883 he bought his present farm, and in 1884 built his beauti- 



3G4 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

fill residence. He has alwa3'S taken an active interest in church work, and has been 
trustee of the Presbyterian church about four years, and is a director of the Canan- 
daigna Tinware Company. Mr. Sutherland married Ellen E., daughter of Addison H. 
Wheeler of East Bloomfield in 1871, and they have one child, Acey W., of Perkins's 
hardware store in Canandaigua. 

Robson, Robert W., Seneca, was born on the homestead near Hall's Corners, April 
20, 1845. He was educated in the district schools, Penn Yan Academy two terms, 
and follows farming. December 22, 1875, he married Mary S. A. Smith of this town, 
and they had three children: Jennie, Willard S., who died at the age of three years, 
and Walter. Mr. Robson owns and occupies the farm formerly owned by William 
Brown, and on which he with his wife. Jane Straughan (both natives of Northumber- 
land, Eng.), settled in the spring of 1805. Mrs. Brown's father, Robert Straughan, 
with his wife and eight children, came from England in the year 1801, and was one of 
the first of those composing the " English settlement in Seneca." Mr. Robson's father, 
Joseph, was born on the old homestead February 4, 1818. He married Polly B. Stod- 
dard of Sheldon, Wyoming county, and they had six children, two of whom died in 
infancy : Robert W., Orson S., Mary J., and John A. His grandfather, John Robson, 
was born in Northumberland, England, in 1784, and came to the United States in 1800, 
where he married Lydia Chapman, and had seven children. Mrs. Robson's father, 
Nathaniel Smitli, youngest son of William and Harriet Smith, was born in 1822, in the 
north part of the town of Geneva. He married Mary P. Brown of Seneca in 1846 and 
went to reside near Okemos, Ingham county, Mich., where their daughter, Mary S. A., 
was born. When six months old her mother died, August 3, 1850, when she was 
brought to live with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Brown. Her father died 
in Michigan in November, 1859. 

Ferguson, the late Smith, was born in Orange county in 1798. His ancestor, John 
Ferguson, settled in Westchester county, N. Y., in 1700, the family having in posses- 
sion papers showing he was, soon after purchasing real estate, in the " Borough " of 
Westchester. February 12, 1824, he married Emily, daughter of Sarah Wooden and 
Zephaniah Townsend of Ulster county, and they had seven children : Sarah C, Amelia 
T., Ann A., George A., Mary I., Josephine E., and Everard D. They came to 
reside in this <own in 1851. Their father died December 9, 1886; the mother, De- 
cember 23, 1886. Sarah married Chauncey Ferguson, and died January 29, 1881 ; 
Amelia married Fayette Jones, and died May 7, 1860 ; Ann A. married Benjamin Per- 
kins, and has a son and daughter ; Mary I. married Herman Ferguson, and resides in 
Newburgh, N. Y. ; Josephine E. married M. D. Skinner; Everard D., a physician in Troy, 
married Marion A. Farley of Crown Point, Ind., and has a son and daughter ; George 
and Josephine reside on the homestead. The family are of English and Scotch 
ancestry. 

Legerwood, George, Seneca, was born in Roxborourghshire, Scotland, June 4, 1825. 
He attended school there when a boy, and learned the blacksmith trade. He came to 
the United States in 1847, locating in Gorham for one year, and then came to Hall's 
Corners, where he conducted a blacksmith business over twelve years. He then pur- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 365 

chased a farm and has been one of Seneca's successful farmers. March 13, 1861, he 
married Margaret A. Rippey of Seneca, and they had two children, John A. and Mary 
E. John was eduoated in the public schools and is a farmer. He married Mary E. 
Saltier of Gorham, and they have a son and daughter, Anna B. and George W. The 
daughter, Mary E., presides over her father's house. Mrs. Legerwood died September 
18, 1889, mourned by a bereaved husband and many friends. Mr. Legerwood is now 
a retired farmer living at Hall's Corners. 

Wood, Charles H., Farmington, was born in Farmington, July 2, 1846. His early 
education began in the common schools. He began his course of academic studies at 
Macedon Academy, 1862, and completed his course at Canandaigua Academy, 1867. 
During the winter of 1863-4, Mr. Wood attended Eastman's Commercial School at 
Rochester, N. Y., and won his diploma with high and marked distinction from the 
faculty of that institution. Mr. Wood was a careful and observing student and fitted 
himself for teaching. He taught several years in our common .schools, also one year in 
Department No. 4 of Canandaigua Academy. As an instructor he had growing suc- 
cess, but owing to failing health and the advice of his physician, he gave up teaching 
and engaged in farm pursuits. Mr. Wood was the first and only practical temperance 
voter in his township, having voted the first Prohibition ticket in 1872. December 23, 
1875, he married Adelaide, olde-t daughter of George and Sarah (Birdsall) Hallock, 
Milton, Ulster county, N. Y. They have four children : Walter H., William C, George 
H., and Grace W. Mr. Wood's father, William, was born near Millbrook, Dutchess 
county, N. Y,, November 12, 1812, and came with his people to this county in 1833. 
April 22, 1845, he married Julia C. Willson of this town, who was born in Allamuchy, 
Warren county, N. J., May 29, 1823. They had two children, Charles H, and Cora E. 
The latter was born January 19, 1865, and died November 15, 1886. Mr. Wood's 
father died July 4, 1886, and his mother still lives at their homestead farm '' Brookside," 
on to which they moved April 11, 1871. Mrs. Adelaide H. Wood's father, George 
Hallock, was born in Milton, Ulster county, N. Y. May 2, 1815. December 4, 1845, 
he married Sarah C. Birdsall, who was born September 29, 1828. They had eleven 
children ; only five survive, viz. : Adelaide, Caroline, who married Edgar M. Clarke of 
Milton, N. Y. ; George W., who married Mary E. Haggard of Vermont; Martha H., 
who married Arthur E. Bell of Milton, N. Y. ; and Robert W., who married Isabel 
Taber of Milton, N. Y. He is now the only descendant living in the town.ship of the 
late Joseph Wood, who had litigation with the N. Y. C. R. R. Company fourteen con- 
secutive years and won the suit as to their right of way through his land. He then 
refused to sell the land, but leased it to the company for fifty years; said lease expired 
in 1886. The validity and force of said lease is now pending in the courts. 

Payne, William Harold, of Nashville, Tenn., born at Farmington, N. Y., May 12, 
1836. His youth was spent in hard work upon his father's farm. He took up the 
study of algebra and grammar at the age of thirteen years, and unassisted went 
through these and other studies. At the age of sixteen he entered Macedon Academy, 
then under the direction of the Rev. Samuel Senter, and studied there nearly two 
years. In the spring and summer of 1854 he spent three months at the New Yorl< 



366 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Conference Seminary at Charlottesville. He began teaching in the district schools of 
Ontario county in his eighteenth year. On October 2, 1856, he married Evaline Sarah 
Fort, and for a year and a half he and his wife taught the village school at Victoi-. In 
1858 he moved to Michigan, and in his twenty-third year became principal of the 
Uuion School at Three Rivers, Mich., his wife assisting part of the time. Ho re- 
mained here six years. In 1864 he was elected superintendent of the public schools at 
Niles, Mich. In 1S66 he was invited to take charge of the Ypsilanti Seminary, at that 
time the most popular public school in the State. In 1869 he accepted the position of 
superintendent of the Adrian public schools, which position he held ten years. From 
1864 to 1870 he edited and published the Michigan Teacher. He received in 1872, from 
the University of Michigan, the degree of A.M., and in June, 1888, the degree of LL. D. 
He was twice elected president of the Michigan State Teachers' Association. In June, 
1879, he was elected to the chair of the Science and Art of Teaching in the University 
of Michigan, which position he held nine years. This was the first chair of pedagogy 
established in an American university. He was inaugurated October 5, 1887, chancel- 
lor of the University of Nashville, and president of the Peabody Normal College. He 
is the author of "The Relation between the University and our High School; " " Chap- 
ters on School Supervision; " '' Historical Sketch of the Public Schools of the City of 
Adrian ; " "Outlines of Educational Doctrine; " " Contributions to the Science of Edu 
cation ;" editor of " Page's Theory and Practice of Teaching; " translator of ''Com- 
payre's Histoire de la Pedagogic; '' " Elements of Psychology; " "Psychology Applied 
to Education;" "Lectures on Teaching;" "Rousseau's Emile." Genealogical. — He 
married, October 2, 1856, Sarah Evaline Fort, born August 28, 1835, daughter of Daniel 
L. and Sarah (Van Ness) Fort, he, Daniel, born at Schaghticoke, N. Y., August G, 
1781, son of Lewis; she born May 12, 1795, died October 7, 1862, daughter of Peter 
Van Ness, son of Cornelius of Albany; son of Gideon Riley Payne, born at Farming- 
ton, N. Y., September 18, 1813, died at Ann Arbor, Mich., March 8, 1888, married 
December 4, 1834, Mary Brown Smith, born November 23, 1815, daughter of William 
Smith, born September 19, 1787, son of Stephen, son of Jonathan, son of Gershom, son 
of John Smith, who came from England in 1652 to Dartmouth, Mass.; Wm. Smith mar- 
ried Lydia Brown, born at Adams, Mass., December 9, 1788, died May 21, 1S90, at 
Adrian, Mich., aged nearly 102 years, daughter of David, born June 16, 1741, son of 
Stephen, born February 3, 1714, at Cumberland, R. I., son of Joseph and Sarah (Pray) 
Brown; Gideon Riley Payne had six children (viz.: Wm. H., above, Selinda, born 
July 5, 1838, Chauncey S., born January 14, 1840, Lydia M., born January 12, 1842, 
Cynthia Orlena, born August 20, 1845, and Frank Riley, born November 30, 1850) ; 
son of Gideon Payne of Farmington, N. Y., born at Adams, Mass., January 10, 1765, 
died at Farmington, 1848, a wealthy farmer (married February 18, 1793, Phebe Hill, 
born January 12, 1771, daughter of Caleb and Mary), had nine children, viz.: Electa, 
born January 12, 1795, died January 17, 1735, Zimroda, born March 14, 1796, (married 
Nathan Stoddard), Mary, born September 23, 1798, died November 29, 1880, (married 
Sylvester R. Hathaway), Selinda, born October 6, 1800, (married Nathan Power), Cal- 
vin, born July 30, 1802, died November 27, 1859, Reuben, born July 4, 1805, died 
March 23, 1854, William, born March 24, 1807, George, born September 28, 1809, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 307 

Gideoa Riley above, born September IS. 1813 ; Gideon Tayne was son of William 
Payne of Pittsfield and Adams, Mass., born in Rhode Island, farmer, (married Sarah 
Hawkins, who died in 1822, aged eifjhty-four), had nine children, viz.: Gideon, born 
January 10, 1705, Patty (married a Mason), Lydia (married a Howe), Mollie (married 
first Elijah Smith, he died in 1793 from the falling of a tree, his death was the first in 
Farmington, she married second Elihu Parker, he committed suicide by jumping in a 
well), John died February 18, 1821, William, Joseph, died August 18, 1862, aged 
eighty-eight, Zimroda, born 1770, died m February, 1838 (married Abiathar Power, 
born 1770, died 1848), Lucinda (married Jacob Smith) ; son of Gideon of RlKde Island, 
born at Swanzey, Mass., in 1703, died in Rhode Island in 175G, freeman at Smithfield, 
R. I., in 1739, (married Rebecca Corser) ; son of John Payne, born at Rehoboth, Mass., 
April 3, 1658, died at Providence R. T., September 28, 1718, was of Swanzey, Mass., 
in 1683, surveyor of highways 1686, had large property at Swanzey, Bristol, Provi- 
dence, etc. (married first, February 3, 1680, Elizabeth Belcher, married second, Martha) ; 
son of Stephen Payne, born in England about 1620, died at Rehoboth, 1679, (married 
Ann Chickering) ; son of Stephen Payne, who came with others from Great Elling- 
ham, Eng., in the ship Dilvjent, 1638, and settled at Hingham, Mass., moved to Reho- 
both 1643, had large estates, representative to General Court, died August, 1679. 
William H. Payne and Evaline Sarah Fort have five children, viz.: Mary Payne, born 
December 26, 1860; William Riley Payne, born September 24, 1862; married Septem- 
ber 17, 1885, to Estella Frances Vail; Eva Payne, born October 30, 1865, married Feb- 
ruary 8. 1893, to Abram Tillman Jones of Nashville, Tenn.; Emma Payne, born July 8, 
1867 ; Clara Louise Payne, born October 30, 1876. 

Folger, Charles Worth, Geneva, son of Judge Charles J. Folger, was born October 9, 
1847. He graduated from Williams College in 1868, then engaged with E. C. Selover 
in the nursery business. He was purchasing agent in the Bureau of Engraving at 
Washington, D. C, two years. In 1875 he married Susie Depew, daughter of George 
W. Depew, and they had five children. Mr. Folger died January 11, 1885. 

Black, Hugh R., Seneca, was born on the old homestead in Geneva, August 10, 1822. 
He was educated in the public schools and has always followed farming. He came to 
reside in Seneca in 1861, purchasing his present farm and now pleasant home about 
that time. November 5, 1857, he married Mary Miller, of Flushing, L. I., and they 
have one son, William F., who was educated in the common schools and the Union 
School of Geneva. He is a farmer, and has full charge of the farm, relieving his father 
from all care. He married Flora, daughter of Marcus Ansley, of Geneva, and they have 
three children : Lewis D., Hugh R., and Mary J. Mr. Black's father, William M., was 
born in Maryland, and came to Western New York with his father when thirteen years 
old. He married Isabella Rippey, and had four children : Hugh R., George W., Mary 
and John (deceased). His father died in 1855, and his mother in 1867. His grand- 
father, John Rippey, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His grandfather, Hugh 
Black, when he came north gave his slaves their freedom. Twenty-three of them re- 
fused it and came north with the family. 



368 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Hall, Gen. Amos, was born in Guilford, Conn., 17GI In his fifteenth year he was 
enrolled as fifer in a company of troops of the Connecticut line, commanded by his father 
Capt. Stephen Hall, for service in the War of the Revolution ; later he became a seai'- 
geant of the company, and with his father served through the war. In the r'ght of his 
father, who died in 1783, he received, July 4, 1786, a certificate of membership in The 
Order of the Cincinnati, .>*igned by Washington as president, and Knox as secretary. 
He was with a corps of surveyors, probably in 1789, assisting in the survey of the 
Phelps and Gorham purchase in Western New York. In April, 1790, he received 
deeds of village lots in Canandaigua Nos. 3 and 19, north of the Square and west of 
Main street, and of over 3,000 acres in township ten, fifth range, where he settled soon 
after, locating about one mile east of the present village of West Bloorafield. In 1790, 
under appointment as deputy United States marshal, he took the census of the Stale 
west of Geneva, reporting a population of 1,084 persons. He was chosen supervisor of 
the town or district of Big-Tree or Geneseo in 1793-4-5, and supervisor of the town of 
Bloomfield when organized in 1796, and later for several terms. He was surrogate of 
Ontario county in 179G-8, member of assembly in the State Legislature in 1798 and 
for several other terms, State senator in 1810-13 for the AVestern District, and member 
of the Council of Appointment in 1809-10. His engraved likeness appears with others 
in the Documentary IJistory of New York. He received the appointment as brigadier- 
general of militia in 1800, and major-general in 1810, and in the War of 1812 was in 
command for a short time of forces on the Niagara frontier, as also in December, 1813, 
of troops, hastily gathered, when from lack of arms and time for drill and discipline, 
unsuccessful resistance was made against the mcursion of British troops under General 
Rial at the battle of Black Rock and burning of Buffalo. He was visited by dis- 
tinguished personages from home and abroad, because of his prominence in civil and 
military life. In local affairs of importance and in social life he was also prominent. In 
1791 he married Phebe Coe, of Granville, Mass., and brought her to his then far away 
western home. They became parents of eight sons and one daughter, all born in 
Bloomfield. One son of promise died in his twenty-first year. The other children 
came to middle or advanced life, and became in their generation of varied prominence 
in public, social, and domestic history with descendants following after. Enoch Augus- 
tine Hall, eldest son of General Amos, was born in 1792, and it is believed he was the 
first white male child born in the town. He was a merchant for about twenty 
years, and for a time in the milling and ashery business. He was known familiarly as 
Colonel Hall, from holding that position for years. He was also commissioned brig- 
adier and major- general, but did not serve actively. He was postmaster four years 
under Harrison and Tyler, and from 1844 to 1850 was secretary of the Ontario and 
Livingston Mutual Insurance Company. Before the division of the town in 1832 he 
was supervisor five years. He died June 16, 1850. His wife was Mariette Shelley, who 
came with her parents to Bloomfield in 1808 from Guilford, Conn. They had these 
children : Susan Ann (married Edwin A. Hendee) ; Stephen (died in infancy) ; James 
Henry (married Jane F. Clark) ; Myron Shelley ; Cornelia Catharine (married Dr. P. 
Harold Hayes) ; Emila Coe (married James E. Ball). His son, Myron Shelley Hall, was 
born here October 26, 1820. He became secretary of the insurance company after his 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 3G9 

father, from 1850 to 1864 ; United States loan commissioner in 18()7-G9 ; and clerk of 
Ontario county from 1877 to 1880. He carried on farming business by employees 
largely from 1846 to 1883. January 9, 1849, he married Harriet, daughter of Abner 
Wakelee, a pioneer of Rochester, and has had six children : James Augustine, who died 
in 1852, whose widow and three children reside in Buffalo; Myron E., who with his 
wife and three children lives m California ; Harriet L , residing with her parents; Mari- 
etta A., now Mrs. Rev. E. P. Gardner of Chatham, N. J., who has five children ; Cath- 
arine E., who married Henry C. Dixon of this town, and has four children ; Ceorge W., 
who married Mabel Hendee, and is a dentist in Tonawanda, and has one child. Mr. 
Hall's brother James Henry was postmaster here four years, justice of the peace sev- 
eral years, and died in 1865. He left him survivmg, his wife, Jane F. Clark, and sons 
Frederick C, formerly of Hornellsville, now of Yakima, Wash., and has one child, and 
Frank S., of Lewiston, N. Y. Mr. Hall's eldest sister, Susan A., married Edwin A. 
Hendee in 1839, he died at the island of St. Croix, West Indies, in 1842 ; she died in 
1846; they had no children. Another sister, Cornelia Catharine, married in 1848 Dr. 
P. Harold Hayes, now residing in Buffalo ; they have children : Dr. F. M. Hayes, 
Dr. Harold A. Hayes, and Susan H., who married John A. Hobbie, who have fam lies 
of children, and Catharine E., unmarried, all residing in Buffalo or vicinity. Another 
sister, Emila C, married James E. Ball, formerly of Le Roy, late of Blue Rapids, Kas., 
where she died in 1887, leaving one daughter. Marietta Shelley, who married Charles 
Ekins, now residing at Riverside, Cal., her father with her. 

Brace, Romeyn W., the subject of this sketch, was born in Victor, at the old home- 
stead on Brace street, two miles south of the village, November 30, 1846. He was 
educated at the public schools, following the occupation of farming until he reached the 
age of twenty-eierht. Then he removed to the village with his father, Thomas B., and 
engaged in the hardware and machinery business, in which he continued two years. 
Selling out the hardware trade, he has continued the carriage and implement business 
up to the present time, occupying a store on north side of Main street. December 11, 
1867, he married Mary E., daughter of John L. and Eliza Alverson, of "Victor. They 
have three children : Romeyn T., Mary E., and Leon W. Mrs. Brace's father, John 
Lewis Alverson, was born in 1814, and married Eliza Cornwell, formerly of Scipio, 
Cayuga county, and had eight children, three of them dying in infancy. Mr. Brace's 
father, Thomas B., was born in Victor, January 17, 1812, and died June 29, 1889; he 
was educated in the public schools, and was for many years a farmer. November 16, 
1834, he married Margaret Octavia Jackson of his native town. She was born in 
Oneida county, February 2, 1814, and died March 8, 1882. They had two children: 
Minerva L., and Romeyn W. His grandfather, Major William Brace, was born in 
Stockbridge, Mass., in 1791, came to Victor with his parents when two years old, being 
two years after the first settlement in the town. He married Lucinda, daughter of Dr. 
Thomas Beach. Four children were born to ihem, two dying in infancy, two survived : 
William, and Thomas B. He served in the War of 1812, and was present at the burn- 
iuo- of Buffalo ; he was the son of Elisha Brace, who with his three brothers purchased 
i^everal sections of land, comprising the northeast corner of the town, of the original 



370 HISTORY OF ONTx\.RIO COUNTY. 

owner, Enos Boughton, afterward exchanging it for a tract of land known as Brace 
street, to which they removed. Mr. and Mrs. Brace and children are members of the 
Universalist church here. 

Crosier, Adam, Seneca, was born at Hall's Corners, September 2, 1823. He was 
educated in the schools of that day and was a conductor on the New York and Erie Rail- 
road until 1850. Since that time he has been a farmer. August 23, 1853, he married 
Gertrude Ilaug of Battle Creek, Mich., and they have two daughters : Gertrude, who 
married Lewis Watson, jr., who died August 19, 1891 ; she now resides with her 
parents ; and Clara B., who married Wallace C. Squire of this town. They have one 
daughter, Edith Christine. Mr. Crosier's father, George, was born in Northumberland, 
England, in 1784, and came to the United States in 1801 with his parents, locating 
near Hall's Corners. He married Abigail Crawford of Saratoga Springs, and they had 
eight children : Jefferson, Adam, Henderson, Thomas W., George W., Elizabeth Isa- 
bella, and Mary J. His father died January 10, 1873, and his mother June 18, 1870. 
Mrs. Crosier's father, George Haug, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1796, and 
married Katrina Bulier of his native place, and had these children : George, Rosina, 
John, Christina, Michiel, Caroline, Gertrude and William. The family and six children 
came to the United States in 1828. Her father died in 1832, and her mother resides 
her, aged ninety-six years. 

Hall, Phillips A., Seneca, was born in Dutchess county, December 15, 1832. He 
was educated in the district schools of his day and worked at the carpenter's trade 
with his father until he was twenty-one years old. He then became a farmer. He has 
been twice married, first August 6, 1854, Susan L. Padget of the town of Phelps, and 
they had four children : Lavalden J., Emory W., Frank J., and Fred C. Mrs. Hnll 
died November 17, 1871, and he married secondly Mary F. Lightfoot of this town, June 
18, 1873. They have one sm, William S., who was educated in the public schools and 
is one of Seneca's enterprising farmer boys, relieving his parents in many ways of 
various cares, proving a comfort to both. Mr. Hall's father, Samuel, was born in the 
city of New York, August 2, 1800, was a carpenter by occupation, and married Eliza- 
beth Gay, by whom he had twelve children. He died April 28, 1870, and his wife 
November 21, 1889. Mrs. Hall's father, William Lightfoot, was born in Yorkshire, 
England, October 25, 1805, and came to the United States when a young man. He 
married Frances Sowersby of his native place. This event took place at Perry, Wyom- 
ing county, and they had four daughters: Ann E., Mary F., Martha B., and Maria J. 
Her father died in 1881, and her mother the same year. Mr. Phillips Hall enlisted in 
the War of the Rebellion, September 12, 1864, and served as private until honorably 
discharged July 1, 1865, near Washington. 

Bill, Paul F., Seneca, was born near Hall's Corners, June 29, 1815. He was edu- 
cated in the district schools of his day, and has always followed farming. He has al- 
ways made memoranda of passing events on his own farm and vicinity with pleasure 
to himself and of much interest toothers. February 27, 1845, he married Isabelle Tel- 
ford, and they had six children : Robert A., the attorney of Jamestown, North Dakota; 
Sarah J., Margaret T., Carlton ¥., general agent for D. M. Osborne & Company of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 371 

Auburn, manufactirers of binders, mowers, etc., for the last eight years ; George D. 
(deceased), and Charles L. The latter is not married and is the farmer at home ; 
Robert A. married Margaret D. Morrow, and they have one living daughter, Lucy M. ; 
Sarah J. presides over her father's house; Margaret T. married William Fisher of 
Cleveland, 0., and had six children : Worden F. (deceased) ; Ada B., Dayton B., Bessie 
M., Nathan R., and Benjamin H. Carlton F. married Mary Turnbull, and had one 
daughter, Anna E. ; her mother died in 1885; for his second wife he married in 1892 
Emily Todd of Byron, Genesee county. Mrs. Bill died March 28, 1890. Mr. Bill's 
father, Richard D., was born in Groton, New London county. Conn., November 5, 
1772. He first came to this town in 1795, by sloop from New London to Albany, then 
up the Mohawk by flat boat, workmg his passage by poling through Wood Creek and 
Seneca River, to Geneva on business for Captain T. Allyn, agent of Phelps & Gorham. 
In 1796 he came in here on horseback and bought by contract, of the Wadsworth 
Brothers at Big Tree (now Geneseo), lot No. 41 on No. 9, first range, a part of which 
subject now owns, though he lives on lot 39. By his journal he kept, the distance was 
334 miles in eight days. He also came in for Captain Allyn to collect partial pay- 
ments and interest, in 1801-5-8, on horseback. Subject's parents had five children 
born in Groton: Joseph A., Richard C. (died in Groton), Lucy A., Emeline E., Robert 
A., all now deceased. June 9, 1796, when subject's father arrived in Geneva, the 
frame for the Geneva Hotel was being put up, built by Charles Williamson for the 
Pultney es'ate, which is still standing. He married Tabitha, daughter of Robert Allyn, 
born April 21, 1772, at Allyn's Point, Groton, and came to this town in 1813. They 
were twenty- four days on the way. They had six children : Richard C, who died in 
Connecticut, and four who came with them, Joseph A., Lucy A., Emeline S., Robert 
A., and Paul F., born here. His father died November 7, 1853, and his mother April 
3, 1837. His grandfather, Phineas Bill, was born at the old home in Connecticut. The 
first known of the family was one John Bill, who came from England. His son, 
Philip, received a grant of land from Queen Ann on the east side of the Thames River, 
near New London, Conn., with Robert Allyn and others. The subject is of the eighth 
generation on the side of both father and mother from the first immigrants from 
England. 

Barron, William W., Seneca, was born on the old homestead in Seneca, November 
30, 1827. He was educated in the district schools (in the same school house his father 
was educated in), was reared on a farm, and learned the carpenter's trade, working at 
carpentry and joining for eighteen years. He then resumed farming, which he follows 
to this date. February 13, 1859, he married Harriet Eddington, of 'this town, by whom 
he had one daughter, Margaret, who married Robert J. Plumb of Scottsville, Monroe 
county, and they have two sons, Howard and Clarence. Mrs. Barron died March 22, 
1866, and he married second. May 3, 1870, Mary J. Taylor of Stanstead, Lower Canada. 
They had one daughter, Mabel B., who now presides over her father's household, her 
mother having died January 31, 1888, deeply mourned by husband, daughter and many 
friends. Mr. Barron's father, Thomas, was also born here, March 1, 1803, and Feb- 
ruary 4, 1827, married Margaret Watson, by whom he had three children: William 
W.. John, who is in business in Geneva, and George, who died at the age of two years. 



372 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

llis father. Thomas, died September 17, 1892, and his mother, March 26, 1863. The 
family is of English origin on both sides. 

Black, James, Seneca, was born on the old homestead near Stanley, April 12, 1836. 
He was educated in the public schools, is a graduate of Alfred University, and has 
always followed farming. He is also an importer and breeder of Holstein cattle. Jan- 
uary 8, 1865, he married Carrie P. Means of this town. Mr. Black's father, Moses, 
was born in Lancaster county. Pa., in October, 1789, and came here with his father in 
1804, locating in Geneva about two miles northeast of Bellona Village. He too was a 
farmer, and married Mary McMaster of Yates county. They had nine children: Three 
died in infancy ; Elizal)eth, Mary A., Newton, Aaron, John and James. His grand- 
father, Aaron Black, came here from Maryland, where he was born, and purchased 
1,000 acres of land. When his father came to this old home there were only six acres 
cleaied. The beautiful maple grove was planted by Mr. Black thirty years ago. Mrs. 
Black's father, George Means, was born in Pennsylvania in 1815. He married Harriet 
Reed, and they had nine children, six survive: George N., Charles H., John, Jennie, 
Carrie P. and Augustus P. Her father died in 1870, and her mother in 1868. Mr. 
Black is a member of the Holstein Cattle Association. Mr. Black's father, Moses, George 
Rippey and Mrs. Rippey returned on horseback to the old homestead in Pennsylvania 
on a visit. When they came to the Susquehanna River it was much swollen, and Mrs. 
Rippey dashed into the stream while the others followed safely. 

Rippey, Mary A., Seneca, the oldest living daughter of George and Margery Rippey, 
resided with her parents as long as they lived, and now is an honored resident of Stan- 
ley. Her mother's father, Ninian Chamberlain, was a native of Adams county, Penn., 
born October 1, 1751. July 5, 1784, he married Elizabeth Ewing of that State. He 
was employed as master of transportation in the Revolutionary war, through all the 
vicissitudes and hardships so nobly borne in the struggle for independence. His brother, 
James, was a colonel in the war. After the close of the war Ninian resumed farming. 
In 1807 he moved his family to Cayuga county, where he purchased 325 acres of land 
from Lucius Elmendorf and succeeded well, but a defective title nearly ruined his 
temporal prospects, still he was not discouraged. He bought a portion of it back with 
the aid of his seven sons and his wife, who under all circumstances was a true help- 
mate. To her assistance, in a great measure, he owed his success, having an abid- 
ing trust in God. In hi^ dealings with his fellow- men his integrity was never 
questioned. He and his wife were honored and upright members of the Reformed 
church of Owasco village, then a mere hamlet. He died December 20, 1833, aged 
eighty-two years, and his wife March 15, 1855, aged eighty-seven years. All their 
children were at his funeral, and all but one (who died) were at their mother's 
funeral. They reared thirteen children in lives of usefulness, seven sons and six 
daughters. 

Darrow, the late George, was born in Cannan, in the eastern part of this State, 
in 1770, was educated in the schools of his day, and married twice. His second wife was 
Judith Leland, by whom he had five children: Fidelia, Hiram, Charles, Washington 
and Judith M. The family came to Western New York in ISOO, locating this home- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 373 

stead, where a log house was built. It was subsequently burned and a frame house 
took its place, which was built by the settlers in this locality, which was occupied in 
nine days. When their beautiful new residence was recently erected, the old one was 
sent to the rear, and is now, with additions, just south of the old location, used as a 
tenant house. Hiram married Emily Wainwright, of Mendon, Monroe county ; they 
had one daughter, E. Estella, who on November 22, 1871, married Mark Atchley, of 
the town of Phelps. She died November 4, 1872. Her father died November 12, 1883. 
Charles married Augusta Whitney, and they had one son, Charles H., who married 
Hattie Bennett, of Geneva. They have a son, Charles W. It is the wish of Miss 
Judith M. and Mrs. Hiram Darrow, who now own the property, that this property 
shall be owned by the Darrow family as long as that family exists. This homestead is 
located in the northeast part of the town, half way between the turnpike and the Castle 
road. The ancestry of the Darrows is French and the Lelands English. Miss Darrow 
is of the eighth generation from one Henry Leland, who came from England in one of 
the first' ships that came from there. The family had several of its ancestors in the 
Revolutionery War. This family came to the United States in Queen Anne's time. 

Wright, Frank N., Seneca, was born in the town of Seneca, where he received a 
good education in the public schools, and became a farmer. He married Emma 
daughter of the late James and Eliza A. Gates, of Seneca, a member of one of the 
oldest families in town ; they have one son, Charles G. Mr. Wright has resided on the 
old Crittenden homestead eiorhteen years. His father, William, was born in Yorkshire, 
England, October 20, 1813. He had a limited education, but was a thorough-going 
farmer, and came to the United States in 1834. In April, 1837, he married Elizabeth 
Shipley, formerly of his native county, and they had eight children, four of whom sur- 
vive: Mary E., who married Frank Richardson, of Geneva, and has two children Allen 
and Ida; Frank N. as noted above; Anna, who married Edward J. Cook, and has three 
children, Nellie, George F. and William ; and Joseph, who married Clara A. Scott, of 
Phelps, and has two children, William and Carrie B. Mrs. William Wright died in 
May, 1887. Mr. Wright i.s a thoroughly Americanized Englishman, which is as it should 
be. James Gates, father of Mrs. Frank N. Wright, was born at the old home in the 
town of Seneca, June 11, 181 G, and was twice married, first to Eliza Crittenden, by 
whom he had four children, James H., Emma E., Charles C, and a daughter who died 
in infancy. Mrs. Gates died in October, 1851, and he married second Christina Snooks 
and had two children, Ida and Laura A. Mr. Gates died February 9, 1889. 

Jones, Prosser, Seneca, was born in the town of Conquest, Cayuga county, April 1, 
1832. He was educated in the common schools and has always followed farming. He 
has married twice, first, June 15, 1853, Catherine Fitch, of Seneca, and came to reside 
in Ontario county April 4, 1854. They had six children, of whom four grew to ma- 
turity : William, Jay, John and George. Mrs. Jones died March 11, 1875, and he 
married second Mrs. Eliza (Sayle) Rice, of the town of Clarksou, Monroe county. 
Prosser Jones was born in the town of Berne, Albany county, January 24, 1801, and 
married Catherine Van Lewein, of Saratoga county, and they had four children : Will- 
iam, Prosser, Augusta, and Laura who died at the age of four years. His father died 



374 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

in 1850 and, his mother in 1880. Mr. Jones was elected road commissioner in 1882 for 
three years. The ancestry of this family is Welsh, English and Dutch. 

Forster, the late William, was born near Newcastle, Northumberland county, Eng- 
land, April 7, 1792; came to the United States in 1817, landing at Boston, Mass., 
worked in the country about two years, and came to Hall's Corners in 1819. He was 
in Clyde one year in the butcher business with a Mr. Parker. Returning to Hall's 
Corners he became a farmer with others, and subsequently for himself, purchasing the 
homestead northeast of the Corners. September 18, 1823, he married Mary Caward, 
of this town, formerly of Yorkshire, England; they had nine children: John 1st, who 
died in infancy ; George, who died in his eighteenth year; Mary, Jane, William D. who 
married Matilda Britt, of Catskill, and has two sons and a daughter; Edward H., John 
M. and Thomas W. are not married and occupy part of the home farm. John M. is a 
school teacher, having followed the profession ten years in several States ; Ursilla E. 
died in her twentieth year, and Clark, who married Mary E. Ritchie. Their father died 
September 12, 1881, and their mother February 13, 1888. One of their relatives, 
George Caward, was one of the largest barley dealers west of Albany. 

Wood, John M., Seneca, was born on the old homestead, which was settled by his 
ancestors. May 9, 1818, and it has never had a dollar of mortage on it up to date. He 
was educated in the public schools and Geneva select school, presided over by Rev. Dr. 
Brower. He has always been a farmer until he retired in 1883. Mr. Wood has been 
married three times; first January 8, 1840, Eliza Rupert; they had. six children: John 
H., Phihp R., George A., Denton D., one who died in infancy, and Sarah A. Mrs. 
Wood died September 19, 1854; he married second March 12, 1855, Rebecca Rupert, 
by whom he had one son, James W. She died December 27, 1868. For his third wife 
he married Mrs. Cordelia (Remington) Nelson, of the town of Gorham. Philip R. mar- 
ried Celesta Smith, of Geneva; they have two daughters, Charlotte and Flora. George 
A. is a physician in California, and married Sarah Rice, of Rochester. They have two 
sons, John and George. Denton D. married Susan C. Robinson, of Onondaga county ; 
they have two children. May E. and John R. He has sole charge of the farm. Sarah 
A. married James W. Nelson, of the town of Gorham. James W. married May Mc- 
Donald, of South Bend, Ind., and they have one daughter, Edith. He tools a physician 
of Long Beach, Cal. Mr. Wood's father, John, was born at Brown Haugh, Newcastle 
on the River Tyne, England, in 1762, and came to the United States in 1801. He walked 
much of the way from Albany to Geneva. There were then few houses in Geneva. 
In 1813 he married Sarah McCleary, formerly of Pennsylvania, and they had five 
children : Eliza died at the age of two years ; three died in infancy, and John M. John 
M. Wood was a ruling member in the Presbyterian church of Geneva twenty years, 
superintendent of the Sunday school about ten years in his school district. His father 
died October 11, 1832, and his mother Januar}'^ 8, 1871. The ancestry of the family is 
English and Scotch. 

Barron, David, Seneca, was born in Northumberland county, England, August 15, 
1800, came to the United States with his parents in 1801, being less than a jear old, 
and the family located on the turnpike road in the northeastern part of the town. He 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 375 

was educated in the schools of that day, inured to hard work, and became an intelH- 
gent farmer, even into his ninety-third year. March 22, 1827, he married Sarah Sliad- 
bolt, of Caledonia, Livingston county ; they had five children : Martha, George, John, 
Mary, and David W., all now deceased. His wife died February 20, 1882. Mr. Bar- 
ron's father, William, was born at the old home in England, March 25, 175G, and mar- 
ried Margery Wilkinson, of Newcastle in his native county. Their four children were: 
William, Mary, David, and Thomas. The father died July 14, 1833, and the mother 
June 6, 1855. David Barron has always borne the reputation of a modest, industrious, 
thrifty, and honest man. 

Campbell, Thomas J., Seneca, was born in Geneva, January 25, 1853. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools, and has followed the nursery business most of his life. He 
carae to Seneca to reside in 1871. February 15, 1878, he married Mary Murpliy, of 
Geneva; they have five living children: Mary E., John, Rose, William H., and Charles 
F. Mr. Campbell's father, Thomas, was born in the old country in 1820, and came to 
the United States in 1846, locating at Geneva. He married Rose McGough of his na- 
tive place; they had eleven children, nine now living: Mary, Elizabeth, Thomas J., 
Catherine, Joseph, Julia, Alice, Agnes, and Emeline. Mr. Campbell's father died in 
1875, and his mother resides at Seneca Falls. Mr. Campbell has seventeen acres of 
nursery stock of all varieties of fruit trees of very choice quality. The ancestry of this 
family is Scotch Irish. 

Gregory, Charles P., was born in the village of Naples, June 2, 1833. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools of Naples and Franklin Academy at Plattsburg. He was 
clerk for his uncle in general store twelve years, manager and also purchaser for the 
concern six years. February 22, 1864, he married L. Samaria Nellis, of Naples, form- 
erly of Belfast, Alleghany county, N. Y. ; they have one daughter, Frances E., residing 
at home with her parents. Mr. Gregory's father, Philip, was born in Seneca in 1804. 
He was a farmer by occupation, and married Emma Watkins, of Naples. They had five 
children : Matilda, Cinderella, Ann, Sarah, and Charles P. Mrs. Gregory's father, John 
B. Nellis, was born in Herkimer county in 1807. He was a dairy farmer, and married 
Samantha Stanton, and moved to Alleghany county. They had four children : Levi, 
L. Samaria, John W., and Marshall. Her father died in 1884. His father in 1886, and 
his mother in 1862. Mr. Gregory has resided upon the farm he owns thirty-two years. 
He has the most perfect barn we have seen, 140x51^ feet, aside from the straw barns. 
He has two silos with system of tracks and cars to carry the feed to his very excellent 
dairy of Jersey cows, about fifty in number, fastened in their stalls with improved patent 
stanchions. The manure is all carried out in cars on these tracks and dumped a proper 
distance from the buildings. The grain when harvested is put into this barn and the 
threshing done at their convenience in winters. He has sixty miles of under tile drains 
on this elegant farm. One of the best farmers in the State. 

Rippey, Hamilton, was born at Stanley in the town of Seneca, October 4, 1817, and 
followed farming. November 19, 1843, he married Harriet Dodge of this town, and 
they had one son, Aaron C, born May 2, 1844. He was educated in the public schools. 
He is a farmer and has been justice of the peace nearly nine years. March 12, 1868, 



376 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

he married Sarah A. Cameron, of Shawangunk, Ulster county; they have two children : 
Hattie L., and Lawrence C. Mr. Rippey's father, George, was born in York county, 
Pa., August 17, 1781, and came to this State about 1808. May 14, 1812, he married 
Margery Chamberlain, formerly of Cayuga county, N. Y.,and they had .«even children : 
John, Hamilton, Mary A., Sarah, George C, Jeremiah C, and Elizabeth M. His father 
died about 1860, and his mother 1875. Mrs. Rippey's father, William Dodge, was born 
in Bridgewater in the eastern part of this State in 1787, and married Nancy Barkman. 
Later they came to Western New York. Their children were: Eleanor E., Harriet 
N., George W., and Rachel M. Mr. and Mrs. Rippey attend the Presbyterian church 
at Seneca. 

Slocum, Dr. Charles B., Geneva, was born in Galway, Saratoga county, October 6, 
1857, moving with his parents to Niagara Falls, where he was educated in the publ'c 
and High schools, completing his studies in the Grammar School at Lundy's Lane, 
Drummondlville. Canada, and also at Devaux College, Niagara Falls. He then followed 
the dry goods business with his father until 1880. Next he began to study dentistry 
under the tutorship of the late Dr. W. F. Eddington, D.D. S., where he remained a 
year. He then entered the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, under the tutorship 
of Prof. James U. Harris, graduating in 1882. Returning to Geneva he entered into 
partnership with Dr. Stillman, where he remained until the death of Dr. Eddington 
when he took possession of his office, and has since conducted the business on his own 
account, with much success. August 29, 1883, he married Helen M., daughter of Hugh 
Dennison of Geneva, and they have two sons: John Newton and Hugh Dennison. Dr. 
Slocum is a member of the Seventh District Dental Society ; an alumnus of Baltimore 
College of Dentistry ; also of the University of Maryland. His father, John N., was 
born in Northampton, Fulton county, October 7, 1832, and at the age of eighteen years 
he went to Geneseo, remaining four years; thence to Milton, Saratoga county, re- 
maining two years, and May 27, 1856, to Galway. He married Elizabeth B., daughter 
of Thomas and Ann (Demming) Whitehouse, of Topsham, Me., and they had four 
children : Caroline A. died aged three years; Frank E., a dentist of Buffalo; and Ida 
M., who resides at home. Mr. Slocum was supervisor of Galway three years, leaving 
that town for Niagara Falls in 1864. In 1875 he came to Geneva, and in 1889 moved 
to Beaver Falls where he is engaged in the manufacture of wood pulp and pulp board. 
The family is of English descent, closely related to Major-General Slocum, formerly 
colonel of the famous 27th Inf. N. Y. Vols. 

Hall, John B., Canandaigua, was born in Canandaigua August 7, 1842, a son of 
Charle.s, a native of Lewis county, born September 1, 1815. Charles was a son of John 
B., who came here from Connecticut. Charles Hall married when a young man Nancy 
D. Hall, whose parents were Virginians, and whose mother was a Stewart, one of the 
old Virginian family of that name. Charles died in 1889 leaving three children : a 
daughter who married Dr. Lutz of this town ; Lorenzo C, born August 5, 1845, a law- 
yer of Canandaigua ; and John B. The latter was educated at Canandaigua Academy, 
and the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima. He has always made his home on the 
farm his grandfather settled until 1885. He has always taken an active interest in pol- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 377 

itics, and is a Republican. In 1889-90-91 he served as chairman of the Ontario County 
Committee. In the spring of 1884 he was elected justice of peace, and on being nomi- 
nated in 1888 for police justice he resigned his position, and was again nominated and 
elected to the same office in 1889. Mr. Hall has been for six years treasurer of the 
Ontario County Agricultural Society, and is a member of Canandaigua Lodge No. 294 
F. & A. M. He married February 7, 1860, Mary I. daughter of Jedediah Barnum of 
Canandaigua, and they have two children : Mary Stewart, and Merton M. Mr. Hall 
was one of the organizers, and a director (until he was made vice-president) of the 
Ontario Patrons Fire Relief Association. Lorenzo C. Hall was educated in Canandai- 
gua Academy and after leaving school spent two years on a farm. He then entered 
the law office of John Callister, was admitted to the bar in 1875, and has ever since 
been a practicing lawyer of this town. He is a Mason. 

Rigby, Henry, Geneva, was born in London, England, in 1840, and at the age of 
eleven years went to learn the cigar trade, in which he served seven years. In 1869 
he came to America and stopped in Syracuse for three or four years. In 1880 he be- 
gan the manufacture of cigars in Geneva, and in 1860 married Ehza Jones of London. 
They have had ten children, five of whom are now living. He is a member of St. 
Peter's Episcopal church, and is a Republican. 

Miller, Albert D., Phelps, was born on the Miller homestead in Phelps, January 22, 
1839. He was one of nine children of Daniel Miller. His grandfather, Jacob Miller, 
came from New Jersey about 1797 and settled in Phelps on the farm now owned by 
Albert D. Daniel Miller, the father, was a soldier of the War of 1812. Albert D. 
married in 1867 Clara V. Gifford, daughter of Cady and Elizabeth (Valkenburg) Gifibrd 
of Phelps. They have two children : Elmer G., and Irma V. Miller. The farm of Mr. 
Miller, comprising 170 acres, is noted in the town as a potato farm, it producing in 
favorable years from 3,000 to 4,000 bushels. The barns and adjoining buildings erected 
in 1882 are extensive and complete. Mr. Miller is also owner of the Empire plaster 
mill. 

Skuse, Charles, Phelps, was born in Phelps near Oaks' Corners November 14, 1814. 
Chai-les, his father, was born in the old country and came to the United States when a 
boy, settling in New Jersey, where he married Mary Smith, of Monmouth county. 
They moved to Phelps and settled about 1806, and there lived and died. Charles Skuse 
married first in 1841 Ann Sanders, by whom he had five children, three of whom are 
now living: John, Orville, and Frank, John in the town of Geneva, the others in 
Phelps. His wife died in 1855 and in 1857 he married Mary Hayes. They had one 
daughter, Ella. Mr. Skuse has a farm of about 155 acres upon which he has lived for 
the past twenty-nine years. 

Marks, Mrs. Emily C, Naples, was born in Windsor, Hartford county, Conn., June 
29, 1866, youngest daughter of Roderick Holcombe. She married April 4, 1839, Will- 
iam Marks of Burlington. They moved to Naples the same month. Mr. Marks was 
about the first merchant who kept a general store in Naples. There are many inter- 



378 HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 

esting anecdotes told of Mr. Marks, who took a general interest in the welfare of the 
slaves and ran many of the escaped ones tlirough on the undergroimd railroad, some- 
times in a hearse to Honeoye Flats. They had six children, three sons and three 
daughters. Two of the latter are now livmg: Mrs. A. Griswold and Emily C. Rogers, 
who resides in New York city. William R., the son, resides in Canandaigua, and was 
three years clerk of Ontario county. He has recently been appointed secretary and 
treasurer of the new Tin Manufacturing Co. of Canandaigua. 

Smith, Nicholas B., Geneva, son of Cornelius, was born near Waterloo, October 29, 
1835. In 1867 he married Alice E. Evered, and they have one child, Grace. For 
many years Mr. Smith was engaged in boating on the Erie canal and the Hudson 
and for three years ran from New York to Baltimore. He has held the office of con- 
stable twelve years and sheriff eight years. In 1861 he enlisted in Company F, N. Y. 
Vol. Engineers, and was honorably discharged in 1863. He was injured by a horse 
falling on him at Malvern Hill. He was in the U. S. Signal Service fifteen months, 
and was goverenment watchman at Giesboro' Point one year. In 1889 he built a 
greenhouse at Geneva, and is engaged in the growing of plants. John Evered was 
born in Suffolk county, England, in 1806. He married Sarah Huke, and in 1850 they 
Came to America and settled in Geneva. He was a machinist, and they had eight chil- 
dren. Mr. Evered died July 1, 1872, and his wife September 11, 1873. Of their chil- 
dren five are now living: Mary, wife of George Taylor ; Rachel, wife of John Kenfield ; 
Alice, wife of N. B. Smith ; Eleanor, widow of E. AVintzer, and all reside in Geneva. 
Charles lives in Montgomery City, Mo. 



INDEX. 



[See Index to Family Sketches, Page 388.] 



Academy, Canandaigua, 220. 
East Bloomfield, 409. 
Geneva, 282 et seq. 
Naples, ;J84. 
Tract, the, 209. 
Act creating Ontario county, 108. 
Adams, William H., 170. 
Adjutant generals from Ontario county. 

IIG. 
Agricultural Experiment Station, New 
York, 327. 

Society, the, 238. 
Albany county, 107. 
Allen's Hill, 4'>6. 
America, discovery of, 17. 
Anderson, George Bradley, biography of, 
496. 

portrait of, facing 244. 
Annin, Joseph, 100. 

Arbitration commission to settle Massa- 
chusetts' land claims, 70. 
Armstrong, James, 94. 
Attorneys, list of, who have practiced in 
Geneva, 176. 

Babcock, Edward P., 176. 
Baldwin Rev. Amos G., 288. 
Bank commissioner from Ontario county, 
116. 

First National, of Canandaigua, 241. 
Bankers, McKechnie & Co., 242. 

Williams & Barnes, 241. 
Banks of Canandaigua, 240 et seq. 
Baptist Hill, or Bristol, 435. 
Bar, prominent members of the, 164 et seq. 

the present, 178. 
Barnard, Daniel D., 168. 
Benjamin, Orson, 171. 
Benton, Caleb, 86. 

Biography of Anderson, George Bradley, 
496. 

Callister, John, r)12. 



Biography of Chamberlain, Frank O., 503 

Conover, George S., 517. 

Gibson, Henry B., 487. 

Granger, Francis, 471. 

Granger, Gideon, 470. 

Granger, Gideon (son of Francis), 472. 

Granger, John Albert, 473. 

Hawkins, Jeremiah, 502. 

Hicks, Edwin, 498. 

Howell, Nathaniel W., 464. 

Howell, Thomas M., 467. 

Jewett, Dr. Harvey, 494. 

Lacy, Lauren Walton, 479. 

Lansing, Henry Livingston, 491. 

Lewis, Joseph S., 509. 

Mackey, Ansel Elliott, 505. 

Milliken, Nathan J., 516. 

Peirce, Andrew, 480. 

Phillips, George H., 500. 

Smith, Dr. A. B., 513. 

Smith, Hon. James Cosslett, 511. 

Taylor, Henry L., 501. 

Wheat Corydon, 475. 
Bogert, Colonel James, 267. 

Herman H., 174. 

James, 312. 
Boswell's Corners, 442. 
Boughton, Colonel Seymour, 132. 

Enos, 366. 

Jared, 366. 
Bradford, John M., 175. 
Bradstreet's, General, ultimatum to the 

Senecas, 62. 
Brant, Joseph (Thayendenegea), 64. 
Brigham Hall, 237. 
Bristol, churches of, 436. 

early settlement and pioneers of, 430 
et seq. 

organization of, 433. 

schools of, 438. 

Centre, 434. 

Springs, 441. 



380 



HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 



Brooks, Micah, 107. 

Buffalo village, destruction of, in 1812, 132. 

Bull, Ja'nes M.. 173. 

Bunn, William 0., 314. 

portrait of, facing 3].">. 
Burning Spring, the, 435. 
Burt, Timothy, 168. 
Butler, John, 80. 

Callister, John, 171. 

biography of, 512. 

portrait of, facing 171. 
Canadice, churches of, 461. 

early settlement and pioneers of, 458 

et seq. 
schools of, 463. 
supervis'^rs of, 463. 
topography of, 457. 
Canal commissioners from Ontario county, 

116. 
Canandaigua educational interests of, 214. 
first permanent settlement in, 202. 
fi'-st physicians in, 204. 
first settlers of, 203 et seq. 
first town meeting in, 205. 
Indian village near the site of, 198. 
Lake Steamboat Company, 240. 
organization of, 204. 
pioneers of, 206 et seq. 
population of, 214. 
supervisors of, 205. 
the Academy Tract in, 20i). 
village, academy in, 220. 

banks of, 240 et seq. 

Brigham Hall at, 237. 

business interests of, 242 et seq. 

churches of, 229 et seq. 

educational system of, 225. 

fire department of, 222. 

Granger Place School in, 229. 

hotels of, 248. 

incorporation of, 219. 

laying out of, 210. 

manufacturers of, 245 et seq. 

missionaries at, 231. 

officers of, at incorporation, 219. 

Ontario Female Seminary at, 228. 

Ontario Orphan Asylum at, 235. 

pioneers of, 216 et seq. 

police department of, 224. 

president and clerks of,220 et seq. 

press of, 249 et seq. 

Red Jacket Club of, 239. 

Steamboat fines of, 240. 

Timothy Dwight's description of, 
228. 



Canandaigua Village Water Works Com- 
pany, 224. 

Wood Library Association at, 
238. 
Centerfield, 210. 
Chamberlain, Frank 0., biography of, 503. 

portrait of, facing 504. 
Chaniplain, Samuel, 20. 
Chapin, General Israel, 86, 422. 
Chapinville, 427. 
Charters of Charles II., 77. 
Chesebro, Henry 0., 173. 
Cheshire, 212. 

Church at Richmond Center, 456. 
Baptist, at Bristol, 437. 
Baptist, of Clifton Springs, 337. 
Baptist, of Gypsum, 349. 
Baptist, at Phelps, 359. 
Congregational, at West Bloomfield, 

440. 
Episcopal, at Victor, 375. 
Evangelical Association, of Geneva, 

31 r. 

First Baptist, at Canandaigua, 233. 

First Baptist, at East Bloomfield, 411. 

First Baptist, of Geneva, 310. 

First Baptist, of Manchester, 347. 

First Congregational, at Bristol, 430. 

First Congregational, at Canandaigua, 
229. 

First Methodist Episcopal, at Chapin- 
ville, 42S. 

First Methodist, at East Bloomfield, 
411. 

First Methodist, of Manchester, 348. 

First Methodist Episcopal, at Phelps, 
360. 

First Presbyterian, at Canandaigua, 
235. 

First Presbyterian, of Geneva, 304. 

First Presljyterian, of Shortsville, 346. 

First Presbyterian, at Victor, 374. 

First Society of the M. E., at Canan- 
daigua, 233. 

First Universalist, at Bristol, 437. 

First Universalist, at Victor, 375. 

Free, of Geneva, 311. 

Free Will Baptist, at Cheshire, 213. 

Methodist, at Bristol, 437. 

Methodist Episcopal, at Canandaigua, 
232. 

Meth. Episcopal, of Clifton Springs, 
330. 

Methodist Episcopal at Flint Creek, 
419. 

Methodist Episcopal, of Geneva, 3t)8. 



INDEX. 



381 



Church, Methodist Episcopal, at Miller's 
Corners, 449. 

Methodist Episcopal, of Port Gibson, 
348. 

Methodist Episcopal, at Richmond, 
457. 

Methodist Episcopal, at Victor, 374. 

North Presbyterian, of Geneva, 305. 

Presbyterian, at East Bloomfield, 410. 

Presbyterian, at Naples, 385. 

Presbyterian, at Phelps, 360. 

Protestant Episcopal, at Allen's Hill, 
456. 

Protestant Reformed Dutch, of Ge- 
neva, 309. 

St. Agnes' Roman Catholic, of Clifton 
Springs, 337. 

St. Bridget's at East Bloomfield, 4P2. 

St.Francis' Roman Catholic, at Phelps, 
361. 

St. Francis de Sales, of Geneva, 311. 

St. John's, at Canandaigna, 232. 

St. John's, of Clifton Springs, 336. 

St. John's Episcopal, at Phelps, 360. 

St. Joseph's Catholic, at West Bloom- 
field, 447. 

St. Mary's, at Canandaigua, 234. 

St. Patrick's, at Victor, 375. 

St. Peter's, at East Bloomfield, 412. 

St. Peter's, of Geneva, 307. 

Trinity, of Geneva, 306. 

United Presbyterian, of Geneva, 309. 

Universalist, of Clifton Springs, 336. 

Universalist, of Geneva, 310. 

Wesleyan Methodist, at Canandaigua, 
235. 
Churches of Canadice, 461. 

Farmington, 393. 

Gorham. 400. 

Hopewell Centre, 428. 

Naples, 385. , 

Orleans, 304. 

Richmond, 45.5. 

Rushville, 598. 

Seneca, 420. 

Seneca Castle, 418. 

Shortsville, 347. 

South Bristol, 442. 

Stanley, 420. 
Claims, conflicting, under the first surveys, 

92. 
" Clan " system, the, of the Iroquois, 25. 
Clifton Springs, churches of, 336. 
mdustries of, 335. 
press of, 335. 



Clifton Springs Sanitarium, 337 et seq. 

Sanitarium (illustration) facing 

343. 
Seminary, 335. 
settlers of, 3'.]3. 
sulphur springs of, 333. 
Cochran, Major James, 200. 
Cole, Henry S., 171. 
Colonization of America, 18 et seq. 
Colquhoun, Patrick, 96, 101. 
Colt, Judah, 109. 

Comptroller from Ontario county, 115. 
Confederacy, the Iroquois, 25 et seq. 
Conover George S.. biography of, 517. 

portrait of, facing 255. 
Constitutional convention.';, members of, 

from Ontario county, 116. 
Cooper, John, 109. 
County Clerks, 120. 
judges, 118. 

organizations, original, 107. 
seat, the first, 10!). 
treasurers, 120. 
Courcelle's expedition against thelroquois, 

43. 
Court, County, 159. 

first, officers of the, 162. 
houses, 109 et seq., 163. 
of Appeals, 156. 
Special Sessions, 161. 
Supreme, 157. 
Surrogates, 161. 
Currency, early, 96. 

Davis, Thomas, 94. 

Dean, Seth, 352. 

De Lancey, Divinity School, 297. 

School for Girls, 302. 
Denonville and his expedition against the 

Iroquois, 43 et seq. 
Dennis Edgar W., 174. 
Devil's Hole and Black Rock, 60. 
Dickson, John, 177. 
District attorneys, 119, 178. 
Districts, original, of Ontario county, 108. 
Duncan, Alexander, 170. 
Dutch, colonization by the, 20. 

East Bloomfield, business of, 407. 

churches of, 410. 

pioneers and settlement of, 402 
et seq. 

schools of, 409. 

village, 407. 
EUicott, Benjamin, 94. 



382 



HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 



English aggressions after the Revolution, 
12:]. 

colonization by the, '21. 
Iroquois incited against the French by 
the, 42 et seq. 
Ennerdale, 429. 
Events preceding the French and Engli.sh 

war, 53. 
Expedition of De la Barre against the In- 
dians, 43. 

Farmington, churches of, 393. 

organization of. 387. 

pioneers of, 388 et seq. 

population of, 391. 

present officers of, 394. 
Fellows, General John, 203. 

Joseph, 102. 
Fisher's, 369. 
Flint Creek, 419. 

Robert, 170. 
Folger, Charles J., 175. 

portrait of, facing 175. 
Foot. Samuel A., 174. 
Fort Niagara, origin of, 46. 
Fos'er, Dr. Henry, 337 et seq. 

portrait of, facing 337. 
Fraud in the pre-emption line, 90. 
French and English rivalry, 60 et seq. 

and Senecas, beginning of hostilities 
between the, 39. 

colonization by the, 19. 

final overthrow of, 56 et seq. 

first visit of, to the Senecas, 37. 
" Friends, the," 122, 

and their settlement, 102. 

in Farmington, 391. 
Frontenac's administration, 43. 

Ganechstage, 46. 

Ganundasaga, fortification at (map), 49. 
Gardner, E. P., portrait of, facing 252. 
Geneva Academy, 282. 

fortifying of, by Williamson and Mor- 
ris, 126. 

Hotel, the, 264. 

Hygienic Institute (illustration), fac- 
ing 514. 

Medical College, 297. 

nurseries of, 320. 

Permanent Loan and Savings Asso- 
ciation, 323. 

prominent settlers of, 255. 

supervisors of, 254. 

topography of, 253. 



Geneva village, banks of, 278. 

board of education of, 302. 

business interests of, 316 et seq. 

cemeteries, 277. 

Church Home of, on the Foster 
Swift Foundation, 325. 

churches of, 304. 

Civil Service Association of, 325. 

De Lancey School for Girls in, 
302. 

early days of, 271 et seq. 

early settlers on the site of, 259. 

educational institutions of, 281. 

fire department, 274. 

first act of Legislature concern- 
ing, 255 

first newspaper in, 264 

first water supply of, 266. 

Folger Corps of, 324. 

Indian occupation of the site of, 
256 et seq. 

incorporation of, 267. 

John Maude's description of, 
265. 

Kanadesaga Club of, 325. 

laying out of, 263. 

legislative acts relating to, 268. 

location of, 262. 

Lyceum of, 303. 

Manufacturers' Accident Indem- 
nity Company of, 324. 

Masonic interests of, 325. 

Medical and Surgical Hospital 
of, 325. 

naming of, 256. 

New York Agricultural Experi- 
ment Station at, 327. 

People's Building, Loan and Sav- 
ings Association of, 32;>. 

presidents of, 270. 

presidents of board of trustees 
of, 269. 

press of, 311. 

public schools of, before 1839, 
298. 

St. Francis de Sales school in, 
302. 

Seneca Lake Navigation Com- 
pany of, 326. 

sundry tracts comprising site of, 
261. 

the Geneva Hotel in, 264. 

Union School of, 300. 

Universal Savings and Loan 
Company of, 324. 



INDEX. 



383 



Geneva village, Walnut Hill Scliool in, 303. 
Water Works Company, 273. 
Young Men's Christian Associa- 
tion of, 324. 
Gibson, Henry B., biography of, 487. 

portrait of. facing 240. 
Gilbert, Ezekiel, 86. 
Gorhain, churches of, 400. 
organization of, 401. 
present town officers of, 402. 
schools of, 401. 
settlement of, 395. 
supervisors of, 402. 
village, 399. 

Nathaniel. 85-94, 96, 97, 109, 217. 
Governor from Ontario county, 1 15. 
Granger Family, biography of the, 469. 
Francis, 169. 

portrait of, facing 469. 
Gideon, 167. 

portrait of, facing 469. 
Gideon (son of Francis), 169. 

portrait of, facing 469. 
John A., portrait of, facing 469. 
Place School, 229. 
Greenhalgh, Wentworth, 37. 
Greig, John, 101, 165. 
Grosvenor, Godfrey J., 175. 
Gypsum, 349. 

Hall, General Amos, 131. 

Hall's Corners, 420. 

Haw^kins, Jeremiah, biography of, 502. 

portrait of, facing 368. 
Hennepin, Father, 41. 
Hicks, Edwin, biography of, 498. 

portrait of, facing 498. 
Hobart College, 288 et seq. 

John SI OSS, 109. 
Hodenosaunee, the, 24. 
Holland Land Company, 122. 

Purchase, the, 103. 
Holley, Myron, 167. 
Hoops, Major Adam, 94, 95, 97. 
Hopewell, early days of, 421. 

organization of, 427. 

population of, 426. 

schools of, 429. 

settlement of, 422 et seq. 

Centre, 428. 
Hornby, William, 96, 101. 
Howell, Alexander H., 171. 

portrait of, facing 466. 

Nathaniel W., 164. 

biography of, 464. 
portrait of, facing 164. 



Howell, Thomas M., 171. 
biography of, 467. 
portrait of, facing 172. 
Hubbell, Walter, 169. 

Ransom, 284. 
Hudson, David, 174. 

Henry, 20. 
Hunn, Rev. Zadoc, 208,231. 
Huntington, Herbert, portrait of, facing 

250. 

Indian names for Canandaigua, 199. 
Indians, condition of, at the advent of the 
French, 32. 

course of the, in Ontario county dur- 
the War of 1812, 130. 
Inspector of state prisons from Ontario 

county, 116. 
Iroquois the, 24. 

confederacy, numerical strength of, 31 
the, during the Revolution, 63. 

Jails, 111. 

James, Robert, 94. 

Jamison, Mary, 64, 73. 

Jesuits, the, 22, 38 et seq. 

Jewett, Dr. Hawey, biography of, 494. 

portrait of, facing 184. 
Johnson, Sir William, 54. 

treaty of peace made with In- 
dians by, 60. 
Johnstone, Sir John Lowther, 99, 101, 102. 
Joncaire's trading post, 52. 
Jones, Morgan, 94. 
Judges, county, 118, 177. 

of Court of Appeals from Ontario 
county, 116. 
Judicial system of the State, 154 et seq. 
Justices of the Supreme Court from On- 
tario county, 116. 

Kanadesaga, 47, 256 et seq. 
Kashong, 258. 
Kingsland, Edward, 102. 
Kirkland, Rev. Samuel, and the Phelps and 
Gorham purchase, 80, 87. 

Lacy, Lauren Walton, biography of, 479. 

portrait of, facing 479. 
Lands, legislative acts forbidding the pur- 
chase of, from the Indians, 76. 
Lansing, Henry Livingston, biography of, 
491. 

portrait of, facing 491. 

Lapham, Elbridge G., 115, 172. 

portrait of, facing 115. 



384 



HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 



" Leasee " Company, the, 257. 
Lester, Albert, 17U. 
Lewis, Daniel W., 174. 

Joseph S., biof^raphy of, 50'J. 
portrait of, facing 327. 
Library, Myron Buck Free, Shortsville, 

346. 
Littleville, 349. 
Livingston, John, SlJ, 99. 
Lobdell, Jacob, 367. 
London Associates, the, 96. 

Mackey, Ansel ElHott, biography of, 505. 

portrait of, facing 506. 
McDonald, Rev. Daniel, 285, 288. 
Malette, James, 313. 

portrait of, facing 314. 
Mallory, Stephen V. R., 173. 
Manchester, first settlers of, 329. 
organization of, 328. 
schools of, 331. 
supervisors of, 331. 
village, 347. 
Center, 348. 
Markham, Mrs. Elizabeth, 102. 
Marvin, Dudley, 165. 

William, 177. 
Massachusetts' land claims, 78. 
Matthews, Vincent, 164. 
Maule, Thomas, 99. 
Maxwell, Colonel Hugh, 88-92, 94. 
Medical College Geneva, 297. 

science, origin and growth of, 179. 
practice, legislation regulating, 181. 
Society, Horroeopathic of the Counties 
of Ontario and Yates, 186, 

officers and membership of, 187. 
Ontario County, 181. 

officers of, 184 et seq. 
present membership of, 184. 
reorganization of, 182. 
Melvin Hill, 364. 
Members of assembly, 116. 
Metcalf, Jabez H., 172. 
Military preparations in 1794, 125. 
Militia of Ontario county in the War of 

1812, 131. 
Miller's Corner.e, 449. 
Milliken, Nathan J., biography of, 516. 

portrait of, facing 251. 
Missionaries among the Indians, 39. 
Mizner, Lansing B., 174. 
Montgomery county, formation of, 107. 
Montour, Catherine, 262. 
Montreal, sacking of, by the Indians, 51. 
Morris, Robert, 94-96, 121. 



Naples, first town officers of, 380. 

military spirit of, 381. 

pioneers and early settlers of, 377 et 
seq. 

press of, 384. 

schools of, 386. 

village, 381 et seq. 
business of, 383. 
"New Jerusalem." 104. 
New Salem, 394. ' 

New York Gene.see Land Company, 80. 
Newspapers of Canandaigua, 249 et seq. 

Clifton Springs, 335. 

Geneva, 311. 

Naples, 384. 

Phelps, 361. 

Victor, 373. 
Niagara Genesee Land Company, 80. 
North Bloomfield, 448. 
Nurseries of Geneva, 320. 

Oaks, Jonathan, 351. 

Officers, public, from Ontario county, 

115. 
" Old Smoke," 65. 
O'Malley, W^illiam P., 316. 
Onnaghee, 46. 
Ontario County, civil list of, 116 et seq. 

claims to pre-historic occupation 

of, 23. 
comparative population of, 135. 
condition of, at time of organiza- 
tion, 111. 
creation of, 108. 
development of,immediately after 

the Revolution, 122. 
early settlement of, 121. 
in the Rebellion, 136 et seq. 
in the war of 1812, 120 et seq. 
Indian villages in, 46. 
legal profession of, 163. 
Medical Society, 181. 
organization of, 109. 
organization of courts in, 162. 
original occupants of the soil of, 

35 et seq. 
original towns of, 112. 
present towns of, 114. 
j)ublic officers from, 115. 
reductions in territorial limits of, 
112 et seq. 
Female Seminary, 228. 
Orphan Asylum, 235. 
Organization, recapitulation of events re- 

latmg to, 113. 
Orleans, 303. 



INDEX. 



385 



Parburt, George R., 171. 
Parke, Nathan, 174. 
Parker, Edward, 316. 
Stephen H., 312. 

portrait of, facing 312. 
Peirce, Andrew, biography of, 4S0. 

portrait of, facing 3-1:1. 
Penfield, Henry F., 170. 
Phelps, first town meeting in, 354. 
organization of, 349. 
pioneers of, 350 et seq. 
population of, 355. 
present town officers of, 354. 
supervisors of, 354. 
village, 356 et seq. 
churches of, 359. 
manufactures of, 361. 
press of, 361. 
schools of, 358. 
Oliver, 85-94, 96, 97, 164, 200, 209, 

215,217,422. 
and Gorham, 103, 105, 108, 109, 121, 
227. 

failure to meet their payments, 

88. 
financial embarrassment o'', 93. 
map of the resurvey of the, tract, 

98. 
purchase, the, 85 et seq. 
tract, resurvey of, 94. 
sale by, to Robert Morris, 94. 
Phillips, George H., biography of, 500. 

portrait of, facing 319. 
Physicians, register of, 190 et seq. 
Pioneers, character of, 121. 
Pontiac's war, 59. 
Poorhouse, Ontario county, 426. 
Port Gibson, 348. 
Porter, Augustus, 94, 97, 203. 

General P. B., 134. 165. 
Portrait of Anderson, G. B., facing 244. 
Bunn, William 0., facing 313. 
Callister, John, facing 171. 
Chamberlain, F. 0., facing 504. 
Conover, George S., facing 255. 
Folger, Hon. Charles J., facing 17>5. 
Foster. Dr. Henry, facing 337. 
Gardner, E. P., facing 252. 
Gibson, Henry B., facing 240. 
Granger, Francis, facing 469. 
Granger, Gideon, facing 469. 
Granger, Gideon (son of Francis), 

facing 469. 
Granger, John A., facing 469. 
Hawkins, Jeremiah, facing 368. 



Portrait of Hicks, Edwin, facing 498. 

Howell, Alexander, facing 466. 

Howell, Nathaniel, facing 164. 

Howell, Thomas M., facing 172. 

Huntington, Herbert, facing 250. 

Jewett, Dr. Harvey, facing 184. 

Lacy, Lauren W., facing 479. 

Lansing, Henry L., facing 491. 

Lapham, Elbridge G., facine 115. 

Lewis, Joseph S., facing 327. 

Mackey, Ansel EUiott, facing 506. 

Maliette, James, facing 314. 

Milliken, Nathan J., facing 251. 

Parker, Stephen H., facing 312. 

Peirce, Andrew, facing 341. 

Phillips, George H., facing 319. 

Smith, Dr. A. B., facing 513. 

Smith, James C, facing 154. 

Taylor, Henry L., facing 501. 

Wheat, Corydon, facing 475. 
Pottle, Emory B., 176. 
Pre-emption, the, 89 et seq. 
Prescott, Dr. Joel, 352. 
Pulteney, Elizabeth Evelyn, 102. 

Sir Richard Thomas, 102. 

Sir William, 96, 100. 

Queen Anne's war, 52. 

Rankine, James, 297. 

John, 173. 
Red Jacket, 130. 
Reed and Ryckman, 92. 
patent, 261. 
Colonel Seth, 92, 261. 
Rev. Dr. T. C, 303. 
Reed's Corners, 400. 
Rees, Major James, 101. 
Regents of the University from Ontario 

county, 116. 
Regiment, Eighteenth, Infantry, 138. 
Eighty-fifth, Infantry, 142. 
. Ninety-eighth, Infantry, 143. 
One Hundred and Eighty-eighth, In- 
fantry, 149. 
One Hundred and Forty -eighth, In- 
fantry, 146. 
One Hundred and Ninety-fourth, In- 
fantry, 149. 
One Hundred and Second, Infantry, 

144. 
One Hundred and Seventy-Ninth, 

Infantry, 148. 
One Hundred and Sixtieth, Infantry, 
148. 



386 



HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 



Regiment, One Hundred and Twenty- 
sixth Infant I-}', 144. 

One Hundredth, Infantry, 144. 

Thirty-ei^htli, Infantry, 141. 

Thirty-third, Infantry, 140. 

Twenty-eighth, Infantry, 139. 

Twenty-seventh, Infantry, 139. 

Fourth, Heavy Artillery. 153. 

Ninth, Heavy Artillery, 153. 

Sixteenth, Heavy Artillery, 154. 

Thirteenth, Heavy Artillery, 154. 

Eighth, Cavalry, 150. 

Fifteenth, Cavalry, 151. 

Ninth, Cavalry, 151. 

Second, Cavalry, 152. 

Twenty-fourth, Cavalry, 151. 

First, Mounted Rifles, 152. 

First, Veteran Cavalry, 152. 
Relief commitiee, Canandaigua, 133. 
Representatives in Congress from Ontario 

county, 115. 
Revolution, events leading to the, 02. 
Richmond, business interests of, 455. 

Center, 456. 

churches of, 455. 

Mills, 45(i. 

population of, 454. 

settlement and pioneers of, 451 etseq. 

supervisors of, 453. 
Robison, John Decker, 350. 
Rushville, churches of, 398. 

settlers of, 396. 
Ryckman, Peter, 92. 

Saltonstall, Dudley, 105. 

Sanitarium, Clifton Springs, 337. 

Sayenqueraghta, 57. 

Saxton, Frederick, 94. 

St. Francis de Sales school, 302. 

St. Mary's Orphan Asylum and Academy, 

234. 
Schemes of the lessees, 81. 
Secession scheme, 82. 
Secretaries of state (State) from Ontario 

county, 115. 
Senators (State) from Ontario county, 1 16. 
Seneca burial mound, 48. 

Casile. 418. 

early history of, 412 et seq. 

Lake, first sloop upon, 2()6. 

Lake, survey of, 262. 

organization of, 416. 

pioneers of, 414. 

population of, 416. 

post-ofiBce, 420. 



Seneca, present town officers of, 417. 
schools of, 421. 
supervisors of, 417. 
villages destroyed by Denonville, 45. 
location of, 38. 

rebuilt after the invasion by 
Denonville, 46. 
Senecas and the French, beginning of hos- 
tilities between the, 39. 

first visit of the French to the, 37. 
neutrality of, during the French and 

English war, 54. 
outrages by the, 65, et seq. 
the, 35 et seq. 
the, in the Revolution, 64. 
their origin, 36. 
Settlement retarded by War of 1812, 135. 
Shearman, Ezekiel, 103. 
Sheriffs, 120. 

Shortsville, village of, 344. 
Sibley, Mark H., 169. 
Signatures, fac simile of, 61. 
Simcoe's " high-handed " proceedings, 123 

et seq. 
Six Nations, the, 52. 

condition of the, at the close of 

the Revolution, 74, et seq. 
lease given by, 80. 
Smith, Dr. A. B., 264. 

biography of, 513. 
portrait of, facing 513. 
James C, 177. 

biography of, 511. 
portrait of, facing 154. 
Joseph, 200. 
Thomas, 177. 
Society of Physicians of the Village of 

Canan.iaigua, 188. 
South Bristol, churches of, 442. 
industries of, 440. 
present officers of, 443. 
pioneers of, 438, et seq. 
population of, 440. 
post-office, 442. 
supervisors of, 443. 
Spencer, John C, 166. 
Squire, Rev. Milea P., 303. 
Stanley, 419. 

State engineer from Ontario County, 116. 
"State Road," the, 202. 
Stoddard, Robert W., 174. 
Street, Sanmel, 86. 

Sullivan's expedition against the Senecas, 
67 et seq. 

results of, 72. 



INDEX. 



387 



Surrogates, 119, 178. 

Surveys and boundary lines, 89 et seq. 

Taylor, Henry L., biography of, 501. 
portrait of, facing 501. 

Henry W., 170. 
Towns of Ontario county at present, 114. 

original, 112. 
Treaty at Buffalo Creek, SO. 

of Fort Stanwix, 75. 

of Ryswick, results of, 51. 
Troup, Robert, 99, 1U2. 
Tryon county, 107. 

United States postmaster general from 
Ontario county, 115. 

secretary of the treasury from 

Ontario county, 115. 
secretary of war from Ontario 

county, 115. 
Senator from Ontario county, 
115. 

Van Rensselaer, Henry H., 174. 
Victor, bef.jre settlement, 3G5. 

churches of, 373. 

organization of, 376. 

pioneers of, 'S(>(> et seq. 

.schools of, 370. 

settlers in east part of, 3G9. 

settlers in northeast part of, 370. 

settlers in west and southwest sec- 
tions of, 3(i9. 

supervisors of, 377. 

village of, 371. 



Villages of the Senecas destroyed by 

Denonville, 45. 
Vincent, or Muttonville, 430. 

Walker, Colonel Benjamin, 101. 

Colonel William, 86, 200. 
Walnut Hill School, 303. 
War of 1812, causes which led to the, 128. 
Ward, Josiah, 176, 
Watkin.«, William, 114, 380. 
Wayne's, General, Ohio campaign, 127. 
Weller, Rev. William. 
West Bloomtield, churches of, 440. 

present town officer-^ of, 451. 

schools of, 450. 

settlement and pioneers of, 443 
et seq. 

supervisors of, 450. 

village, 445. 
Wheat, Corydon, biography of, 475. 

portrait of, facing 475. 
Whiting, Bowen, 168. 
Wilkinson, Jemima, the "Universal 

Friend," 104. 
Williamson, Charles, 90, 97, 99, 100, 103, 

105, 122, 123, l'2r,, 203, 263. 
Willson, Jared, KiS. 
Wood Library Association, 238. 
Woodville, 442. 

Worden, Alvah, 170. : 

Wyoming Massacre, the, 05. ; 

Young, Benjamin F., 102. 

Zeisberger, Rev. David, 47. 



INDEX TO FAMILY SKETCHES. 



Abbey, Benton G., 9. 
Abbey, Isaac J., G. 
Adams, Ailhiir T., 7. 
Adams, Btnjamin F., 262. 
Adams, Edwin A., 263. 
Adams, Gabriel, 10. 
Adams, George ff., 261. 
Adams, Herbert H.. 245. 
Adams, L^wis II., 6 
Adams, William H , 5. 
Adamy, Dr. W. Lynn, 263. 
Ainsworth, Steplien Howard, 8. 
Al(b-ich, Nathan, 3. 
Allen. Clark, 9. 
Allen, Dr. Alexander D., 2GT 
Allen, Ellery G., 268. 
Allen, Erastus H., 6. 
Allen, William H , 263. 
Ambush, Stephen J., 4. 
Andrews, Cornelius J., 10. 
Andrew.e, William R., 10. 
Ansley, Alanson, 7. 
Anslej, Marcus, 263. 
Appleton, Richard, 4. 
Appleton, Richard W., 4. 
Appleton, William, 5. 
Archer, Dr. W. W., 263. 
Arnold, Lo^^el, 262. 
Ashley, Frederick Leonard, 223. 
Ashley, William, 8. 
Atwater, Joseph, 2r)2. 
Atlwood, Daniel F., 3. 
Babb. Ira P.. 268. 
Babbitt, Charles, 21. 
Bachman, George L., 16. 
Baokenstose, Dwight B., 228. 
Bacon, Orrin Stebbins, 23. 
Bacon, Orrin S., 224. 
Bailey, Franklin, 264. 
Baldwin, Charles H., 273. 
Baldwin, George, 29. 
Barber Family, The, 15. 



Barker. J. Albert, 267. 
Barlow, Jesse, 271. 
Barnard, Fitch Reed, 13. 
Barnes, Albert F., 11. 
Barnes, D. Eddy, 229. 
Barnes, ITurdman, 269. 
Barnes, James W., 267. 
Barnes, Washington, 266. 
Barnes, William T., 229. 
Barnnm, William M., 15. 
Barron, David, 370. 
Barron, William J., 270. 
Barion, William W., 371. 
Bartholomew, Josepli A., 246. 
Baxter, Sarah A., 15. 
Beach, Arnold W., 22. 
Beach, Levi S., 17. 
Beach, Richmond C, 15. 
Beahan, Dr. Albert L., 13. 
Beal, Embery J., 30. 
Beam, D. Willard, 21. 
Beam, Smith A., 269. 
Bean, John E., 272. 
Beard, Maximillian, 24. 
Becker, John Franklin, 271. 
Becker, Marion J., 25. 
Becker, Philip, 217. 
Bellinger, (Christopher. 31. 
Bement, George I).. 36. 
Bement, John B., 25. 
Benham, D. C, 32. 
Benham, J. H., 16. 
Bennett, Charles, 14. 
Benson, Alonzo, 26. 
Benson, Ichabod, 24. 
Bently, Dr. Francis E., 266. 
Bently, Orville, 259. 
Berry, John C. 253. 
Berry, Joseph J., 22. 
Berry, Michael, 230. 
Bill-, Paul F., 370. 
Bilsborrow, George, 228. 



INDEX TO FAMILY SKETCHES. 



389 



Birdseye, Gould, 24. 
Birdseve, Joseph, 21. 
Black, "Archibald, 28. 
Black, De.xter J., 29. 
Black, Hugh R.,';JG7. 
Black, James, 372. 
Blackmer, Myron H., 18. 
Blackmore, Edward W., 19. 
Blaine, Dr. Mvron De Pup. 271. 
Blaine, Millard F., 2Go. 
Blair, Walter, 30. 
Blanchard, George, 31. 
Blanchard, William, 31. 
Bland, George J., 273. 
Bliss, Philenzo P., 23. 
Boardman, H. M., 268. 
Booth. Charles F., 11. 
Booth. George S., 270. 
Booth; W. C, 32. 
Borgman, jr., Barney, 230. 
Bostwick, Daniel R., 272. 
Bostwick, George W., IG. 
Boughton, Harry, 18. 
Boughto", Walter, 34. 
Bowdy, James T., 270. 
Bowker, Simon K., 220. 
Boyce, Chester A.. 269. 
Boyle, William, 267. 
Bracf, Romeyn W., 369. 
Bray, Andrew Jackson, 19. 
Brewster, Nathan P., 266. 
-Briggs, E. Elihu, 12. 
Briggs, John C, 27. 
Briggs, Zachary J., 17. 
Brocklebank, Benjamin S., 265. 
Brooks, Henry, 14. 
Brooks, J. A., 229. 
Brown, Andrew, 25. 
Brown, C. P., S\ 
Brown, Charles L., 266. 
Brown, Francis L., 33. 
Brown, Levi Aldrich, 20. 
Brown, Rev. Silas Clark, 27. 
Buck, Rev. Daniel Dana, 12. 
Buell, Augustus, 21. 
Buell, Charles, 28. 
Burch, Birdsey Hawley, 20. 
Burgdorf, J. M., 18. 
Burge, Silas, 34. 
Burnett, Jean La Rue, 26. 
Burrell, Edward, 273. 
Burrell, T. J., 28. 
Burtis, Charles B., 271. 
Bush, Osband T.. 245. 
Bush, Peter L., 23. 



Butler, W. K., 271. 
Cain, William, 280. 
Caiman, Menzo, 231. 
Cammann, Oswald John, 260. 
Cammet, Smith H., 232. 
Campbell, Thomas J., 375. 
Carlough, D. Wesley, 47. 
Carmody, John, 279. 
Carpenter, Piatt, 251. 
Carson, Dr. Matthew R., 45. 
Carson, George, 276. 
Case, Billings H., 50. 
Case, Bdlings T., 49. 
Case, Jerome J., 53. 
Case, Mark A., 45. 
Case, Noadiah S.. 42. 
Ca.se, Orestes, 248. 
Caskey, Willard Doolittle, 277. 
Cass, Thomas, 53. 
Cassort, James, 281. 
Cassort, William. 41. 
Castle, Selh G., 37. 
Catchpole, Daniel, 270. 
Catch pole, George, 281. 
Chapin, Charles. 231. 
Chapin, Erastus A., 48. 
Chapin, George Y., 215. 
Chapin, Harry G., 277. 
Chapin, Robert Simons, 230. 
Chapin, Thaddeus, 280. 
Chapman, Charles G., 285. 
Cha-e, Roscoe G., 37. 
Chase. William D., 37. 
Chew, Alexander L., 38. 
Childs, Elijah A., 284. 
Chisholm. Colin D., 282. 
Church, E. Chapin, 274. 
Church, Gillman, 282. 
Church, John B., 35. 
Church, John B. (senior), 36. 
Church, Walter S., 35. 
Clark, C. M., 47. 
Clark, Nelson W., 51. 
Cleggett, Benjamin F., 274. 
Clement, Maynard N., 279. 
Coates, Irving W., 46. 
Cobb, Russell B., 258. 
Cochran, James, 279. 
Coddingta*, Myron Hart, 282. 
Coe, John S., 49. 
Coe, Schuyler P., 39. 
Coe, William W., 278. 
Cole, D. Merritt, 39. 
Cole, George W., 48. 
Collier, Dr. Peter, 38. 



390 



HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 



Collins, Choletf, 232. 

Collins, Georpe S., 38. 

Colmey, John 275. 

Cone, James L., 227. 

Cone, Win field S., 221. 

Connelly, John H., 277. 

Connelly, Robert E., 53. 

Conover, Job", AO. 

Conroy, James J., 283. 

Cooley, A. Eugene, 231. 

Cooley, Augustine S., 43. 

Cooley, George B., 3G3. 

Coolev, H. Seymour, 275. 

Cooley, Orion J., 248. 

Coolidge, Charles, 49. 

Coon.^, J. P., 50. 

Copp, E. Darwin, 44. 

Cosad. David, 51. 

Cost, Thomas H., 40. 

Cotton, Edward J.. 27G. 

Cottrell, William N., 284. 

Couch, Charles. 284. 

Coursey, Patrick, 283. 

Covert, Dr. Nelson B., 230. 

Coykendall, Char'es A., 44. 

Coykendall, Coe Haynes, 50. 

Coyle, Charles M., 280. 

Craft, Silas G.. 52. 

Crandall, W. D., 278. 

Crane, Oscar N., 41. 

Crawford, Joseph S,, 283. 

Creighton, James, 274. 

Cribb, Ira P., 42. 

Crittenden, A. R., 42. 

Crittenden, Stalham, 215. 

Cronk, Rev. Lewis W., 43. 

(-rooks, Tompkins Abbey, 45. 

Crosby, Theodore, 52. 

Crosier, Adam, 370. 

Crothers, Oliver 6., 285. 

Crovvell, Erastus H., 48. 

Crowley, Daniel, 275. 

Cnmmings, George S., 39. 

Curlin, Mrs. Nancy T. P., 275. 

Dake, M. D., Mrs. Addie B. Crowley, G2. 

Dakin, Elbridge, 62. 

Dannahe, William B., 289. 

Darrow, George, 372. 

Davidson, Alexander, 285. 

Davidson, James, 232. 

Davie, John, 200. 

Davis, Edmund 0., 222. 

Davis, Fayette W., 290. 

Davis Fred G., 288. 

Davis, Homer A., 246. 



Davison, Calvin P., 61. 

Day, Henry N.. 57. 

Day, Rev. Samuel Mills, Gd. 

De Bow, James C, 59. 

Decker, Edwin M., 223. 

Dempsey. Dominick E., 5G. 

Denton, George H., 280. 

Depue, John, 58. 

Deuel, George M., 56. 

Dewey, Colonel Edmund B., 290. 

Dewey, Eugene B., 62. 

Dewey, John J , 289. 

Deyo, George C, 289. 

De Zeng History, The, 286. 

Dibble, Newton Ward, 57. 

Dickinson. Charles F., 54. 

Dimock, E. 0., 290. 

Ditmars, George F., 55. 

Dixon, Mrs. J. B., 289. 

Dixon, Walter J., Gl. 

Donnell}', Peter, 59. 

Doolittle, Frank, 62. 

Doty, Erastus R., 55. 

Doubleday, Harvey M., 286. 

Douglass, Bainbridge, 290. 

Douglass, Fred G., 288. 

Douglass, Samuel, 58. 

Dove, John, 56. 

Draper, James F., 54. 

Dryer, William R., 61. 

Dunning, Wm. B., 243. 

Dwyer, John J., 57. 

Eddy. Charles A., 63. 

Eddy, Dr. Herbert M., 293. 

Edmonston, John A., 254. 

Edmonston, William C, 258. 

Eldridge, Tliomas, 65. 

Ellis, Bolivar, 63. 

Ellis, Daniel, 294. 

Ellis, James A., 63. 

Elton, Jabez, 64. 

Elwell, Gilbert W., 292. 

Elweli, Irving D., 292. 

Embry, Frank W., 64. 

Emerson, Benjamin K., 292. 

Esty, John B., 293. 

Everett, John, 343. 

Farwell, John G., 67. 

Ferguson, Harrison B., 69. 

Ferguson, Robert B., 246. 

Ferguson, Smith, 364. 

Finley, Horace M., 295. 

Fisher, Charles, 66. 

Fisher, Harlan M., 67. 

Fisher, Henry P., 67. 



INDEX TO FAMILY SKETCHES. 



391 



Folger, Cliarles Worth, 367. 
Foister. William, 374. 
Forsytli, Leander, 70. 
Foster. Frank F., 09. 
Foster, H. Ward, 233. 
Foster, John G., 294. 
Fowl'^r, Reuben W., 70. 
Fox, Heiman F., 234. 
Fox, Joseph, 295. 
Francis, John B., 09. 
Francisco, Job, 295. 
Frankish, Dales F., 296. 
Fi-ary, Edward H., 08. 
Frautz, William H.. 294. 
Frazer, John P., 72. 
Freer, Charles E., 71. 
Freer, Hiram W., 294. 
French, Seward, 70. 
Fre-hour, George W. 290. 
Freshour, John C, 72. 
Frisbie, Dr. William, 05. 
Gao;e, Amasa, 241. 
Galusha, George S., 300. 
Gambee, William H., 224. 
Gardner, Edwin J., 80. 
Gardner, Klisha W., 73. 
Gardner, Sunderland F., 78. 
Garlock, Peter. 234. 
Garratt, William, 74. 
Gatchel Family, The, 225. 
Gates, Curtis C., 77. 
Gates, Preston L., 299. 
Gartland, jr., John, 77. 
Gauss, Ashman B., 75. 
Gaylord, Philotus, 235. 
Gerow, Thomas H., 75. 
Gifford, Levi, 297. 
Gillette, John, 236 
Gillis, Enos, 70. 
Gillis, Jerome Bonaparte, 300. 
Gillis, John S., 300. 
Goodale, Charles S., 298. 
Gooding, Chester A., 251. 
Gooding Family, The, 73. 
Gooding, Spencer, 296. 
Goodwin, Russell B., 70. 
Gorman, Hugh, 75. 
Gourlay, Norman, 80. 
Granger, Julius N., 230. 
Green, Dr. Lewis E., 74. 
Green, Isaac Baker, 78. 
Green, Miles H., 299. 
Greene, Dr. Frank A., 74. 
Greene, Henry, 78. 
Greenleaf, Horace D., 72. 



Greenow, Thomas, 70. 
Gregg, George, 297. 
Greg(jry, Charles P., 375. 
Gr'idley, Harrison, 80. 
Griffin, Ellas, 299. 
Gunnison, Charles C. 77. 
Gunnison, Georsre L., 298. 
Haire, De Wilt G., 302. 
^ Hall, General Amos, 308. 
Hall, John B., 370. 
Hall, Phillips A., 370. 
Hall, Thomas W., 311. 
Halladay, Elmer, 92. 
Ilallenbeck, Dr. Orlando J., 80. 
Hallenbeck, D. W , 83. 
Hailock, David W., 304. 
Ham, Burton D., 90. 
Hamlin, John S., 89. 
Harkness, Charles W., 311. 
Harkness, Daniel B., 91. 
Harkness, Deroy J., 91. 
Harrington, Newton, 310. 
Harris, Charles, 89. 
Harris, John, 90. 
Haskell, Levi, 97. 
Haskell, Rev. Eli, 248. 
Haskill, Abel, 301. 
Hathaway, A. Chandler, 94. 
Hathaway, Joseph P., 93. 
Hawkes, Thomas, 89. 
Hawkins, Thomas W., 84. 
Hawkins, William F., 305. 
Hayes, Joseph Byron, 97. 
Heaton, John, 227. 
Heech, Jacob, 310. 
Hemiup, Charles N., 84. 
Hemiup, George M., 82. 
Herendeen, Charles H., 88. 
Herendeen, James, 301. 
Herendeen, Lemuel, 302. 
Herendeen, Nathaniel C, 80. 
Herendeen, Oscar D., 82. 
Herendeen, Wilkinson A., 92. 
Herrington, Earl P., 305. 
Hickox, George, 307. 
Hickox,. George H., 307. 
Hickox, George S., 307. 
Hickox, Henry Bradford, 3**8. 
Hickox, James S., 309. 
Hick.«, Charles M., 95. 
Hicks, Dr. W. Scott, 94. 
Higinbotham, William A., 93. 
Hildreth, John E., 237. 
Hill. Charles G., 88. 
Hill, Jerome, 90. 



392 



PIISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 



Hill, Wallace A., 254. 

Hocroft. MoiTis R., 258. 

Hoefler, George, 81. 

Hoffman, Frank C. 83. 

Hollingsworth, Frank L, 237. 

Hnllister, Dr. Edwin 0., 88. 

Holmes, Horace Nathaniel, 85. 

Horkins, Harrison 309. 

Hoppough, Lewis Frederick, 9G. 

Horning, A. V., 81. 

Horton, Isaiah, 92. 

Housel, Joseph, 98. 

Houston, James M., 23G. 

Howe, Dr. William A., 9(». ' 

Howe, H. Lawrence, 308. 

Howey, Joel M., 8G. 

Howliind, Charles A., 80. 

Howland, Pardon A., 8L 

Howland, Wilbur C, 304. 

Hoyt, Dr. Charles S., 308. 

Hubbard, T. S., 83. 

Hudson, Henry C, 227. 

Huff, Allen, 304. 

Hulbert, Mark, 301. 

Hulse, Dan-el M., 87. 

Humphrey, Charles S., 310. 

Humphrey, Ira E., 303. 

Humphrey, W. F.. 83. 

Hunn, Nathan S., 84. 

Hunn, Thomas M., 30G. 

Hunt, William H., 224. 

Huntly, Austin C, 85, 

Hutchens, Dr. John, 97. 

Hutchens, Floyd M., 303. 

Hutchens, Hiram L., 87. 
Hutchens, John W., 303. 

Hutchinson, Geortre H., 307. 

Hutchinson, Jonathan, 243. 
Hutchinson, Joseph, 81. 

Hyde, Caleb Briggs] 85. 
Ingraham, Avery, 312. 
Isenhour, Newman, 101. 
Jackson, S. D., 313. 
Jeffrey, Charles, 101, 
Jeudevine, Albert. 102. 
Johnson, C. H., 101. 
Johnson, Chai'les R., 100. 
Johnson, Frank A., 101. 
Johnson, George, 223. 
Johnson, George, 259. 
Johnson, John, 98 
Johnson, John A., 99. 
Johnson, Lewis M., 102. 
Johnson, Lewis Mortimer, 312. 
Johnson, William S., 100. 



Johnston, John, 99. 
Jone.s, Leonard H., 311. 
Jones, Prosser, 373. 
Jopson, Mark, 312. 
Kane, John, 313. 
Keeffe. Maurice, 103. > 
Keely Institute. 278. 
Kendall, Rev. Henry, 104. 
Kenney. William T., 313. 
Kent, John, 314. 
Kent, Oliver P., 314. 
Ketcham, James, 313. 
Ketchum, George W., 315. 
Ketchum, W. Nelson, 105. 
Keyes, B. W., 314. 
King, A. H., 103. 
King, Herbert N., 315. 
King, Irvinir D , 103. 
Kingsbury, George W., 237. 
King.-:bury, Sherman, lOG. 
Kisor, Wallace, 105. 
Knapp, B. F., 105. 
Knapp, James L., 313. 
Knapp, Walter II., 103. 
Knapp, Z. Franklin, lOG. 
Lacy, Ira E., 110. 
Ladd, Hiram, 251. 
Lamport, Clarence C, 315. 
Lane, Ambert T., HI. 
Lane, Harland H., 31G. 
Lane, Jacob, 319. 
Lapham, David G., 111. 
Lapham, George E., 317. 
Larkins, James E., 109. 
La Rue, James H., 108. 
Latham, George W., 112. 
Latting, Aldri-'h J, 112. 
Laudei-, John W., lOiQ. 
Lee, Hather Patrick, 318. 
Lee, Roswell M., 108. 
Legerwood, George, 364. 
Leighton, I'eter, 108. 
Leonard Charles D., 319. 
Levet, Alfred B., 112. 
Lewis, James W., 254. 
Licht, Frederick, 110. 
Lincoln, Cyrillo S., 109. 
Lincoln, Lewis C, 318. 
Lincoln, Samuel Grant, 107. 
Lindner, Frank, 318. 
Llewellyn, William, 109. 
Lobdell, Burton H.. 214. 
Long, Leonard, 317. 
Loomis, George, 256. 
Loomis, Henry H., 319. 



INDEX TO FAMILY SKETCHES. 



39:5 



Loorr.is, Leslie G., 108. 
Lord, Mariette, lU. 
Lucas, Holmes C, ."JIG. 
Lucas, Zebina, 315. 
Lutze, Dr. F. H., 317. 
McArthur, James, '.VlO. 
McBlain. Samuel, 218. 
McCarthy, Dr. C. D., 324. 
McCarthy, Mrs. Carrie A.-U., 324. 
McClure, Darwin, 123. 
McCretly, Alonzo, 119. 
McCrossen, John Willard, 120. 
McJannett Brothers, 114. 
McKechnie Family, The, 113. 
McKeclinie, Frederick A., 113. 
McKinney, Benjamin F., IIG. 
McKnult, Isaac, 325. 
McLouth, Marshall, 123. 
McMillan, Norton, 119. 
McMillan, Peter H., 124. 
McNulty, Francis i:., 125. 
McTeggan, James, 322. 
MacKay, John, 323. 
Macomber. C3frenius, 123. 
Mallison, Polly, 257. 
Mapes, John W., 114. 
Mariner, Myron, 120. 
Maiks, Mrs. Emilv C, 377. 
Marks, Walter 122. 
Marsh, Enoch O., 319. 
Marsh, Horatio H., 226. 
Martin, Jacob, 320. 
Masop, J. Harvey, 220. 
Mather, Charles R., 321. 
Mather, Zachariah, 125. 
Mead, Alfred M., 117. 
Mead, James, 118. 
Meath, Bernard, 325. 
Mellen, John W., IIC. 
Menteth, James Stuart, 118. 
Merrill, F. B., 320. 
Metcalf, J. Henry, 324. 
Middaugh, Albert, 122. 
Millard, Rev. Benjamin F., 124. 
Miller, Albert D., 377. 
Miller. Charles Dudley, 217. 
Miller, Luman Phelps, 121. 
Mitchel, Dr. Charles T., 117. 
Monagle, William, 322. 
Moody, Robert, 321. 
Moore, D.D., David, 116. 
Moore, Daniel E., 115. 
Moore, Robert Bruce, 121. 
Moore. William S., 238. 
Morrell. William N., 321. 



Morrison, A. B., 1 17. 
Morse. Edward H., 323. 
Mott, Edwin M.. 222. 
Mowry, Royal II., 323, 
.Munger. M. Dwight, 120. 
Muuger, Rev. Reuben Dewitt, 115. 
Munson, Frederick, 325. 
Munson, Roswell C, 239. 
Munson, Thaddeu'*. 115. 
Murray, Thomas, 324. 
Nellis, John W., 22G. 
Nelson, Melvin H., 127. 
Nelson, Omri, 326. 
' Nethaway, George N., 12G. 
Newman, Algernon S., 2.")5. 
Nicholas, John, 126. 
Nichols Edward H., 127. 
Noble, Levi, 250. 
Norris, J. Carlton, 127. 
North, James B., 126. 
North, Lyman C, 129. 
North, Robinson D., 326. 
Norton, John M., 128. 
Norton, Theodore M., 128. 
Oaks, Nathan, 247. 
Odell, B. F., 130. 
Ogden, Nelson, 129. 
O'Leary, Patrick, 327. 
Osborne, David H., 328. 
Ottley, Samuel P., 327. 
Outhouse, Horace D., 129. 
Outhouse, Orrin, 327. 
Packard, William G., 142 
Paddleford, Harvey, 135. 
Paddock, Daniel L.. 139. 
Padelford, Olney T., 131. 
Page. Charles Augustus, 329. 
Page, E. Ransom, 138. 
Page, Levi A., 240. 
Pardee Family, The, 134. 
Park, Mvron, 133. 
Parker, E. W., 333. 
Parker, J. Albert. 330. 
Parker, J. W., 145. 
Parmele, Hiram Taft, 332. 
Parmelee, G. Herbert, 141. 
Parr, William E..215. 
Parrish, Edwin R., 138. 
Parrish, Winfield Scott, 147. 
Par.9ons, William W., 3i)2. 
Patterson, Wilson Howell, 137. 
Patty, D. H., 136. 
Paul, Charles R.. 331. 
Pavlak, \^ictor, 331. 
Payne, George, 132. 



394 



HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY. 



Payne, Georpe, 144. 
Payne, William Haiukl, HOri. 
Peck. Charles, 13G. 
Peck, Reynold. 130. 
Peelui<j, Thomas W., 21G. 
Pennell, Francis Granger, 133. 
Penoyer, Sterling, 132. 
Perhanms, Charles C, 145. 
Phillips, Benjamin F., 250. 
I'hillips. John M., 136. 
Phillips, Lebbeus. 141. 
Phillips, Nathaniel, 32'J. 
Pierce, William Henry, 329. 
Pierpont, David A , 148. 
Pomeroy, Andrew B., 143. 
Post, Frank A., 334. 
Potter, Dr. John W., 33)5. 
Powell, Adelbert W., 146. 
Powell, Shotweli, 145. 
Powell, Thomas J., 143. 
Power, George P., 142. 
Powis, Richard, 137. 
Pratt, David, :i34. 
Pratt, Reuben T., 144. 
Preston, Gernt S., 146. 
Preston, William, 142. 
Preston, William E., 137. 
Primps. Joseph, 328. 
Pritchard, Benjamin F., ;>34. 
I'ritchard, Dr. George C., 147. 
Prouty, Phineas, 330. 
Pulver. William, 331. 
Purdy, Alex. M., 141. 
Puniy, Charles J., 330. 
Purdy, Richaid, 13(1. 
Randall, Wilham, 157. 
Rankine, James, 149. 
Ransom, James, 338. 
Ransom, Willard J., 150. 
Ray, Oscar Fitzallen, IGl. 
Redfield, Nathan, 157. 
Reed, Charles B., 252. 
Reed, De Forest E., 339. 
Reed Family, The, 159. 
Re-d, George, 159. 
Reed, Henry, 337. 
Reed, James, 155. 
Reed, John, 149. 
Reed, Joseph, 153. 
Reed, Lewis J., 153. 
Reed, Mason H., 218. 
li^ed, Wm. Allen, 151. 
Reese. E. D., 336. 
Held, William, 154. 
Reilly, William H., 150. 



Remer, Simeon, 149. 

Remington. Thadious B., 253. 

Reynolds, R. T., 162. 

Rhind, Duncan, 158 

Rice, Henry 0., 335. 

Rice, Frank, 155. 

Richardson, Charles A., 151. 

Richardson, Sila«, 221. 

Rigby, Henry. 377. 

Riker, Henry L., 154. 

Riker, Melville G., 239. 

Riker, W. H., 157. 

Ringer. Mrs. Elizabeth, 148. 

Riordan, Patrick, 336. 

Rippey, Hamilton, 375. 

Rippey, Mary A., 372. 

Robertson, Charles F., 154. 

Robinson, John S., 156. 

Robinson, S. P., 239. 

Robinson, Weslev D., .■')39. 

Robinson, Willis'H., 241. 

Robson, James, 152. 

Robson, John, 339. 

Robson, Robert W., 364. 

Rob.son, William, 158. 

Rogers, Newton, 335. 

Rose, ICdward, 162. 

Rose, Ezra Cullen. 152. 

Rose, George I., 336. 

Rose, Jared S., 335. 

Ross Peter Cole, 153. 

Rowley, Franklin, 337. 

Rowley, George Washington. 337. 

Roy, Isaac, 338. 

Rupert, Dr. Theodore D.. 150. 

Rupert, William P., 339. 

Ryan, Edward P., 338. 

Sackett, Charles C, 227. 

Sackett, Frederick A., 166. 

Sadler, John F., 169. 

Sadler, William Henry, 163. 

Sale, William, 347. 

Salisbury, Joseph F.. 174. 

Salmon, Franklin A. W., 172. 

Salter, Hugh Sinclair, 165. 

Sanborn, Rev. John Wentworth, 178. 

Saunders, Daniel W., 346. 

Sawyer, William H., 345. 

Sayre, Dr. Ellis Brooks. 183. 

Sayre, Wellington K., 177. 

Schlick, Peter, 165. 

Schroder, Henry C, 172. 

Schu, Frankhn N., 352. 

Schutt, A. P., 179. 

Schatt, Hiram, 347. 










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